Going on vacation with our kids can be a blast. It allows us to form happy and fun memories with the entire family and can be a great way for everyone to get away from the stress of the real world. Unfortunately, traveling with our kids can also be a pain. Kids can be temperamental, easily distracted, and hard to entertain at times. While we love our kids, we all understand that this part of being a parent can be difficult. In order to prepare for traveling with your kids, I’ve prepared a list of tips that will hopefully help you alleviate any of the possible stress that comes with it. Let’s take a look!
Plan For Things to Take Longer Than Usual
If you’re traveling without kids, you probably don’t need to worry too much about leaving buffer room in case something happens that derails your schedule. This is the opposite with kids. Kids are unpredictable, and accidents happen so you’ll want to leave wiggle room to accommodate these things. Pretty much everything will take a little longer when you’re traveling with kids due to things like temper tantrums, bathroom accidents, and much more. Be sure your schedule includes room for these unexpected turn of events.
Outline The Trip
One of the best things you can do for both yourself and your children is to let them know exactly what will be happening during your vacation. This will save everyone a lot of frustration in the long run. Kids like knowing what to expect, and it will allow them to have a happier and more comfortable time. You can give them a basic outline before you leave, and then each morning of your trip give them a more in-depth gameplan for the day. This way you won’t have to deal with them asking where you’re going, and they’ll have something to look forward to.
Pack Snacks
Kids tend to get hungry at the most inopportune times such as when you’re waiting in line or driving to your destination. When your child is hungry, they tend to become grumpy. This is a recipe for disaster, so it’s always a good idea to bring snacks along. Have something simple and healthy that you can easily store in a travel bag and give your child when they’re hungry but the next meal is a while away. You’ll thank yourself later.
Bring Their Favorite Toy
With any vacation, there will be a degree of downtime, and it’s important your child has something to entertain them during these moments. This is why you’ll want to pack their favorite toy, book, or whatever else might make them happy and keep them entertained. This can help when you’re waiting in line, waiting to be seated for dinner, and so much more.