Traveling with children can be one of the most stressful activities that you will do as a family. Strangers on the plane may be giving you annoyed looks like your child cries in the seat next to you and siblings may be fighting in the backseat of the car. That relaxing trip that you have been looking forward to may now seem a distant memory. There are, however, steps that you can take to ensure that you and your family have the best vacation yet!
7. Involve the Family in Planning
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It is a vacation for the entire family and each member of the family should have some input on what they would like to do. The places that you visit will depend on the ages of your children. A family with very young children may be better off visiting a children's museum and saving an art museum for when the children are older. Planning activities that the entire family can enjoy will ensure everyone will be happy.
6. Pack Smart
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Packing for an entire family can be one of the most stressful parts of planning a vacation. Pack too much and you will have overweight bags and no room for souvenirs. Pack too little and you will spend your vacation visiting the nearest stores to find the items you have forgotten.
If possible, begin packing two weeks in advance. This will give you time to check and recheck that all necessary items have been packed. Make a checklist for each family member to follow. Children that are old enough to pack their own suitcases can check off each item as they add it. Bring this checklist with you on your trip so that you can recheck that you have every item on the way home.
Buy travel size items and put them in a sealed bag into each suitcase. This will ensure that each family member has essential items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, and shampoo. On the last day of your vacation, you can throw these bags away at the hotel to save luggage space.
5. Fight Boredom
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Most kids that are traveling begin acting up when they are bored. The waiting in the airport or the long car ride can be too much for children. To fight this boredom always pack an activity pack for each child. The activity pack can be a small tote bag or backpack full of new items that you have tucked away for the vacation. Include items such as new coloring and activity books, reading books, crayons, travel games, and favorite snacks into the activity pack. The children will be so excited to try out everything in their activity pack that they will soon forget the boredom of the wait.
4. Prepare the Hotel
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Finally, you have reached your destination! You are exhausted from either your flight or your long drive. All you want to do is put the kids into the cot or crib you arranged ahead of time so that you can sleep. But when you arrive the cot or crib is not in the room, causing you to call the front desk and wait for it to be brought to your room. Avoid this situation by calling the hotel on the morning that you will be checking in. Verify that the hotel has the special instructions to have a cot or crib already in the room when you arrive. This will ensure that your room will be ready for you when you arrive.
If you are traveling with a very young child, be sure to bring items to baby proof the hotel room. This includes electrical outlet covers and, if possible, baby gates.
3. Safety
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While on vacation it is important to be sure that your children are always nearby. Set ground rules for older teens such as the areas they are allowed to go and the time they are expected to return. Arrange a meeting place where the family will meet if you become separated. Explain to younger children which adults they should look for including security guards and police offers. Be sure that everyone in the family knows the plan.
2. Downtime
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While you want to make the most of your vacation, it is also very important to incorporate some downtime into your schedule. Naptime will be very important for young children, but even older children can become overwhelmed with a packed schedule. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours at the beach, pool, or just relaxing in the hotel room each day to avoid exhaustion.
1. Relax
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Everyone dreams of the perfect vacation but always expect the unexpected. As much as you plan your vacation, you cannot control everything that happens. Your plane may be delayed, you may get a flat tire, your child may get car sick and it may rain every day. Just remember, the goal of your vacation is to spend time together as a family. Do not let the small things that happen overshadow the important memories you are making with your children. Just take a deep breath and relax.
There is no perfect family vacation, but that does not mean that you should give up traveling until the kids have all grown up. Traveling with children presents many challenges, but taken in strides can lead to a stronger family bond and memories that will last a lifetime.
