Creative Tips for Holiday Travel with the Kids
Holiday travel is enough
to give even the most savvy globetrotter a headache,
but traveling with kids can be “migraine city”
if you’re not prepared. However, with some advance
preparation and a few creative tips from parenting
experts, you can start your holiday on a happy note.
Before you leave the house,
it’s smart to pack more than just your suitcases
for the trip. “If you want to keep your kids
on their best behavior during car, plane or train
trips this holiday season, make sure you don't go
too long between meals or snacks,” says Leah
Ingram, The Manners Mom.
Fun snacks like animal crackers
and jellybeans can double as creative games when you’re
tight on space. Parenting experts say a little bit
of play with food can actually stimulate young children.
Challenge your child to count the number of jellybean
colors or group animal crackers by species. It’s
better to pack too many snacks than not enough, since
hunger is a surefire trigger of temper tantrums.
A good rule of thumb is to bring
a tote bag filled with games, toys and a few surprises
to keep your kids entertained and busy. Small toys
such as Polly Pocket!, aptly known as “the girl-on-the-go,”
and Hot Wheels cars, coloring books and playing cards
are easy to pack and play.
“Don't pack all of the
items for this ‘carry-on’ with the kids
around so that they're pleasantly surprised when you
reach for a new distraction,” says Lolita Carrico,
founder of ModernMom.com, an online community and
resource for todays busy parents. If you’re
traveling by car, include the whole family in a game
of I Spy or the License Plate Game. If you’re
traveling by plane, it can be difficult to engage
the entire family in games without attracting glares.
A small carry-on with a few toys is a good idea, and
ask the flight attendants if there are any children’s
books or magazines on board.
One way to engage your child
in the trip and avoid the “are we there yet?”
syndrome is to bring disposable cameras for documenting
the journey. Let your child play the role of photojournalist
and give him or her a journal to write about the trip
and include photographs. Encourage your child to take
photos at the airport, on the airplane, at baggage
claim, and throughout the trip once you arrive. Your
child will be so focused on documenting the journey,
he or she won’t have time to whine or complain,
and your child will have a fun project to complete
when you get home.
Traveling can be hard on your
body, so allow time for your children -- and you --
to stretch. Children in car seats for extended periods
of time can get antsy and are prone to a pins-and-needles
sensation in their legs. “Allow them to run
around at a rest stop or wander the aisles of the
airplane every couple of hours to avoid restless meltdowns,”
says Carrico. By keeping your children on their regular
activity and sleep schedule, you’ll avoid the
possibility of them becoming grouchy or sleep-deprived.
Don't forget to bring along a favorite pillow, blankie
or stuffed animals for easy snoozing.
The best way to ensure your
holiday travel is enjoyable is to set the right example
for your child by using good manners. Well-mannered
children have well-mannered parents. “Use ‘please’
and ‘thank you’ as much as you can when
dealing with folks during your travels and your children
will pick up these good manners themselves. Soon enough
they'll be saying ‘May I please’ and ‘No,
thank you’ on their own,” says Ingram.
