Airplane Advice: Pre-Boarding and During the Flight
Pre-Boarding
Be sure to make photocopies of your family's airline tickets. If one gets lost, this will make it a lot easier for you!Flying will be more pleasant if children work off energy before boarding. Use every opportunity to walk and move around before boarding.Let children walk with you from parking the car. Watch planes flying into the clouds while you walk around.Don't try to have children sit quietly while waiting for the plane. Obviously they have to be supervised and civilized while waiting for the flight. Go from window to window. Watching planes take off and fly into the sky entertains almost any age child.Play Areas in airports- These spots are wonderful-- unless your flight is ready to leave and your child isn't. Tell your kids about the time limit right when they start to play. Remind them gently. Countdown the last minutes. For toddlers, have some enticements on hand to ease them away.Consider a small meal in the departure lounge before you board if the kids are getting hungry. Yogurt, cheese sticks, crackers, anything to keep them from getting hysterical!Take children to bathroom before boarding and landing.
When the captain has the seat belt sign on, children can not leave their seats even for nature. Explain this before you fly and they might not even use the bathroom as an excuse for roaming around.If your children are small you may want to take advantage of pre-boarding. This gives you first choice at overhead storage space. One of the parents can pre-board with all the stuff while the other parent stays in the waiting area with the kids. Let the kids run around for a while and board at the last minute. You won't have to worry about not having overhead space and your kids don't have to sit too long on a plane that's not going anywhere for the time
being.
During the Flight
Be sure to dress your young children in something bright, patterned, if possible so it doesn't show stains. The cuter they look the better your receptions by stewards, the business man seated next to you, etc.When traveling with a child under the age of two and a spouse or second adult, request a window seat and an aisle seat in the same row, with an empty seat in between. The middle seat could be one of the last filled, increasing the possibility of a vacant seat for your child's use.If you are traveling with an infant, you may want to use a soft front pack which will allow your hands to be free.If you're deciding whether or not to purchase a ticket for a small child (children under the age of two travel free, when seated on the adult's lap), consider their temperament. Do they prefer to be held a lot or to sit alone? Are they mobile? Will you be comfortable with them on your lap for the duration of the flight? It may be worth it to buy the extra ticket!Many airlines have bassinets which you can request in advance for small infants.You might want to read the information presented at this link,
Using Child Restraints on Aircraft to learn safety guidelines.Keep a color picture of your child's face in your purse or wallet in case he or she gets lost in a crowded airport or shopping area.Whenever possible, book a nonstop flight. This streamlines your trip and prevents change-of-flight problems.Whenever possible, travel during off-peak hours. Peak travel times can be very crowded, especially during holiday seasons. The less crowded a flight is, the more comfortable you will be, and the less your child's behavior will affect other passengers.If you're traveling out of the country, consider taking red-eye flights. This will not disturb your child's normal sleeping patterns as much as a daytime flight.Let children take turns at the window.
The window is the best place to sit on the air plane. Make certain every child has a chance to see the world from a great distance above the earth. Also, let kids enjoy the experience of take-off or landing.Know what to ask for on the airline. Pillows, blankets, playing cards, and often fun packs for junior travelers, are all usually there for the asking.Pack some finger foods, like fruit, pretzels and cereal for your children to enjoy during the flight. (this came in handy once when our airplane was stuck on the runway for three hours!) These items might help them adjust to in-cabin pressure changes. For younger children, try using bottles, "sippy cups" or pacifiers to help ease inner ear pressure. For older children, chewing gum or lollipops can serve the same purpose.Request special meals for your children at least 48 hours in advance! Airlines really go out of their way to make these meals appealing to your kids!Ask the flight attendant to serve your children their meals before starting the general meal service so they don't have to wait and you don't have to eat and struggle with the children at the same time.Have your childrens' ears checked at the doctor's office before you go so that you know all is clear! This will make you and your children (and everybody on your plane) happier!Some popular home remedies for popping the ears include hot towels (place one over each ear and the heat will expand to the middle ear, relieving the negative pressure on the drum), hot cups (place the hot towels into two paper cups and hold a cup over each ear), and blowing (have your child blow through the nose while you hold both nostrils closed...although this may be painful at first it