I think the real screamers are having inner ear troubles. I know I do and I take a decongestant before I board, maybe parents need to look into that. Having said that, I notice a lot of parents who give their children attention when they're being bad, but ignore their kids when they're being good. A basic rule of learning is: Any behavior that is followed by a desired consequence will increase in frequency. Pay attention to them when they're good. That's all. Easy. I once kept a toddler (not my own) from fussing on a Boston-SFO flight. First we got friendly by eye contact and smiling. Whenever he was quiet and he looked at me he got a big smile and approval and PeekaBoos. When he started to fuss, I frowned and turned away. We didn't hear a peep out of him (except for giggles) for most of the flight. Now I train all sorts of animals and I find this sort of thing entertaining. I don't expect other people to while away their hours teaching strange children good manners, but I do expect parents to do their homework. The kid wasn't a surprise, you had 9 months to read up on the subject. I don't agree that people who don't have children are self-centered. The real self-centered people are those who don't teach their children manners. Even if you don't care for the rest of us, that kid will be handicapped when he grows up and is expected to behave like a human. Force isn't necessary, in fact it's a hindrance to the learning process. Try reading Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor for starters.
Having said that, I notice a lot of parents who give their children attention when they're being bad, but ignore their kids when they're being good. A basic rule of learning is: Any behavior that is followed by a desired consequence will increase in frequency. Pay attention to them when they're good. That's all. Easy. I once kept a toddler (not my own) from fussing on a Boston-SFO flight. First we got friendly by eye contact and smiling. Whenever he was quiet and he looked at me he got a big smile and approval and PeekaBoos. When he started to fuss, I frowned and turned away. We didn't hear a peep out of him (except for giggles) for most of the flight.
Now I train all sorts of animals and I find this sort of thing entertaining. I don't expect other people to while away their hours teaching strange children good manners, but I do expect parents to do their homework. The kid wasn't a surprise, you had 9 months to read up on the subject. I don't agree that people who don't have children are self-centered. The real self-centered people are those who don't teach their children manners. Even if you don't care for the rest of us, that kid will be handicapped when he grows up and is expected to behave like a human. Force isn't necessary, in fact it's a hindrance to the learning process. Try reading Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor for starters.