Dallas Fort Worth Airport Closed, How to Deal with Fussy Kids

Dallas Fort Worth airport spokesman David Magana has reported that after a temporary closure one runway has been reopened. Keeping travelers safe is the priority. Ice and is being removed from runways and safety measures are being taken seriously by all. With hundreds of incoming flights canceled due to the weather conditions many are now stranded.

So what do you do when you're stranded and have fussy kids? Here are some tips.

Packing

Help each child pack a carry on bag to take onto the airplane. Include snacks that are easy to clean up and a small bottle of water for each child. Remember, the water bottle must be small and unopened or purchased after security in order for the child to have it in his or her back pack. Dried fruit, chips, healthy crackers and the like are perfect snacks for children to take on an airplane.

Activities

Each child should have a few activities in his or her back pack. For younger children this may mean a simple book to look at while older children may prefer a color book, lap top with a game or two installed or even an mp3 player. Make the activity age appropriate and have a small variety in each child's back pack.

While waiting

Depending on how long one is snowed in at the airport one may need more to keep the kids from fussing and becoming annoying to other travelers. How about a quiet game of "Mother, May I" or even "red light green light". This could take up a few minutes to an hour depending on how involved you are able to get the kids. Of course this works better for the younger set but the older set may well enjoy being the leader of the game allowing mom and dad a few minutes of peace.

This might also be a great time to insert a movie into the dvd player of that lap top. If you're traveling with very young children find a quiet part of the airport and lay them on your lap with a fuzzy blanket and coerce them into a nap. You could also pretend to be camping out and use jackets and such as bedding and try to get them down for awhile.

Remember you're not the only ones stranded. Kids will often befriend other kids and create their own fun. Snow and ice will eventually melt and you'll be on your way to your destination again and this will just be a distant memory.