Traveling can be hard, especially if kids are involved. Any parent knows that traveling with kids can be tricky, challenging, and fun all at the same time. As a matter of fact, the process might seem like an endless amount of things to do, all for a short time. Like in almost every aspect of life, however, with tons of preparation and patience, anyone (including you) can plan a family trip that’s trouble free. This article will focus on how you can make traveling with kids easy, exciting, and yes, even relaxing.
Family Travel Tips
Keep track of flight details: It can be stressful (and even impossible) to schedule your kids’ bedtimes during long trips. Let’s say, for example, you’re traveling across the globe, from the United States to somewhere in Asia. One way in particular to get around this, according to Meraki Lane, is to book a morning flight. That way, parents can just put their kids to bed a little earlier than usual the night before, ensuring that they’ll be well rested for the long journey ahead.
Traveling with the right type of luggage: When traveling, having a strong, durable, and reliable piece of luggage is an absolute must for kids. Children should be able to transport all their necessities in a bag that’s easy for them to carry and sized correctly for their height and age. Bright colors and patterns are not only fun for kids, but they also allow them to easily spot their belongings. The majority of bags nowadays have special features like luggage- backpack convertibility, and even ride-ability. Fortunately, there are a lot of great options for kids when it comes to luggage.
Awesome Kids’ Luggage Options for Parents:
- Olympia Luggage Rolling Duffel Bag
- Rockland 20 Inch Polycarbonate Carry On
- Melissa & Doug Trunki
- Travel Tots Luggage with Backpack (2 Piece Set)
- Skip Hop Zoo Kids Rolling Luggage
If you’re a parent traveling by car, using a child safety seat (car seat) is the best protection you can give your child while traveling. These seats are designed to reduce the risk of neck injury in case of an accident. Every state in the United States requires that infants and small children be restrained – and with good reason. As parents, once you select a seat for your child, be sure to try it out.
Pack snacks and cool gadgets: Before leaving your home, make sure to bring ample snacks for the entire family. Homemade trail mix (nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and popcorn), granola bars, applesauce squeezers, and fruit leathers are just a few snacks parents can pack for the journey. Also bring an empty bottle of water or sippy cup so that after you board the plane, you can simply just ask the flight attendant for a drink to refill the bottle or cup.
Lastly, aside from including your child’s favorite snacks, be sure to remember their favorite handheld gadgets inside your carry-ons. You might also want to throw in small earphones or headphones. It’ll be helpful if they want to enjoy movies and/or television shows during the ride.
Role play inside the airport: This is where children mimic behaviors and verbal expressions of someone or something they’re pretending to be.
I think it’s safe to say we all know how the airport security measures and lineups are taken seriously. That being said, it can be quite nerve-wracking for some kids to go through all the personnel, inspections, and long lines. As a solution, inform and educate them in advance on what’s expected of them at the airport and discuss the environment if they’re old enough to understand. You can practice by role-playing beforehand so they won’t get overwhelmed with all the procedures and pre-boarding requirements. Organize their personal belongings ahead of time and make sure they aren’t wearing any belts and don’t have other metal objects with them that might attract TSA’s attention. Whatever the case may be, try to make the entire process fun.
Consider a hotel at the airport: Most of the time, airports are viewed as a wicked place; that we must go through in order to make it to our flight on time. Staying nearby, however, at a hotel that’s just steps away from the terminal can be rewarding for families traveling with young children.
Another option for parents, especially if you’ve arranged an early morning or late night flight would be to stay at an airport hotel before you head out. For instance, if you’re flying from one major city to the next, as a traveler, know that, aside from the road congestion, there are a handful of accommodation options nearby.
5 Kid-Friendly Airports:
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
With spring break and summer vacation soon approaching, the pressure might be on to plan a family vacation. In fact, if all doesn’t go according to plan, make another plan. For example, if plane tickets are too expensive, look into renting a vehicle and driving your family to your destination. The only problem, however, is that children of all ages get restless no matter what. Meaning that parents might spend more time managing their child’s emotions than enjoying the drive.
We’ve all been guilty of letting travel obstacles give us the blues, but that shouldn’t change anything. It’s best to have a few backup options in your back pocket just in case someone needs a nap, or you just aren’t in the mood to do what you planned, you can switch gears without throwing everyone’s day off.
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I would like to thank you for reading the article. What are some other ways parents can make traveling with children easier? Don’t hesitate to leave comments below.
