Trapped on a Plane With An In-Flight Movie (Inappropriate for My Kids)

From the Editors of Common Sense Media

June 7, 2007

Q. I was recently on an airplane with my kids (all under 6), and an inappropriate in-flight movie was blasting through the cabin. What can parents do in a situation like this?

A. Being trapped with the wrong movie can be a figurative nightmare for parents -- and sometimes a literal one for kids, if it's scary. And summer travel can make this issue even more pressing for families. Check out these helpful tips from Kidsafefilms.org.

Check before you go. Check with the airline to see what movie is playing, then go to Common Sense Media to see what you need to watch out for and get suggestions on how to discuss it with your kids.

Talk to your kids. Prepare them before the flight. Let them know that they may see images you don't think are age-appropriate for them. Talk about how they feel when they see them, and let them know what they mean to you.

Bring alternatives. Cards, games, books -- anything to keep them from looking up at the screen. And be prepared to be engaged with your kids; they may need extra help to be distracted from the screen.

Write to the airlines. Let the airlines know how you feel about this issue. Suggest movies that you'd rather see or other alternatives -- including non-movie options (TV shows, short-subject videos, etc.).

Take action. Kidsafefilms.org has created a national online petition to bring attention to the issue.

For more parent tips on kids and media, please visit:  http://www.commonsensemedia.org/parent_tips/ .