The problem with most of the online advice about traveling with kids is that every child is different. From the differences of age to the fact that temperament from child to child can vary wildly, no one piece of advice ever seems to truly fit the average family. However, there are some tried and tested ways to ensure that your travel plans go off without a hitch, and no matter how old your children or their feelings about traveling, the essentials remain the same. The more that you prepare for a long journey with younger family members, the smoother that journey will become. Here are the simple things to remember if you’re about to embark on a long journey with the more unpredictable members of your family.
Vacation planning
The trick to traveling with children begins at the planning stages. Your kids are going to have their own ideas about what makes for the ideal break, and it’s worth remembering that it’s their vacation too. The more that you involve them, the more likely they will be to endure the effort of long flights or car journeys because they will have an idea of what experiences are waiting for them at the end of it. Let everyone in your party have a voice when it comes to activities while away, and ensure that everyone gets to do at least one thing that they want to do. Whether that’s a day at a theme park or a trip to the local beach, making even your youngest responsible for activity decisions can make the journey to get there much more relaxing. Taking a vacation together is a great way to strengthen family bonds, and the more that everyone feels involved in the preparations, the closer you will all become.
Entertainment options are vital
Travel can involve a lot of waiting around with nothing to really do to occupy the time. While you might be happy enough staring out of the departure lounge and watching the planes line up, your little ones might get very bored very quickly. The more bored that they get, the more frustrated they’ll feel, and that can lead to grumpy moods and tantrums. Unfortunately, delays do happen, so be prepared for those unexpected waiting times by making sure that you have plenty of entertainment choices available to them. While you’re dealing with any potential compensation claims for your flight delay or cancellation through Fairplane.co.uk, the kids will be much less likely to grow annoyingly bored if they have books to read or films to watch. Don’t panic about letting them entertain themselves, and most kids are more than happy with a device in front of them and an internet connection to play with.
Stop being so strict
While having tight control over your household is essential when you’re all at home, you need to lighten up a bit on vacation. Lose some of the stricter rules that you have and make sure that everyone enjoys a little more freedom from responsibility while you’re on vacation. Of course, you limit sweets and treats when you’re at home, but you are allowed to let your family have special treats when you’re traveling. The most important advice for moms and dads on vacation is always going to be to loosen up. You don’t have to be a strict authoritarian on vacation, and your children (and you) will have a much more fun experience if they are allowed a little more freedom on their break.
Taking your kids with you on vacation is a chance to truly build some quality memories that will last a lifetime. Be prepared for disasters and remember to plan as much as possible in advance. The more preparations that you make, the more prepared you’ll be, and your journey will be much more enjoyable as a result.
[…] Travelling with kids can be very exciting, but on the other side of the coin, it can be dangerous. Children can easily get distracted and wander off for example. This is especially true if they never had experienced travelling before. […]