Airport Security Scissors Drama: Our First Worldschooling Mishap Travelling to New Zealand

Ever had one of those travel moments where you realize you’ve made a rookie mistake? Well, I had mine at 36 weeks pregnant, with two kids in tow, and a pair of scissors that were about to teach me my first worldschooling travel lesson…

The Day Everything Went Wrong (But We Survived!)

Our New Zealand Worldschooling Adventure Begins

Back in May, 2016, two kids and I traveled to New Zealand for what we thought would be a smooth introductory worldschooling adventure. We tried to be well prepared. Our flight wasn’t leaving until midday, so we arrived at the airport at 9:30 AM. I thought we would have plenty of time.

We checked in successfully, and my medical clearance for my pregnancy was approved. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. Little did I know, our first worldschooling travel lesson was about to begin in the most unexpected way.

The Airport Security Surprise

We sat down to have breakfast and coffee with my husband before going through customs. I guessed 10:30 AM would be a great time to go through customs, and we entered to find an empty queue. How lucky for us, I thought.

I stood on the other side as I watched our bags pass through the scanners. I laughed to myself as I saw the X-ray screen. It showed two pairs of scissors in a pencil case which I had completely overlooked while packing. Oops.

The Lesson We’ll Never Forget: When worldschooling meets airport security, always pack your scissors in checked luggage!

The Scissors That Almost Ruined Everything

So we were parked in line for a while. I didn’t really notice the time pass by. I explained to Noah and Aaliyah that we wouldn’t be able to take the scissors back to New Zealand, and we would get some new ones when we arrived in Auckland.

My daughter told me she didn’t like the security officer. She thought he shouldn’t take the scissors because Noah was only using them for school. I’ll never forget the look on her face when she realized her brother’s school scissors were being confiscated. “But he needs them for school!” she protested, not understanding that airport security doesn’t care about your lesson plans.

I explained to her that he was just doing his job, but I could see the confusion and disappointment in her eyes. This was our first real lesson in the realities of worldschooling while traveling.

The Race to Gate 60

The scissors were confiscated, and we stood in front of the departures screen to find our departure gate. We found our gate, number 60, was a 9-minute walk and already boarding. Oh no.

We set off for our gate as fast as we could. At 36 weeks pregnant, I could only go so fast with the kids in tow. As we approached the gate, we were those people getting paged across the airport PA system. I laughed, as it had never happened to me before, but we were there, we made it. We were the last to board. Oops, sorry other passengers!

In hindsight, reviewing this blog post in 2025, wow, what a joyful event to be last people on the plane. It wasn’t quite the same when we were almost last on the plane during our escape from Vietnam in 2021. I need to write a post about this and update soon!

What We Learned About Traveling with Worldschooling Supplies

Worldschooling Travel Tips We Learned the Hard Way

• Pack sharp objects in checked luggage - Scissors, pencils, and other school supplies should never go in carry-on
• Arrive earlier than you think - With kids and pregnancy, everything takes longer
• Create a travel worldschooling kit - Keep essential supplies in a separate, security-friendly bag
• Have backup plans - Know where to buy supplies at your destination
• Explain security procedures to kids - Help them understand why certain items aren’t allowed

Pro Tip: Check your airline’s carry-on restrictions and airport security guidelines before packing your worldschooling materials. Sharp objects like scissors should always go in checked luggage to avoid delays at security checkpoints.

The Emotional Side of Travel Mishaps

This experience taught me that traveling with kids while worldschooling isn’t just about logistics - it’s about managing emotions too. My daughter’s reaction to the security officer taking her brother’s scissors showed me how important it is to prepare kids for the realities of travel.

At 36 weeks pregnant, rushing through the airport wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it taught me the importance of building in extra time and having contingency plans. The relief of making that flight was indescribable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What items are typically not allowed in carry-on luggage for worldschooling families?

A: Sharp objects like scissors, craft knives, and certain art supplies should always go in checked luggage. Check your airline’s carry-on restrictions before packing any school supplies.

Q: How early should families with young children arrive at the airport?

A: We recommend arriving at least 2-3 hours early for international flights, especially when pregnant or traveling with multiple children. Everything takes longer than expected!

Q: What’s the best way to prepare kids for airport security procedures?

A: Explain the process beforehand, let them know some items might be confiscated, and reassure them it’s normal. Our daughter’s confusion taught us the importance of preparation.

Q: Should worldschooling families pack backup supplies?

A: Absolutely! Always have a plan to replace essential supplies at your destination. We learned this the hard way with our confiscated scissors.

Plan Your Worldschooling Adventure

Travel mishaps are part of the worldschooling journey, but they don’t have to ruin your adventure. With proper preparation, a sense of humor, and these hard-learned lessons, you can turn any travel challenge into a valuable learning experience for your family.

Ready for more worldschooling inspiration? Check out our other New Zealand family travel guides and worldschooling resources for more tips and stories.

Have you had a similar worldschooling travel mishap? We’d love to hear your stories and any tips you’d add to help other traveling families!

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We still departed on time and had a great ride back to our home country. Beautiful New Zealand welcomed us with open arms, and we learned that sometimes the best lessons come from the most unexpected moments. More posts to come soon!