will help to relieve the pressure). Also try to get your child to yawn, which will help make the ears "pop" and relieve the pressure. Exaggerated facial movements will also help and can become a fun game! On our doctor's advice we have always given our young children a dose of Triaminic Night Time before we have flown. (we have used the above mentioned remedies as they grew older) This helps relieve the pressure on their ears and it makes them a bit sleepy. If you are lucky, they may sleep through a good portion of your trip.If all of these suggestions fail and you find your child screaming at the top of their lungs, just remember that the screaming will help to relieve the pressure on their ear drums!Be aware that clogged or painful ears can take as long as three days to return to normal. If your child has problems after that, see a doctor.If your child is on medication, be sure you have enough for the entire plane ride. Keep medicine with you in your carry-on and also have a prescription handy just in case.Invest in a child-sized roll-on suitcase for your younger children. They will really enjoy pulling it behind them at the airport just like all the grownups!Pack a bag of surprises for your children.There are lots of neat travel-sized toys(such as the Travel Magna-Doodle and the Travel-Sized Etch-a-Sketch) and that will work great. Don't forget the old standbys such as crayons, colored pencils, a roll of Scotch tape, stickers, safety scissors, notebooks, coloring books, small wind-up toys, rubber stamps with ink pads, and finger puppets. Audio books with a Walkman are also a good choice. Older children enjoy Game Boys and personal DVD Players (just remember to pack the headphones to go with them) Try not to get noisy toys since you and everybody else will have to listen to them over and over. Also, try to avoid bringing along toys that are sharp, heavy, or that break easily. Pull some "tricks" out of your bag as needed while you are on the plane. Always pack changes of clothing in your carry-on luggage for your family. A fresh shirt can be a lifesaver.Arrange for children to trade places to share parents. This travel time is an opportunity for some quality time with each child. Plus, children who are enjoying uninterrupted attention from Mom or Dad are less likely to grow restless while flying.It might be a good idea for you to be friendly with the people sitting around you. Introduce yourself and introduce your child/children - most people like babies, some just don't know it. If your child starts to cry and they have seen you to be a pleasant individual they will tend to be sympathetic rather than annoyed.
Most airlines will allow you to bring a stroller for your infant or toddler with you at no additional cost. Instead of packing your best stroller, invest in a cheap umbrella stroller. Umbrella strollers fit in the overhead storage bins on the plane and allow you to have access to them right away when you are exiting from the plane.Bring your own car seat with you! Car rental agencies charge about $5 a day to rent a car seat and often their car seats are dirty and not good quality. Sometimes, rental agencies may be all out of them. We purchased a duffel bag from the Right Start Company that is made especially for car seats. Just put your car seat in the bag and check it on as you would normal baggage. The cost of the duffel bag was more then paid for after one trip. (The bags cost $30--at $5 a day for a week you have more then paid for it!)
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Traveling By Car
 When packing the truck of your car, place your kids suitcases on top. They are much more inclined to need something out of their bags then you are, so having them within easy reach will make life easier for all!The kids are whining, crying, and complaining as your car heads down the road. What should you do? Bring out the grab bag. Each of the children can pick out a wrapped surprise. You don't need to include anything expensive. Some examples of items to include would be glitter markers, plastic animals, toy cars, puzzle books, stickers, little activity books,
mazes, dot-to-dot, threading sets (pictures with yarn),
felt boards, small magnetic puzzles, Go-Fish cards, silly putty,
rubber stamps,trading cards, and so on. Each child's surprises can be wrapped in different paper to make it easier for them to pick out.Along with the concept of the grab bag, you may want to label the wrapped presents with a day or time that they can be opened. For example, if you are going to pass by Washington D.C. in your travels, you might have a gift that says "Do not open until we pass by Washington D.C. This will help to generate some interest in your destinations and the different cities and places you will be passing.To avoid the frequent question of "How much longer till we get there?", you may want to give your older children a pocket atlas and highlighter so they can map out the route as
you travel. They can use the highlighter to plot out the route, circling different points of interest or
particular milestones. When you pass those points, or a few minutes before
you approach them, talk about them. Not only will this teach them good geography skills but it will give your children a sense of
accomplishing the miles and cause them to take a more active
interest in the landmarks of the trip. A suction cup compass will aide them in these endeavors.
