12 Tips for Traveling With Children
Traveling with young ones is an adventure with opportunities for fun, learning, and making memories. But it also comes with challenges—how do you keep them engaged, calm, and safe while helping them soak in the new experiences? Here are some simple tips from a fellow parent to make your travels smoother and enjoyable for everyone.
1) Before You Go: Planning is Your Best Friend
Start by packing right. In addition to essentials, include comfort items like their favorite blanket or toy. A mix of familiar and maybe “one new toy” can keep the excitement alive. Also, consider the climate of your destination and pack clothes accordingly, always ready for unexpected weather changes.
2) Booking and Timing: Travel Smart
When booking flights or train tickets, consider times that align with your children's sleep schedules. Overnight flights or train rides can be a boon, as kids can sleep through most of the journey. Early boarding options are also worth considering, giving you ample time to settle without the rush.
3) Airport and In-Flight Strategies: Ease the Journey
Airports can be overwhelming for little ones. Engage them by explaining airport procedures or turning them into a game. Before the trip watch an informative video showing them what to expect. Let them expend energy while waiting by walking around the terminal with you by their side, preferably holding their hands. On the flight, snacks, and entertainment are essential. Pack healthy snacks, load up on digital content, or bring books and quiet activities. Think activities without small or loose pieces that can easily be lost. Remember chewing gum to help when the ears pop. A set of sound blocking headphones can be a lifesaver too.
4) Road Trips: Keep It Fun and Safe
If you’re hitting the road, remember to break up long drives with stops to stretch, eat, and explore. This not only helps manage restlessness but also adds to the adventure. Safety is paramount, so ensure car seats are correctly installed, and you have everything for comfort within reach. Try putting on an audio book with an adventurous story to keep their minds occupied.
5) Lodging: Think Like a Kid
Choosing the right place to stay is definitely on the shortlist. Family-friendly accommodations offering amenities like swimming pools, playgrounds, or a spacious room can make a big difference. A kitchenette can also ease mealtime hassles, allowing for familiar foods while away from home.
6) Keeping Kids Engaged and Learning
Traveling is a fantastic way for kids to learn about the world. Encourage their curiosity by involving them in planning, like choosing activities or sights to see. Use the journey as an educational experience, discussing different cultures, languages, and landscapes. If they like history, presenting them with some fun history of the towns you’re visiting along the way can create a lasting memory.
7) Entertainment on the Go
As you already know, kids often have short attention spans, so pack a travel bag with various activities catering to their interests. Consider including some of their favorite stories and activity books or coloring supplies. Interactive travel games can also be a great addition, especially ones encouraging looking out the window and engaging with the journey, such as I-spy or finding specific-colored cars or semi-trucks. I recently moved across the country, and counting different colored semi-trucks was an excellent pastime for my husband and me to keep us awake and laughing.
8) Quiet Time Strategies
Sometimes, especially on long flights or drives, you'll need your child to be quieter. Headphones with their favorite music or audio books can be a lifesaver. Having quiet activities, like sticker books or soft plush toys, with which they can play calmly is also helpful. Encourage quiet time by making it a part of the adventure, maybe calling it a "secret mission" to be as silent as a ninja.
9) Encouraging Exploration and Understanding
Traveling is a fantastic way for children to learn about new environments and cultures. Please encourage them to ask questions and explore their surroundings under your supervision. Before your trip, read books or watch videos about your destination together. This helps them connect with the place and adds to their curiosity. During the journey, simple scavenger hunts can help them observe and learn about different sights, sounds, and smells in a new city or landscape. Bring along a scrapbook so they can collect treasures along the way.
10) Ensuring Safety
Safety is always the top priority. Always have a child identification tag with your contact information on your child's backpack or clothing. Discuss a meeting point at each location in case you get separated, and teach them basic safety rules about strangers and traffic. For younger children, consider using wrist links or harnesses in crowded places.
11) Comfort and Routine
Maintaining some sense of routine can help children feel secure. Try to keep to regular meal and nap times as much as possible. Bring their favorite blanket or toy to give them a sense of home, no matter where you are. Familiar items can be incredibly comforting to a young child in a new place.
12) Flexibility is Key
Despite all your planning, remember to be flexible. Children's moods and interests can change quickly, and what works one day might not work the next. Be prepared to adjust your plans and activities based on their needs and energy levels.
Before you Roll Out
Traveling with young children is an exercise in patience and creativity but also incredibly rewarding. You're creating precious memories and giving your children the gift of new experiences and learning. With some preparation and much love, you can work through the challenges and ensure a fun, educational, and safe trip for your family. Considering that it’s not just a trip where you bring the kids along, it’s often a brand-new experience for them and a much bigger deal, so make their needs equally important as yours.
Children are different; discovering what works best for you is part of the adventure. Happy travels!
Kimberley Arnett-DeSimone, a career pediatric occupational therapist in Huntersville, North Carolina, authored this post.
