I've yet to find a good way to ask that a child stop kicking my seat. I've joked "Wow, there are some powerful legs back there!" and have had the parent apologize, but not really stop the behavior. I'd like any and all tips...

Duct tape is your friend j/k! But it might work!

Just ask the parent to have the kid please stop kicking the back of your seat. The straight forward approach is the most effective.

I agree that being direct is usually the best, but I've seen quite a few parents that have the "kids are kids" approach. I guess in that case, I'm up a creek.

If it is intolerable and the parent will not do anything, talk to the flight attendant.

Ask the kid to switch seats w/ you..."Okee-Doe-Kee...now it's my turn!"

I feel you pain AONeal! I can forgive the situation if the parent cares. Last year I had a 6 hour flight in which the parent told the toddler at least 100 times to please stop kicking the seat of the nice lady. I found, a few direct looks into the toddlers eyes would work for awhile, and then I'd wink at the parent, so they understood, that I understood they were doing everything they could. I applauded the Mom desperately trying to teach her child. It is the unattending parents that I find unforgivable.

If a couple of requests to the parent don't work I ask the FA for help. And keep asking each time the kid does it.

My limit is 6 untul they moved me to first/business. The problem is if there are no seats open there.

That only happened once. And the parent was useless - wouldn;t even talk to the kid. I turned around and told the kid - who wasn;t that little - about 7 - in great detail exactly how I would strangle her if she didn;t stop. (No smile, no joke, as serious and mean as I could look.) She started crying - but she stopped kicking.

First I do the , with a smile: "Excuse me, I'm sure he/she doesn't realize it, but your child is kicking my seat and I'm recovering from back surgery and it's causing extreme discomfort."

If that doesn't work, go for the " I'm wondering if you would consider changing seats with your child, as the kicking is truly disruptive."

And if that doesn't let the flight attendant play referee. ...and yes, I had kids and no, I would never allow them to kick a person or their seat. Yes, kids can be kids, but parents need to teach manners and not tolerate rudeness at any age.

Order a drink for them! It was MY kids that were kicking the seats. I had the steward bring them a drink (Pepsi) and tell them it was "from the people in front of you." Dumb but it worked. And going thru the parents usually won't work--kids will do what they want.

OK then, ask the kid direclty to please stop kicking your seat.

Your only hope is to politely ask parents to monitor their child; however, I would hold out little hope that will cause kicking to cease.

I have more often been bothered on long trips by people seated behind me who use my chair as a brace to help them in and out of their seats. They tend to like to wander around the cabin, and each time they get up or sit down, I am given an unwanted jolt.

They (like kicking children) tend to be unmindful of others. When informed of the annoyance they are causing, they are more likely to become peevish than to modify their behavior.

Oh, dear. When this happened, I would pull over (safely) and give 'the look' followed by 'when you are ready to stop kicking the seats, we can continue.' All systems off, of course. If this is not your child and the parent is present, perhaps 'should I pull over until ______ is under control?' Peer pressure will usually work. Finally, it is a safety issue. 'Don't distract the driver' is a 'house rule'. Common courtesy when giving others a ride is another. Hope this helps.

Yikes! Can the OP clarify, please? Are we talking about car or plane? I assumed that it was a car trip. If so, nevermind. : )

lol

I've been on both sides of this dilema. When I'm the one getting kicked in the back, I usually turn around and smile and ask if they could try not to kick the seat. It usually helps for a while. Once while traveling with a 5 year old grandson, he was the one kicking the seat. I discovered if I pulled the carry on out from under the seat and put it on the floor under his feet, he stopped swinging his feet. He had something to prop up his swinging feet...too short to touch the floor. Might suggest that to the parents behind you.

Bassharborbaby - that only works if you're driving and you're in a vehicle that can be easily stopped which leaves out airplanes, trains and boats.

As I'm reading this, I'm thinking that maybe it'd be worth it to go to the dollar store and by some cheap little toy to take with you. When the kid starts kicking, turn around and bribe him - "If you stop kicking my seat, I'll give this toy to you. But, if you kick me at any time during the rest of the trip, I get to take the toy back."

For a buck, you get a chance at a peaceful trip...

When we were children doing something in the car that our parents didn't want us to do they would say, "Stop that, or we will turn around and go home."

We stopped because we knew they would do what they said they would do.

nytraveler, good thing it wasn't my child you said that to or you would have been carried off the plane. you must be big to scare a child.

This is perhaps why children don't behave. There are obviously parents out there who think that adults who expect said parents' children to behave are the enemy. Jails are filled with those kids. I know one.