Flying with little humans can be challenging. Delays, waits, lines, quiet voices, and nowhere to go, makes my patience grow wary. Traveling adults experience anxiety and tension with getting to the airline on time, progressing through security, and keeping track of baggage. Add bothersome kids to that mix and it is chaos.

Being a military family, my tots glide through the skies four to five times a year to visit their relatives. A permanent change of duty station from California to Italy and back to California gives my littles the experience of switching planes three times to move to our destination. I say with confidence that they are avid travelers.

I have secret tricks to help with flying with young ones. It is demanding, but it seems to grow easier every time. I can share what works for my household.

One thing I allow my kids to do is play at the airport. Some buildings have a small fun area for families and others do not. When there is no space, I let my four-year-old and six-year-old amuse themselves as they please, as long as there is enough room, and they are not infringing on other people.

My tykes perform acrobats on the floor in between the shops. This garners many foul looks from fellow passengers. I see the glares and understand that the ground has germs.

Hands can get clean through a good scrubbing. I fully accept the judgmental stares.

Youngsters cannot remain motionless and quiet while waiting to board and then continue to remain silent and statuesque on a three-hour flight. That is asking too much of them.

Yes, I permit my littles to roll, flip around, cartwheel, do handstands, and anything they label gymnastics. They get down, dirty, and have fun, knowing that they have to stay in one place after we board. I observe them and caution them when they are about to bump into other people. Otherwise, I let them be animals.

When we fly overseas, the overall flight time is 20 hours, and the layovers are around 12 hours. The moment their feet jump off the airplane, they bounce, run, hoot, and holler. Children require a way to release their energy. They are incapable of bottling it up for 32 hours. Adults want to stretch their legs and relax their backs after a long flight. Toddlers are the same, but extreme.

Pay no heed to the gawkers. They are not the ones entertaining tiny humans for hours inside a flying cage. I do what is best for us: for my sanity and theirs. Twirl those germs up. Shake the jitters away. Hop ‘til they drop.

When you fly, do what works for your family. Empower yourself knowing that only you know what the kids need and you are doing your best. That is all someone can ask for.

Editor: Claudia Cramer