Kids Travel Tips - Secrets to Traveling With Your Children

Want some great kids travel tips? There are some wonderful secrets to traveling with children. These secrets are wonderful because they help you to understand and plan how to make the trip more uneventful and peaceful.

Besides kids travel tips....First and foremost, remember that this vacation is for YOU! You plan it and decide where you are going. The question to ask is: where do I want to go? Don’t fall into a trap of thinking there are limited places to go now that you have children coming with you. Almost any area is fair game. Believe that the children will enjoy the same experiences you will; then plan for them to enjoy those.

Secondly, and probably one of the most important kids travel tip is to know what to expect. Remember that the care giving responsibilities you have when you’re at home won’t magically disappear when you go on vacation. There will still be the standard “work” tasks of bathing, dressing, feeding, and running after. One thing to agree upon before leaving is the split of duties between traveling partners so that there aren’t any surprises once you are gone.

When you consider a split of duties don’t forget to include the older children. Even the five year old can help carry items, deliver diapers and help to entertain the younger sibling for several minutes while mom and dad take a much-needed breather. Those who are blessed with young teens find they are capable of entertaining, carrying, watching, packing and many other small things that make our lives so much easier. And the truth be told, not only do they not mind helping, but it makes them feel needed and “older”.

Thirdly, plan for help during the trip if you feel you may need it. For some people spending 100% of their time with the children is heaven sent. For others, a much needed rest once or twice during a week-long trip is all the doctor ordered for a refreshing holiday.

One of the best kids travel tips include investigating nanny services and interviewing them before traveling to the area. Do you feel uncomfortable leaving the kids with a qualified stranger? Brainstorm with your spouse or travel companion about how to address this issue. Is there family available where you are traveling, or maybe family of friends?

There are also resorts who cater to families with kids. For example, FDR RESORTS in Jamaica have all inclusive packages that include a “vacation nanny”. What a relaxing vacation that would be!

Fourth, understand that you may have to lose spontaneity, especially with younger children. However, you’ll gain more from seeing your destination through the eyes of your children. Spontaneity probably disappeared after the birth of your first child but that shouldn’t make your vacation boring and predictable. Expect glitches and roll with the punches. You’ll appreciate the difficulties with new eyes and find joy in the laughter after the problems are fixed.

The fifth kids travel tip is to plan time for exercise during your trip. Good eatin’ and no exercise equals no fittin’ into jeans when you get home. Remember that these are energy bundles you are taking with you and that they also need exercise to keep their minds focused and their sleep patterns on an even keel. That means taking turns going to the hotel gym won’t do the trick because that doesn’t help the children, and ultimately doesn’t help you either. Plan to walk for a part of every day, whether it’s at a zoo, an attraction or shopping. Be sure that you are able to walk at a good pace. The hotel may have a pool, a tennis court or basketball court – while the kids splash you can take turns swimming laps. Be creative and most of all have fun!

While it’s not until you get back, a very important kids travel tip is to plan to spend at least one day after your return unpacking, doing laundry and getting ready for work the next day. Ending your vacation stressed because a flight is cancelled or the car develops a fatal illness on the way home just makes you more stressed at the end of the trip than you were in the beginning.

Finally, it’s important to keep in mind some travel elements as you take to the Rocky Mountains, the streets of New York or the museums. Children are veritable sponges, absorbing information, even when you can’t believe they’ve heard a word you’ve said! The world is their classroom. It’s hands on, it’s visual, it’s auditory, and kinesthetic (touchy/feely) – all at the same time. Children will absorb much more information than you might think, even when they are complaining loudest. And best of all, you don’t have to travel to exotic or expensive places for children to enjoy themselves.

Another secret is that by traveling with your children (and not for your children) you opened up a whole new world for them. Their imaginations take over while experiencing new topographies, histories, climates and cultures. It makes learning “real” to them and shows up for months in their reading interests and reports.

Your children also learn to handle glitches in your travel plans by watching and learning from you. When you hit the traffic jam on the highway, or your flight is delayed, do you throw a fit or sit back patiently and make lemonade from lemons? Can you laugh in the face of adversity and keep going or do you angrily pout and make everyone around you miserable? How you handle yourself is a clue as to how your children will also handle themselves.

Remember these simple kids travel tips and have fun on your trip!

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