Airport screening for kids

I find the general hoopla over airport security somewhat ridiculous.

I would stand in the middle of an airport naked if it meant keeping my family safe. So it bugs me that people are up in arms about the new pat downs and full-body scanners. Flying is not an inalienable right, and I truly think the headlines about privacy invasion concerns are only representing a minority of people.

I was, however, a little taken back by the cell-phone footage of the young boy being patted down shirtless at the Salt Lake City Airport. Although the boy’s shirt was removed by his father in an attempt to speed up the process, the image of a young boy being patted down by a grown man made me stop and think a moment: How would I handle this situation if my 3-year-old daughters gets selected for extra screening?

According to the Transportation Security Administration Blog site , children can be randomly selected for the Advanced Imaging Technology, which takes what equates to a nude, full-body X-ray. Children can opt for a “modified pat down” in lieu of the scanner, which requires travelers to stand motionless for 5 seconds.

We will be flying soon and I’m trying to think of the best way to prepare my daughter in case she or I get selected for screening. We’ve spent so much time talking about who can and can’t touch her body and when, and I’m pretty sure a random TSA agent at the airport doesn’t fall into the OK category.

I also don’t want to get into a full discussion on guns, terrorists and hostage situations with a 3-year-old. That would not make for an enjoyable flight.

So what’s the best way to explain to a kid why he or she may be patted down by a stranger at the airport? How can you prepare your kids for this process?