I took my children aged 8 months and 3 from the Michigan to Perth Australia over a nine month period and they remember very little but we had a great time and have some wonderful pictures. No more a big deal than taking them to school in the car and the risks that go with that.
Sadly the western world wants to wrap their offspring in cotton wool these days. In SE Asia kids ride small motorbikes to school from age 12 while in Canada a youngster can solo a Cessna 152 at 14 I believe?