advice
Ask DadandBuried Institute for Children With Autism & Related Disorders
We’re taking our kids on vacation for spring break, and we’re a little bit terrified. Any tips for flying with a toddler? —Gabriela, Larchmont
School Consultation
Offering ongoing training and support to school staff and district personnel on the principles of applied behavior analysis and the hands-on implementation of positive behavior supports. We collaborate with school personnel to guide the functional behavior assessment process and develop behavior intervention plans in compliance with New York State regulations.
Parent Counseling & Training
With the goal of creating successful, positive, long lasting behavior change across environments, we gladly support families in the home and community settings.
Who We Are
With offices throughout Long Island and Westchester, we are a group of experienced, board certified, and New York State licensed behavior analysts offering high quality educational and behavioral guidance to school districts in the greater metropolitan area since 2000.
Please contact Eric Frantino at ICAWestchester@gmail.com for more details about these and our other services.
We’re Hiring! Immediate Part-time and Full-time Positions Available 14
April 2020 | nymetroparents.com
I
s bringing a nanny or a grandma with you an option? I’m assuming no—because, sadly, this is not fantasyland. However, the good news is you’re not traveling with a baby, so you don’t need to drag along that anvil that doubles as a car seat. The bad news is toddlers are mobile. And vocal. And scream almost as much as babies (sometimes more; damn you, terrible 2s!). And they’re much less likely to sleep the whole time. The best news? They can be distracted by screens. I know, I know, I’m a terrible parent: Screen time should be limited, especially for toddlers; you should bring coloring books instead; blah blah blah. But this is the one time we condone screens for toddlers. Look: Airplanes are no time to screw around. You’re stuck in a metal box with 200 strangers who are irritated and stressed. They’re predisposed to hate anyone who sits next to them, regardless of age, and the minute they notice they’re in the vicinity of young children—and on a plane, everyone is in the vicinity—they stop being polite and start being real. And they hate kids. What they fail to realize is no one is less happy about traveling with rambunctious, excitable kids than their parents. Moms and Dads lugging their children on a flight that cost them a thousand dollars— if they’re lucky!—are more frustrated than the people sitting in the seats those kids are kicking. Nobody escapes that flight unscathed! Plane rides should be fun for kids, and they are no time to experiment with screen-free activities. You can get back to your rules when you land. But when you’re 35,000 feet up? Cut everybody, and yourself, some slack. So, your mission, Gabriela, should you choose to accept it: Keep your toddler as occupied and as quiet as possible. In my experience, screens are the best way to do that. Two hours of staring at the seatback TV isn’t going to kill him. Six hours of playing on an iPad won’t melt her brains. Get in, get bingeing, get out of the plane; everybody wins. And by “wins” I mean “survives”! Mission No. 2 is getting Grandma to fly back with you. Unfortunately, I can’t help with that one. Our advice column features the wise and humorous commentary of Mike Julianelle (aka @DadandBuried), a 40-something influencer with a popular podcast who lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two kids.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR DADANDBURIED? Send it to editor@nymetroparents.com with the subject “DadandBuried’s Advice.”