If your car travel will take you through several states, your children will enjoy marking off each state on a laminated U.S. map after you have passed the state boundary line. On one trip we made, our oldest son made us get out of the car and take a picture of each state's welcome sign. If it's time for a car break, the first rest area in a state is usually equipped with a welcome center where your children may find stickers, brochures full of pictures, pens, and other such items that they will enjoy adding to their stash.Another alternative is for you to make a "map" of the places you are going. Depending on the ages of the children you could have them look for things as basic as road signs or cows in the field to land-marks you're going to pass. As kids my
sister and I had a Bing-o game that used various common things found along the highways and the first one to spot it got to mark it on her card (things like railroad tracks, a barn, a rest stop, a picnic table, a gas station a sign with the letter Z in it, etc.)Designate a navigator each day.One of our most worthwhile investments for long car trips was the Little Tikes Travel Desk (which can be purchased at etoys ) This has two storage compartments and a clip to hold down papers.Hang a pocketed slipcover over the back of the front seat. This useful holder will save space in the car and keep toys, books, and games in one easily accessible place.If you have a child traveling in a car seat you may want to equip the seat with a cozy cushion to provide head support during naps. If your seat has a tray you may want to bring along some suction toys and attach them to it.
The old days of all-day, all-night driving staight through to your destination fueled by coffee, cans of Coke, fast food, and doughnuts are gone!! Frequent stops are a must when traveling with children. A good rule of thumb is to take a 15 minute break for every 2 hours on the road. Stash a ball, bubbeles, a frisbee, and a jump-rope in your trunk. This will allow your kids to burn off some energy before they have to go back in the car.(Bonus: The Frisbee is flat and won't take up much room.)
A sensible schedule would include starting early, while your kids are still pajama-clad, and drive for a couple of hours while they sleep. At the breakfast stop, they can change into their day clothes and pile back into the car for a few more hours of driving. (followed by rest stops every 2 hours or so depending on your children's ages). Time your arrival for late afternoon so that you and the children can have some time to unwind by taking a swim in the hotel pool or playing at a playground. In the case of rainy weather, we have found that indoor shopping malls make great places for everyone to stretch their legs before going to bed for the evening.Let your children know when you'll be making the next rest stop. Most kids will find it easier to cope with the tedium of travel if they know a break is coming. If your children can tell time, let them do this for you.Designate QUIET Times. Agree on times when everyone must zip their lips.
It's vital to your sanity and the kids need a break from each other, too.
To make their car ride as comfortable as possible, you might want to use car shades to keep the sun out of their eyes. Sun glasses
will work too if your child will wear them. Take sun screen and a hat as well.If your children tend to fight in the car try this: When traveling by car, put
one child in the front seat and one parent in the back seat. You can also have the children change seats so they're not
always sitting in the same spot and with the same person.Stop backseat bickering by consulting your kids in advance about how they
think car disputes should be solved. Write down their solutions and when the first complaint rings out from behind, whip out the pad with their responses
and read their words back to them.
Wake any sleepers about ten minutes before you plan to stop so they can
re-enter the world with a minimum of grogginess(this will allow them time to get their shoes back on as well)
Avoid restaurants and have a rest stop picnic. Keep a small cooler in your trunk with sandwich fixings for roadside picnics. No need to assemble the sandwiches ahead of time. Your children will be much happier having the freedom to run around in the fresh air rather then being stuck in a restaurant. A relaxed picnic in a park can become a fond family memory!In warm weather freeze your bread the night before traveling. In the morning take out the number of slices you need, spread the choice of your filling, and then wrap. The bread will work as an insulator and will thaw out by lunchtime.
Fast food restaurants, such as McDonald's or Burger King, that are equipped with playgrounds are also a great idea! Our children really enjoyed being able to use these areas when they were finished eating. When we were traveling in rainy weather, indoor playgrounds were a life saver! If your children's Happy Meals come equipped with toys, you may want to put them aside for when you get back in the car. This will make the transition of getting back into the car a little easier!Audio book tapes are great. Bring your children to the library before you travel and allow each of them to pick out a few of their favorite selections.Edible Jewelry: Here is a great activity for the car trip. Provide your children with sweetened cereal rings and string licorice. The children can string the cereal rings onto the licrorice and make necklaces and braclets. When they get hungry they can snack on their edible jewelry!Don't forget the snacks. You may have just passed by the last restaurant for 50 miles but your kids are hungry. Those snacks can come in handy. Excellent choices include pretzels, raisins, crackers, string cheese, dry cereal, fruit, carrots and celery. An idea to make them more interesting is to put them in special decorated baggies to peak your child's interest. You can put colorful stickers on them or store them in paper bags with pictures of the places you will be visiting on your vacation. Dried fruits such as raisins, cherries, apples, papaya, bananas, apricots, pears, and cranberries won't bruise or spoil on long trips. Cut celery and carrots into sticks. Place in plastic containers and add several ice cubes. This will keep them cool and crisp.
