A mother has shared a simple airport hack that she claims can transform family travel by giving children a sense of responsibility. In a TikTok video posted by user @emieclaire5, she explained that children around the age of five start craving independence and often throw tantrums because they feel they have no control over their surroundings.
Rather than simply telling them to behave, the mum recommends assigning 'tiny travel jobs' such as carrying passports, identifying gate numbers, managing a small suitcase, or checking boarding passes. She emphasised that these are roles, not actual jobs, and that they help children feel included and give them something to 'own'.
The mum acknowledged that the approach is not a cure-all but said it can 'change the whole travel day'. Her video was met with widespread approval from other parents, many of whom said they would try the technique on their next trip.
In additional videos, the mum rated the 'fun' level of travelling with children by age. Newborns scored 6/10, but one-year-olds dropped to 3/10 and two-year-olds hit a low of 1/10 due to 'strong opinions but no logic'. After that, she said travel becomes progressively easier, with ratings rising by about two points per year.
