How can we make airports and airplane cabins more child-friendly, particularly for children with ADHD or autism spectrum disorder? A group of students from SWPS University (USWPS) and the University of the Aegean (UAegean) explored this question during a May seminar titled "Children on the Move: Developmental Psychology, Inclusion and Air Travel in Europe," held in Mytilene on the Greek island of Lesbos. This ERUA traveling seminar was co-organized by the Faculty of Psychology in Katowice (USWPS) and the Department of Social Sciences (UAegean).
Collaborative Learning
Over the course of the three-day seminar, participants collaborated on solutions to help ease travel stress for young passengers. They learned how to accurately identify children's needs while traveling, taking into account both typical childhood development and the unique challenges faced by children with diverse neurodevelopmental profiles, including ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. The students also explored ways to transform airports and airplane cabins from sources of stress into enriching developmental experiences for young children.
Additionally, a team of SWPS University students (supervised by Dr. Urszula Kłosińska ) — Teresa Jasita, Dominika Jasita, Jagoda Sobiegała, and Noemi Strączek — gave a presentation to Professor Anastasia Zissi’s class from the University of the Aegean’s Department of Social Sciences.
Practical Solutions for Traveling Parents and Children
The collaborative efforts of the seminar participants resulted in several original and practical solutions, including:
- Therapeutic Stories: Tailored for young children to help them get comfortable with flying and navigate the unfamiliar airport environment.
- Scavenger Hunts: Designed for parents and caregivers to make traveling more predictable for children, giving them a sense of control and agency.
Students from SWPS University conduct a workshop at the University of the Aegean.
Students from USWPS on the campus of the Unviersity of the Aegean.
The team from USWPS exploring the castle in Mytilene on Lesbos
Ancient sanctuary in Mesa on Lesbos
Learning Beyond the University Walls
The seminar demonstrated that education and academic instruction do not have to be confined within university walls; they can successfully thrive through dialogue and collaborative work on solutions that promote inclusive and more child-friendly forms of travel.
This Polish-Greek cooperation demonstrates that inclusion is not an abstract concept, but can be a tangible result of team work that culminates in the development of new tools, stories, and scenarios, which can be applied across different countries and social contexts.
ERUA Member Universities
Funding