A water bottle for each child is also a must! For older toddlers and children, invest in a small individual thermos for each with an open-and-sip spout that doesn't require pouring liquids. This should be washed each evening in preparation for the next day. Fill it with water only-it is thirst quenching, doesn't stain if spilled, and children drink less than a sweetened beverage. Pass out packs of bubble gum and stage some bubble blowing contests. See who can blow the biggest bubble, the funniest one, etc..Vinyl window clings or toys with suction cups attached to them are fun to put up on the car windows and may keep the younger set busy for a while while you are driving.There are many travel games you can play with your children, and travel times can be a wonderful opportunity for teaching and helping your children
explore the world. Point out interesting sights or concepts such as fast, slow, over, and under. Here are some other suggestions:
I Spy: I spy something green........and name it
The Alphabet Game:
Locate the letters of the alphabet in sequence on signs and license
plates
I'm Going on a Trip and I'm Taking . . . Name something starting
with "A". The second persons repeats your word and adds one starting with
"B" and so on through the alphabet
Geography Start with any place in the world--Florida for example. The next
person has to think of a place that begins with the last letter of "Michigan"
such as "Nepal". Whoever goes after that needs to think of a place
that starts with an "L". You may not use the same place twice and it has to
be a real place.
Counting games: Assign each child a color, such as green, and count how many
green cars he or she sees in a given time frame. See how many trucks one
child can count, how many sports cars for another. There are plenty of other things
outside the car windows that you can count like birds or cows.
The license plate game
This can be played by seeing who can add up the numbers the
quickest. You can also make words out of the letters. Or you can see how many different states you can identify on license
plates. (For a bonus, name the capitol city of that state.)
The License Plate Game #2: Give each child an outline map of the United States. As they find a license plate for each state, they can color in that state. They will enjoy seeing how many states they get to color on their maps!
The License Plate Game #3: Take the three letters from the plates of cars you pass on the road and try to make a word out of them. For example, the letters TOG might become "together" or "toggle" or "photograph." If they have trouble coming up with a word, give them a definition as a clue. This is a great game for older children and it can be pretty challenging when the letters are mostly Qs or Xs.
Watch cars coming in the other direction: Have each person select a different type of vehicle to look for. They can be sorted by colors,
number of doors, type of vehicle, etc.
One Minute of Words Everyone has a piece of paper and pencil except the one
who is going to keep the time. The timekeeper picks a letter and tells
everyone to "Go!" Players write as many words as possible that start with
that letter. When a minute is up, the timekeeper stops everyone. Now each person says the words that they
came up with and if it is a valid word, count it. (Variation- After the
valid words are counted, take another minute to write a sentence with as
many words from your list as you can.)
Black-out bingo Prepare equal size grids for several colors of cars and "x" out a square every time one
is spotted. See which one fills up first. Remember that your children are always delighted to have your undivided attention and will enjoy playing the games with you!Visit this site for some great traveling games Family Fun MagazineIf you want kids to fall asleep, sometimes stroking their heads, along with
soft music and the motion of the car, will do the trick. Prop little kids'
heads up with pillows in the car seat. Pack enough pillows and blankets for
everyone.To combat motion sickness, experts suggest eating lemon drops, lemon cookies, or peppermint; also, try foods high in carbohydrates, and salt-covered foods such as crackers or pretzels, which cut down the production of that which causes nausea. Ask your doctor for advice. Also, if
your children are susceptible to nausea, don't allow them to read while the car is in motion!!(even looking down to color can bring on nausea!) If you don't mind using a medical alternative, Chewable Dramamine might help your car sick child. An Inflatable Potty might turn out to be a godsend for those extra long drives. Don't forget the toilet paper and plastic garbage bags with twist
ties for disposal.For older children you can help them understand how much time is left on the trip by trying this this trick: Gave them each two small containers. Fill one with pennies, dimes, jelly beans, marbles or any other small item. Leave the other container empty. Each time you pass a town or some other important mile marker along the way, have them move one small object into the other ocntainer. They will enjoy watching the one container get empty while the other one starts to fill up.
