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The Transportation and Security Administration has changed the way children go through security checkpoints at airports.

Children no longer have to take off their shoes and those infamous pat downs have been cut down to a minimum.

"We know that out of the 2 million people that fly daily they're not going to be terrorist...in fact the great majority aren't terrorist," TSA Public Information Officer, Luis Casanova said. “Children under 12 pose very little risk. We have developed a modified screening program for them.”

Children under 12 will now have to go through metal detectors.

"If they alarm they go through the detector multiple times before they are clear so we don't have to do a pat down on the child," Casanova said.

Kathy Mahnke, a frequent flyer, said the new procedures should help alleviate the long lines at security.

"It's hard enough for a parent to get through security without having to deal with children...I think it's great," Mahnke said.

Mahnke said she is not concerned that a child, being used as a ploy by possible terrorist, will be able to get through security. She said she has complete faith in the TSA agents and their ability to recognize a potential threat.

"I think the people that screen are very smart and alert,” Mahnke said. “They read people very well--I think they would notice something going on."

Secure Flight is the behind the scenes program that matches your name, gender and birth date against terrorist watch lists; the matching happens when you book your flight and provide the aforementioned information. 

This is the program I think you were thinking of when you said it happens before you go through security, not Precheck.

Precheck is a pilot program at four airports (DFW, Detroit, Atlanta and Miami) in partnership with two airlines, American and Delta.

The TSA Pre Check pilot will include U.S. citizens who are members of existing Custom and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs including Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI programs as well as eligible airline frequent flyers. 

 For now, the pilot is only conducted at these four airports.