As a parent, you no doubt adore your children, but let’s be real—they can be a serious nuisance when you’re traveling together. The whole process is exhausting for them, so they can become a lot more temperamental and demanding. To help you deal with this and avoid going insane, here are some tips for you.
Dress in Layers
Depending on where you are traveling to, the weather might be unpredictable, so remember to dress your kids in layers. This makes it easy to adjust their temperature as the weather changes throughout the day, ensuring that you can keep them comfortable without losing your mind.
Pack Smart
It can be tempting to overpack when you’re traveling with kids, bringing all sorts of toys, gadgets, and emergency supplies. However, pack only what you know you will need; choose versatile clothing and essential items that serve multiple purposes, and pack a small bag with essentials like snacks, water, and a change of clothes for easy access during transit.
Take Frequent Breaks
Regardless of which mode of transport you will take when traveling, make sure that you can take frequent breaks, which will be essential to keep your kids happy. They need to be able to stretch their legs, expend some energy, and get some fresh air. So, lengthy bus rides with no stops aren’t going to be a good idea.
Keep Snacks Handy
As Deakin reminds us, it’s not just us adults that get “hangry”; hungry kids get cranky, too, so always keep a variety of healthy snacks within reach. Bring fresh fruit, nuts, and granola bars along on your day trips, helping to keep everyone’s energy levels up and moods positive, while also preventing you from having to rely on the overpriced snacks that tourist attractions sell.
Plan Ahead
The best advice for dealing with your kids when traveling is to plan ahead. Research your destination thoroughly, book accommodations, and plan activities that suit all age groups. Having a structured itinerary helps keep things on track and ensures that your kids have plenty of fun things to keep them occupied.
Stick to Routines
It’s tempting to throw out your routines when you’re on vacation, but try to keep them up, especially for your kids. This is particularly important when it comes to mealtimes and bedtimes, helping them to adjust to their new environments and giving them a sense of stability and comfort.
Choose Kid-Friendly Accommodations
When you’re booking accommodations for your trip, opt for family-friendly hotels or vacation rentals when possible. Look for places that offer amenities such as playgrounds, swimming pools, or kid’s clubs, as these facilities can provide much-needed entertainment for your children, keeping them busy and happy.
Prepare Entertainment
Long journeys can be tedious for children, bringing out the worst of their behavior, so bring along books, tablets, and travel games to keep them occupied. To avoid them being overloaded with unhealthy stimulation, consider downloading educational apps before your trip to ensure you have a variety of entertainment options, and think about bringing an eReader instead of physical books, saving you valuable luggage space.
Involve Kids in Planning
To ensure that you’re keeping your children entertained, it’s a smart idea to involve them in the planning of your trip. Allow them to choose activities or places that they would like to visit, ensuring they enjoy themselves while also giving them a sense of ownership and excitement about the trip.
Pack a First Aid Kit
Perhaps the smartest tip for traveling with kids is to pack a well-stocked first aid kit, including plenty of band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any necessary prescription medications. Being prepared for minor injuries or illnesses can save you a lot of stress and time, not to mention money, as medical supplies can be expensive in touristy areas.
Plan for Downtime
One of the worst things you could possibly do when traveling with kids is to over-schedule your trip. Plan for downtime to allow your children to rest and recharge; otherwise, they will inevitably become burnt out with all the activities, as will you.
Use Identification Bracelets
A wise safety precaution to take before traveling with your children is to give them identification bracelets with your contact information. In crowded places, these can be invaluable if you get separated, providing you with a sense of peace in knowing that your kids can easily reach you if needed.
Be Flexible
Even if you consider yourself to be an itinerary traveler, it’s essential that you remain flexible when traveling with children. Things might not always go as planned, and that’s okay, so be ready to adapt to changes and go with the flow to reduce stress.
Keep Essentials Accessible
It’s a smart idea to always keep essential items like diapers, wipes, snacks, and extra clothes within easy reach when traveling with kids. This prevents unnecessary rummaging through luggage and makes handling emergencies quicker and easier, so consider taking a backpack dedicated to these supplies.
Educate Kids About Safety
Another top tip for traveling with kids is to teach them basic safety rules, such as staying close to you in crowded areas, holding your hand, and not talking to strangers. Prepare them for different situations to ensure they understand how to stay safe during the trip, making the trip less overwhelming and dangerous for all of you.
Pack Comfort Items
Regardless of how well you prepare, traveling away from home will always be difficult for your kids, so bring along a few comfort items from home, such as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal. These familiar objects can help soothe your children and make them feel secure in unfamiliar surroundings. However, maybe don’t bring their absolute favorite items, just in case they get lost.
Plan Kid-Friendly Activities
No matter how much you want to check out guided tours, hikes, or monuments, remember to prioritize choosing activities and attractions that are engaging and suitable for your children’s ages. Interactive museums, parks, swimming pools, and zoos are often hits with kids and can make the trip more enjoyable for them.
Use Technology Wisely
There’s no denying that technology can be a lifesaver on long trips, making us question what we ever did in the past when we didn’t have it. It’s certainly a good idea to use tablets or smartphones for educational games, movies, and music, but try to balance this screen time with other activities to prevent your kids from becoming irritable.
Pack Light Toys
You will no doubt want to bring a few toys that your kids can play with during travel but try to keep them compact and lightweight. Small puzzles, action figures, and other miniature objects can provide your kids with plenty of entertainment without taking up much space, and this will also allow you to bring more of them.
Stay Positive
Above all, you’ll always need to try and maintain a positive attitude throughout your trip if you want to stay sane around your kids. They will often pick up on your mood, so if you start losing your mind, just try to stay calm and cheerful, helping them to do the same. You’ll no doubt experience challenges, but be patient, and you’ll all have a wonderful time.