Bring along a first-aid kit. Don't forget to pack a thermometer, adhesive bandages, non-aspirin pain reliever, insect repellent, sunscreen, antibiotic ointment, and medication needed for family members. Keep the kit handy!Some other survival goods you may want to have in your stash would be pine scented-cleaner and a roll of paper towels,for car trips,wet wipes (they
always are welcome on hot, sticky days or after an in-the-car snack), readily accessible changes of clothes(if the kids
spill their drinks or have another unfortunate accident you won't need to
dig through a trunk full of suitcases for clean clothes), pillows, blankets (the air conditioning in the car can get cold!), and rain gear. You may also wish to take along some hand sanitizer. This works without water and is perfect for cleaning
grimy, sticky hands when you can't find a restroom.
If you don't already have a cellular phone, you may want to consider leasing one for your trip.
Plastic bags of several sizes can be used for dirty clothes, vomit of a car-sick child, and placing beneath the sheets of the motel bed for children
who sometimes wet the bed.To avoid burns from hot car seats exposed to the summer sun, take along a
sheet or towel to place over the car seat.
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Planning Your Trip
Involve your children in the planning process. Show them pictures of the places you will be visiting and get them interested! You might even allow them to select a specific destination that they would like to visit. When we traveled to Colorado our oldest son who was a three year old train enthusiast picked a train ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad. To build on the excitement of the journey, create a countdown calendar and put it on the refrigerator. You can make this yourself by searching through brochures or magazines specific to the region you'll be traveling in. Cut out pictures of some of the fun things you will be seeing or doing together while you are away. For example, if you are traveling to Orlando, Florida you may want to cut out pictures of Mickey Mouse, Disney World, Univeral Studios, your hotel, and so on. Use craft glue to paste the pictures onto a large sheet of construction paper, then tape small squares of construction paper to cover each picture. Your children can take turns opening a flap each day until you leave for vacation!A great gift for a child is a minature toiletry kit that they can keep packed with travel-size products. This makes is much easier to remember the small necessities such as a toothbrush, shampoo, hairbrush, and sunblock.Pack some familiar things from home to bring with you. Some suggestions include a beloved blanket, a favorite stuffed animal, or a toy train. This will help them feel more comfortable while you are away from home. With little kids it might be a good idea to take "pretend trips" before you go. Involve your kids in packing a small suitcase, setting up rows of chairs as a plane or in a configuration similar to your car, cutting up paper for play tickets, and taking turns being waiter and customer in a restaurant. Use this as an opportunity to warn kids about what to expect --
that the plane may rock or that they need to order their dinner from a menu and wait for it to be servedGive kids information about where you are staying and distances in kid terms(i.e. it will take about as long as to drive to Grandma and Grandpa's or the length of 6 Barney Shows on T.V.). You may want to start small. Try a one-night camp out in the backyard or a nearby state park
before committing yourself to a weeklong camping trip, an afternoon hike as a trial run for a vacation in the mountains, a local museum visit before a weekend grand museum jaunt.
Put your children on a budget for souvenirs and spending money. If your
children can handle the math, let them weigh the pros and cons of spending their money on a stuffed toy, say, versus a t-shirt. It's a safe, low-risk introduction to the challenge of shopping.When checking into a hotel, teach children how to operate the security locks. Establish a code word for children so they don't open the door to strangers when they can't see through the peep hole. And immediately put toiletries out of the reach of children in the hotel bathroom.A night light can be comforting for a child sleeping a strange room. You may want to bring one of these along with you.(They also help Mom and Dad find the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night!)If you are bringing small children along a childproofing kit including doorknob covers, plastic outlet covers, and pipe cleaners to tie up drapery or electrical cords is a must. Make sure that the places you will be staying are kid friendly. Some hotel chains that go the extra mile where your kids are concerned. We enjoy staying at The Embassy Suites hotel chain. This chain offers a two room suite, a small fridge (great for storing water bottles & milk), a microwave, and a free cooked to order breakfast each morning. My boys think their breakfast is the best of the best! Ask if they are offering any special family packages. I have seen this chain offer everything from Family Movie Night packages to Build-A-Bear Workshop deals. Most of all, make sure everyone in the family gets a good night's sleep on the evening before you leave for vacation! We all know that frustration, irritability, or bickering can ruin a trip really quickly! Remember to be sure that you and your children get plenty of
sleep before you leave!
