Tips for a Stress Free Family Trip
Cherylyn Ng
There is something magical about a family vacation. Getting to see the look of wonder and excitement on the faces of your little ones as you explore new places can be so rewarding. The trouble is getting there. Anxiety and drama about travelling with young children is so palpable and immediate for so many of us that it's practically become a meme. And yes, some of the hazards of travelling with kids feel unavoidable, but with a little patience and planning, you can head off trouble before it starts and leave you and your family ready to enjoy that dream trip you've been wanting.
Tips for Travel
· Book Early! If you're flying, booking your flight well in advance means you'll more easily get seats together and avoid the hassle and anxiety of having one or more members of the family in a different row.
· Plan for extra time between activities. Everything takes longer with kids so leave space for all the impromptu bathroom breaks and snack sessions as well as room for stumbling into fun things you didn't plan. Trust me, if your little one sees something unexpected and exciting it'll be a sweeter memory for both of you to be able to enjoy it rather than hurrying on to your next scheduled event.
· Answer the 'Are we there yet?'. Kids have a hard time grasping hours and minutes during travel, so when they inevitably start to wonder how much longer they'll need to be in the car, I recommend trying to use language they understand, like 'between lunch and dinner' or 'as long as two movies'.
· Give them something concrete to look forward to. Talk about the experience of travel to help them understand what it'll be like and relieve any anxiety. Let them know about the fun things they will get to do at their destination so they stay engaged and excited about the upcoming trip as well as more willing to cooperate with your trip preparations.
· Try to stay relaxed. Bad weather, cancellations, and delays. They all happen and there usually isn't anything to be done. Your kids will take your reaction as a cue on how they are supposed to react and feel. If you're relaxed they will be more likely to follow suit.
· Avoid early or late travel. When possible, try to aim for your travel time to be between late morning and early afternoon (or better yet, around your child's usual nap time!). Remember that bit about everything taking longer with kids? Early morning and late night travel leads to tired, stressed, and scrambling kids and adults and can be a recipe for a tantrum.
· Charge devices and download entertainment. Having downloaded games and shows ready is a great save when travel makes wifi unavailable or spotty. This is true for long car rides or flights. And just remember, in-flight entertainment may be down and it's best to have a back-up, just in case.
· Emergency Barf Kit. Instead of dreading a case of vacation car sickness, packing a kit for quick cleanups can turn that little accident into a quickly forgotten speed bump. Paper towels, wet wipes, plastic bags, and spare clothes will make sure you are covered even if you're many miles from the nearest sink.
About the Destination
· Try to stay somewhere with a fridge, microwave, and laundry access in the building. Being able to have a fast, energizing breakfast in the room gets you out and enjoying your vacation faster rather than trying to corral hungry people to a dine-in breakfast when they are eager to hit the ground running.
· Bring a solid stroller with you. For young kids, having a reliable stroller will help immensely, particularly for theme parks and sightseeing as they involve tons of walking.
· Satisfying snacks for hangry kids. Cheese, crackers, fruit, apples, and almonds are filling and will lots of walking and new, unfamiliar foods, having comforting snacks can go a long way.
· Repeat destinations. Coming back to the same destination means you know what to expect and you won't have to spend a lot of time researching attractions or finding directions.