Families live different lifestyles and for some that might include travelling. Babies can make travel harder and if your baby is not relaxed with this it is ideal to keep travel as short and infrequent as possible. For those who are required to travel a lot due to lifestyle there are lots of things to consider to make things easier for both parents and children. In this article, we’ll include some tips on how to get the best out of travelling with your kids.
Travelling can be fun, although let’s face it, not many children enjoy this feeling of never ending travelling on long trips. Depending on the age of the child or children involved it’s always a good idea to pack some sort of activities for them to do along the way. This might mean bringing stuff for them to color, music to listen to, or movies to watch. Either way, you want to make sure their comfortable and happy or you’ll get a lot hassle and stops along the way.
To save time and money on stopping for food it’s a good idea to bring snacks along for the trip that don’t require being kept cold. Make sure you have plenty of drinks and snacks to hand but stay away from sugary snacks and drinks as these will make your children more prone to over-activity and difficult behavior.
Allow extra time to stop and stretch your legs, whether you’re a child or an adult bathroom breaks will be necessary. Legs are going to get cramped and bodies will be tired of being confined to a vehicle. It is important to plan some extra time in the trip to stop and be able to do this without causing yourself to run late.
Depending on your reason for traveling, stopping to see specific sights might be a good idea especially if it’s for vacation. Children will be happy to not only be out of the car, but to engage in activities that are fun and educational are always a good thing for children. They will also be tired when they get back in the car so will settle better and possibly sleep.
Plan to leave at night, this is especially important with young ones who thrive on schedules. Road trips can go a whole lot faster and you can avoid more trouble and stops if you leave when children are asleep. Preload up the vehicle if you’re using your own transportation and plan to leave with kids around their bed time. It might just get you there ahead of schedule and without disrupting their normal schedules. They can bring a pillow and blanket and favorite soft toy to make the trip more enjoyable.
Furthermore, you don’t want to over pack or leave your kids to packing as they’ll likely attempt to pack their entire wardrobe and bedroom instead of just the things that are actually needed or required for the trip.
When using public transportation make sure you plan accordingly as well. Kids are often most difficult, tired and uncompromising during these times.
Just remember they get frustrated too, but stop and take a deep breath and just be patient. Allowing plenty of time and making sure you have all you need to hand will help to make a pleasant trip for parents and children and avoid un-necessary panic and stress.