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Food Smarts
 Don't worry about atmosphere when you are traveling with children. We all know how children are, when they are hungry they want their food served quickly in a manner that's familiar. This doesn't have to mean fast-food for every meal!You may want to consider limiting restaurant meals to one a day if your kids are under the age of ten. We have enjoyed staying in suites or other accomodations that have a small kitchen. Not having to go out every morning to breakfast can be a real time and money saver! There is also the option of a picnic for lunch. You can pack plenty of healthy food and you won't have to worry about your children making too much noise while you are eating!Carry low-fat snacks like bagels, pretzels, carrot and celery sticks, and fruit in the car. Stay away from too many junk items like chips, cookies, and candy bars.In restaurants you can order "family style" where you share the main courses rather than order each child a meal. Another option is to ask if your children may order half-portions from the adult menu so that they aren't limited to endless meals of hot dogs, grilled cheese, french fries, and the other high-fat menu items contained on most children's menus.If you have a picky eater in the bunch (such as our son was while we were in Germany) it may be worth carrying along some food with you into the restaurant that you know he/she will enjoy. This also helps if your children are very hungry. They will be less impatient and crabby if they can have something to eat immediately.Last of all, bring along something for your young children to do while you are waiting for the food to arrive. A small art box stocked with markers, stickers, paper, a puzzle or coloring book, or even a few plastic animals will be sure to keep your kids busy before their food arrives. Carry a multi-sectioned pillbox and fill with cereal, goldfish crackers, raisins, and other small treats. Opening and closing the doors will keep your toddler busy for a while and the small snacks will help to hold them over until their meal arrives.If possible, let your toddler sit facing a window. Cars and people will help provide distraction.Avoid booth seats with an unrestrained toddler. (If you don't understand the wisdom of this tip, you will after you sit in a booth with an unrestrained toddler!)Bring your child's own training cup to avoid spills.Don't forget to tip your restaurant personnel generously.(especially important if you have young children who tend to leave a mess!)Here are some quiet games that you and the children can play in the restaurant
1. Water Snake - take the plastic straw covered with paper and scrunch the paper down until it forms a tight accordion shape. Put the paper on the table and using the straw, put a few drops of water on it creating the snake.
2. Shuffleboard Pennies - for this game you need several pennies. Two players sit opposite each other. Place the pennies in the center of the cleared table. First player hits the penny with the finger to try and get it as close to the opposite edge of the table as possible. Players alternate turns, shooting the pennies from where they last landed. If the penny lands within two inches of the edge = 1 point. If it's slightly over the edge = 5 points. If it falls of the table = lose a point
3. Guess the Check - Always a favorite.
4. Another variation of Add the Check. If the kids find an error they get an amount equal to it.Don't forget the plastic containers. (such as those you use for school lunches) This will allow you to conveniently save uneaten portions for later.
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Sight-seeing Guide
RULE 1: Forget long bus tours (unless you've got an infant who will sleep anywhere), and give up the idea of following a guide through a museum or historic site, unless you've somehow stumbled on a tour that's meant for families
RULE 2: Spend some time at home reading up with the kids about where they will be going and what they will be seeing. The more comfortable they are in a new environment, the better traveling companions they'll make.
RULE 3: Tell the kids that what they will be seeing is NOT boring; then plan the day so that's the case.
RULE 4: Plan one major site-seeing outing a day. Spend the rest of the time playing.
RULE 5: Have a good breakfast. Don't head out without eating and without a backpack or diaper bag with some healthy snacks and drinks. Hunger will strike at the oddest moments.
RULE 6: Always take a stroller for a child under four (or a backpack for a baby or toddler).
RULE 7: Dress for comfort. If you plan on doing a lot of walking or standing in line,
well fitted, comfortable shoes are a must!
