Travelling with your kids allows you to create wonderful memories with them. It’s a great way for your kids to learn and explore new places while having fun with the family.
Still, there are parents who choose not to travel with their kids, particularly those with very young children because of the difficulty it entails. I do agree that travelling with young ones is not as easy at it seems, but there are ways to make the trip fun for your family.
By Johann Jaritz (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Here are some useful tips when travelling with children.
1. Know their preferences.
The things that I remember the most during my childhood trips with my family are the places I enjoyed going to. Kids love going to amusement parks, zoos, and swimming pools rather than historic places and museums. You want your kid to enjoy the trip, so see to it that you ask them where they want to go and include it in your itinerary.
2. Pack Smart.
Packing smart seems pretty impossible when travelling with kids since they have A LOT of essentials things to bring. We recently wrote an article on how to pack like a pro and you may also find it useful when packing your kid’s things.
3. Choose family-friendly restaurants and hotels.
I almost had a nightmare after eating at one artsy fartsy restaurant during our recent trip. The ambiance was good, the food tastes even better, but I didn’t enjoy the experience since I constantly have to check if my toddler is trying to break some expensive displays in the art-themed restaurant. Research in advance and look for family-friendly restaurants and hotels.
4. Always bring extra everything.
This applies to food, water, medicine, and spare bags. You’ll never know when you’ll need them.
5. Don’t jampack your schedule.
Remember that you are travelling with kids who are very impatient beings. Slow things down and be realistic with your itinerary. Make sure that your kids get enough sleep during the night so they won’t get cranky the next day.
6. Put your contact info inside their pockets.
This is something that most parents take for granted. The truth is, no matter how vigilant you are, there’s still a possibility that your kid can get lost. Remember to put a paper that contains your name, contact information, and address inside their pockets. Have your kids memorise these things if possible.
7. Find ways to entertain them during long trips.
I personally don’t like using tablets to keep my kids entertained. Instead, I let them bring non-electronic toys or simply play games with them while on the road. Counting cars is one of our favourite games during long trips.
8. Avoid taking so much pictures.
In the age of social media, capturing memories is essential to your social life, but taking so much of it may cost your child’s patience. I can’t overemphasise how impatient kids are and how short their attention span is. My son had a meltdown during our recent family trip because I took so much pictures of him. I say create more memories rather than capture them.
9. Stay away from overcrowded places.
Parents should avoid overcrowded places particularly those with infants as they can easily catch viruses and diseases.
10. Enjoy!
The purpose of travelling with kids is to have fun with them. Don’t stress yourself too much during the trip. It’s never going to be perfect but it’s an opportunity for you to create a connection with your little ones.