Kids And Travel: What Parents Need To Know
Traveling is a way to open your children's eyes to the world. It can bring them experiences they would never get at home. At the same time, they can kick and scream through the whole thing. The larger your family, the harder it becomes to travel with kids. The advice below will help you plan your trip so that you face the least amount of stress possible.
Planning is key to preparing yourself and your kids for traveling. You have to foresee their every need and be able to meet it. Start by keeping a diary of when your kids eat, sleep and play. Write down what their favorite things to do, eat and drink are. Once you know their schedule, you can plan your travel for the optimal times. For example, if your child takes a nap between 1pm and 3pm, you can plan to be on a plane at that time so they sleep through the flight.
Once you have their schedule down, you need to prepare for the play times. That means bringing games, toys and mutable electronics with you on any flights or long drives. Assume that your child will only play with an item for 30 minutes and bring enough new things so they can change what they are doing that frequently. You can also bring craft items, but be sure they won't damage anything around the child. For example, markers can easily be used on the inside of a car, bus or airplane, and you are paying to clean up the damage.
The third thing your child will need is sustenance. That means you have to have drinks and food with you to ensure they are placated whenever they are hungry or thirsty. When considering what to bring, messes should be avoided. That means you shouldn't bring cereal or popcorn, two of the messiest foods for children. Drinks also need to be provided in a spill-proof container. If you need to bring a lot of drink boxes or bottles, bring one spill-proof cup for each child and then pour the drink into it. The less mess you make, the less headaches you'll have.
Of course, there are some disasters you can't foresee. Kids get hurt, but you can bring a first-aid kid to tend to them. Kids get sick, but bringing along some nausea, diarrhea or constipation medicine can help. Luggage gets lost, but researching local kid's stores (or even Wal-Mart) before you go will help you find what you need in a hurry. In fact, consider looking up a well-reviewed babysitter in the town you plan to visit so you can have a night to yourself while the kids are entertained.
With these simple tips, your trips should become more enjoyable. You will keep the kids busy while the adults enjoy the adventure. Be sure to use all of the advice here so that your trip can go off without a hitch. The time taken to read this article has truly been worth it!