RULE 8: Don't roam when you're away from home. The old adage, "There's safety in
numbers," rings especially true when in a distant location. Safety dictates
that families enforce the buddy system, making sure that no member of the
family wanders off alone. Parents should write each child's name on a slip
of paper, along with their own name and local address, plus the phone number
of a close friend or relative back home who can serve as a go-between in
case a child is separated from the adult; then tuck or pin the paper in the
child's pocket. Always accompany children into rest rooms. And always carry
a current photo of your child with you.
RULE 9: Relax!
Be flexible! Allow time to stop and take a detour. Travel brings unexpected situations and surprises. Show your children how to make the best of a difficult situation through your own gracious example.
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Happy Souvenir Hunting
Set the ground rules before leaving home. Let the kids know exactly how much they can spend.Bring back money or stamps from another country. Give each child a special album or special box to house their collection.Bring along a baseball cap and have the children look for pins for each of the places you visit. They will enjoy pinning them on their special vacation hat!For the girls in your family, a charm bracelet is a great souvenir! They will enjoy finding and adding special charms to their braclet from year to year!Don't spend hours searching for the perfect memento, especially with younger children. Pick something and then leave. If you don't want to buy anything explain that today is a "looking day" and that you'll buy something tomorrow.For any aged child, look for things that are different from home. Some examples include: a bleached cow skull from the Southwest, a tri-corner hat from Williamsburg, VA, a Junior Ranger Kit from a National Park, and don't forget books written especially for children on the area that you are visiting.If a historic site is on the itinerary, let the kids get a small replica of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Liberty Bell, or the White House. Look for a reproduction on an historic toy.Don't forget to save money for a few special impulse buys too. They're always the best souvenirs.Encourage your children to take advantage of free souvenirs such as printed napkins, business cards, brochures, matchbooks and paper coasters ( these can be put in a blank scrapbook)Let the kids start their own collections to remember their trips. They can buy a postcard at every stop, writing a few lines about what they did there and then send the card home to themselves with a special vacation memory written on the back. Patches, pins, decals, pencils, pennants, spoons, mugs, and magnets are also fun, inexpensive things to collect from your many vacations.
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Memories That Will Last a Lifetime
If your children are old enough, pack a camera for them.( a disposable camera might be a good idea)
Don't try to tell them what to take pictures of. Let them take what they find interesting. Remember a child's perspective is different than an adult's.Have your children make a Video Diary. Give your children a chance to make their own video of the trip. Have your children act as reporters and directors. You will be surprised at how much they will enjoy this!
Have them start a scrapbook! If they are very young you can encourage them to draw pictures of what they are seeing. Have them cut out pictures from brochures and paste them in. Record what countries, cities, or states you have visited during your travels. Have them save ticket stubs and include them in their books. If they meet any friends they may want to ask them to sign their books as a special memory. If your children are older let them put in their books what they find interesting. Maybe they would like to write down all the makes and models of cars they see or all the different wildlife they view. It's their book so they should put what they want in it!If your travels involve the "great outdoors", a Nature Walk Diary is a must! Be sure to bring along a notebook, markers, a glue stick, a small stapler, and some envelopes. Your children can collect flowers, leaves, stones, shells to add to their notebook. Wild flowers can be pressed between pages. Have your children sketch pictures of landscapes to include in their notebook.
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Most of All, Have fun!
Don't forget to pack your sense of humor! It's essential to survival when traveling with children!Try to plan a balance between things you enjoy doing and things your children enjoy doing. It may mean a few stops at a playground along the way or running through a fountain in the town square but these things might be what your child will remember most!Even young children enjoy museums and cultural exhibits in small doses. Plan
short, varied activities for toddlers, and always follow an activity requiring attention and quiet behavior with something fun, that allows children to run around and get some exerciseNo matter how much you have planned and organized, be flexible enough to shift gears!Relax, have fun, and retreat to a vacation state of mind. That's what you are there for and that is what your children will remember. Take the time to listen and hear what your
children have to say. Savor these moments; they disappear all too quickly!Remember, nothing beats a lazy afternoon of kite flying in a mountain meadow with a picnic lunch!
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Thank you Wizard of Draws for these great graphics!
"Are We There Yet?" authored by Eileen Ogintz and published by Harper Collins is an excellent resource book for traveling with children. |