Ask Margar-etiquette about Entertaining Traveling Toddlers

Dear Margar-etiquette,

I was recently traveling through an airport and noticed several toddlers and young children watching videos and playing games on tablets and phones with the volume turned up. While I understand that parents are trying to keep their children entertained, I couldn’t help but wonder why everyone around them had to listen to Bluey or sing along with Ms. Rachel. Isn’t there an expectation of courtesy when using technology in public spaces, even when children are involved?

Traveling Alone

Dear Fellow Traveler,

While there’s nothing wrong with a toddler learning songs with Ms. Rachel, the rest of us didn’t necessarily sign up for the sing-along! Traveling with young children is no small undertaking. Between managing luggage, navigating security, and trying to prevent a meltdown, parents and caregivers have their hands full. Technology can be a wonderful tool for keeping little ones entertained during long waits and crowded flights. However, keeping your child entertained shouldn’t come at the expense of everyone else’s comfort.

Airports, airplanes, restaurants, and waiting rooms are shared spaces where personal entertainment should remain personal. Whether it’s a toddler watching cartoons, a teenager playing a video game, or an adult scrolling through social media videos, the same courtesy applies.

Fortunately, there are ways to keep little travelers entertained while being mindful of those around them. If technology is part of the plan, consider child-friendly, volume-limiting headphones or videos that can be enjoyed without sound. For a break from screens, coloring books, small toys, favorite storybooks, and other quiet activities can help pass the time. A little preparation can go a long way toward making the journey more pleasant for everyone. The goal isn’t to discourage entertainment, but to choose activities that respect the people sharing the space.

Of course, toddlers are toddlers. They cry, get restless, become overwhelmed, and sometimes have meltdowns. I appreciate that you’re not complaining about those moments. They’re a natural part of childhood, and fellow travelers should extend patience and understanding. There’s a difference, however, between a child struggling to manage their emotions and a device filling the surrounding area with unnecessary noise. One may be difficult to control. The other usually has a volume button.

There’s also a valuable teaching opportunity here. Children learn about courtesy by watching the adults around them. When parents demonstrate an awareness of others, they’re teaching their children that being part of a community means recognizing that our choices can affect people beyond ourselves.

And perhaps that’s the lesson worth remembering on our next trip. We don’t need children to be perfectly quiet, and we certainly don’t need parents to be perfect. But we can all make an effort to be thoughtful about the space we share.

Where manners meet real life,

Margar-etiquette