Originally Posted by
jefrank
Hmmm. So, you suggest that the parent, maybe, tie their little ones legs down? Beat them into submission (then we get the crying child threads ramped up)?
Kids have a right to travel as much as adults. Parents need to do their best - short of child abuse - to keep those little legs under control. Other PAX need to recognize when the parent is attempting to correct the situation and not be PITAs because things didn't go their way. In a flying tin can there's no opportunity to remove the child from the situation, unlike in restaurants, while shopping or visiting friends.
Now, could someone do something about the adult jerk behind me on my last flight that thought my seat back was his personal hand rail?
The key is starting early -- well before you ever get on the plane. When disciplining your children, it needs to be made clear from an early age what type of behavior is acceptable and what isn't, and that "no" is non-negotiable (this last part is the most critical). If you get on the plane for the first time with your child and he/she kid kicks the seat once, I might accept that it's because he/she didn't understand that particular rule. But then, you should only need to tell them ONCE that this behavior crosses the line. If you tell them once and it happens again, it means you failed at your job well before the flight, because they still think "no" is negotiable. And when you take the next flight with your child, it should be a non-issue from the start, because they will already know that this behavior isn't acceptable.
My daughters are now 10 and 12, and they have never acted up on a flight to the point that another passenger has needed to complain. In fact, we have received many compliments from neighoring passengers as we deplaned about how well-behaved my children are. My daughters politely say "thank you" for the compliment, and then later ask me why other passengers make such a big deal about GOOD behavior. Exactly.