Thank the good parents

You don't hear from all children on a flight because some of their parents are doing the right thing. Lee Huffman and his wife took their then-2-year-old son to Spain last May, and the Anaheim Hills, California, couple were prepared, as always. "We keep him occupied as much as possible while flying with iPad videos, coloring books, reading to him, Duplo blocks for him to build, and now puzzles," writes Huffman.True, the flying was not always so smooth. Huffman admits to toddler meltdowns when the iPad had to be shut down during takeoff and landing before the new rules. "We were so happy when the airlines started to allow iPads to remain on during takeoff and landing," he writes.Travel blogger Saull likes to recognize those parents who are trying.Urumqi travel "I love well-behaved kids on planes and always pliment parents whose kids are well-behaved on my flight," she writes. "I also always pliment parents whose kids might be a bit restless or fussy, but the parents are clearly trying. Sometimes it's hard to sit still for two hours in a metal tube even for adults!"Age is no barrier to tantrums.It can be hard for adults to behave as well. Just ask your flight attendant. When you're sitting there in your middle seat judging the parents unable to calm their toddlers, make sure to take notes on the adult passengers.Which businesspeople huffed down the aisle because they didn't get free upgrades to first class? Which late-boarding tourists tried to push their suitcases into already-filled overhead bins? Who got up to go to the bathroom as soon as the flight attendants started beverage service? Who demanded a meal in coach on a two-hour flight when meals haven't been served in coach in decades? As several parents point out, many children behave better than some adult travelers. "I've seen adults AND kids throw the wildest tantrums in airports regardless of age," writes Doug Simonton of Atlanta.Xinjiang Intencive tour Simonton waited until his daughter was 9 years old, seven years ago, to take her to Washington and New York. Why? Because that's how old he was when he took a similar trip many years ago. "I figured she'd appreciate it as much as I did. And she did."Asked if he would do anything differently, he said he would have built in more rest time for himself.