Traveling with Kids

Traveling with Kids – Tips for Making Vacations Fun

School is out and its vacation time. Its time for getting away from the hustle and bustle of the job or school, visiting family and friends or just taking a weekend trip to see the sites. But, as anyone who has ever traveled with kids knows, family travel can leave parents more exhausted when it is all over then in the beginning.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Traveling together can be something everyone looks forward to each year. With a little forethought and planning hitting the road can be a breeze. Considering the ages of the children and their emotional as well as physical needs will help during the plotting stage also.

Here are some tips that will make traveling easy on everyone.

Prepare Ahead of Time – Don’t wait until the last minute to decide to take a week long vacation. Write lists of things you will need to take with you and double check them. Make sure everyone has the appropriate clothes well in advance. Discovering Susie needs new tennis shoes going out the door is no fun.

Get prescriptions refilled, check allergy medicines and restock the first aid kit. Pack children’s suitcases to make them accessible. Roll complete outfits, shoes, shirts, shorts and underwear, together. You can get more in this way also. Pack the car the night before so the only thing you have to do in the morning is get in it. Be sure and pack pillows and blankets for snuggling while driving.

Sleeping & Eating – Make sure you choose kid-friendly hotels to stay in. Check out the occupancy rules before booking your room. Many hotels offer specials to families over the summer. At Holiday Inn kids eat free and at Embassy Hotels the children get a fantastic Nickelodeon backpack complete with a camera and other goodies

Consider younger tastes and appetites when choosing where to eat. While a local rustic, candlelit Inn might be nice for mom and dad it isn’t going to work for a tired, cranky three year old. If possible try to rest a bit before going to eat. For adventure purposes, tell the kids, “We are not going to eat anyplace we back home.”

Be sure and pack plenty of healthy snacks and bottled water. A cooler in the back will allow you to keep drinks cold, and yogurt or fruit fresh. Sipper cups or cups with straws that fit in a lid prevent spills.

Bring a Buddy – If you child is under twelve make sure you bring a buddy, a cuddly one that is. Traveling can be emotionally stressful for little ones and having along a “friend” can make all the difference in the world. A favorite stuffed animal or doll can provide comfort to tired youngsters in unfamiliar places. Dolls and action figures also allow a child to retreat into their own little world. They are great for imaginative play during layovers at airports or unexpected delays. Zapf Creations has some wonderfully soft dolls and their miniature dolls; Maggie Raggie Kids and Baby-Mini World are perfect for traveling. You can find them at Wal-Mart and other toy stores.

Boredom Busters – The really fun part of traveling is keeping the kids entertained, especially on long car rides. Pack backpacks with coloring books, crayons, puzzle books and miniature toys. Making an art box for each child – scissors, glue sticks, journal, stickers and markers – is a good option for older kids. The Travel & Play portable table is a must for things like this. It opens up in to a sturdy table with sides and is held in place by Velcro around the child’s waist. Perfect for games. You can find them at www.travelplayco.com.

A deck of cards, hand held electronic games and tape players with earphones are good options too. And whatever you do, don’t forget the camera!

Baby on Board -Bring it with you. Pack compact items in your carry-on or in the car with everything you may need for your infants and toddlers. Plastic baggies are handy so you don't have to bring the entire container but keeps items neat, clean and organized. Also be sure to have a change of clothes for both you and your infant in case you have a messy incident. If flying, remember to take extra bottles and/or pacifiers for take-off and landing. When traveling take an umbrella stroller which is light and takes up much less room than the bigger one. Plus, on flights, it can be stored on board as opposed to checked. (Courtesy Amy Ziff, Travelocity)

Vacation time can be a fun filled adventure. Plan ahead and be prepared. So what are you waiting for? Pack the suitcases, gather up the kids and hit the road.

Sidebar 1:

Camera Activities – Polaroid shares some fun activities to keep the kids busy and record trip at the same time. Their new I-Zone camera with sticker pictures is fantastic.

*Travel Bingo - Play travel bingo, using landmarks such as a church
or speed limit sign, as the coordinates. To provide you with memories of
the road trip, while also ensuring that the sneaky one in the backseat
doesn't cheat, have the children take instant pictures of the landmarks as
they spot them.
*Homemade Guidebook -Polaroid's i-Zone camera, and sticky film to help your little explorer create a guidebook of the area you are visiting. Have them snap instant
photos of the different kinds of rocks, plants and animals and stick them
in a blank notebook. Then help your child identify the proper name of the
object and write a short description - a fun and educational experience for
you to share!
*Instant Collage - One of the biggest advantages of using the instant
i-Zone camera is that your little photographer won't have to wait to get
the developed pictures back, so take advantage and encourage them to
create a collage of their favorite vacation memories. It is sure to be a
keepsake that grandma would love to have!
*Blank notebook, journal or construction paper - Whether they use it
for drawing, creating a scrapbook or collage, writing letters or
documenting adventures, a blank canvas is all children need to entertain
themselves for hours. Be sure to include lots of fun crayons, markers and
gel pens so they keep on drawing!
*The "Photographic" Memory Game - Replace the traditional memory game
cards with pairs of i-Zone photos and show your little wiz kid how to
match up the pairs by turning them over two cards at a time. If they
find a pair, they can leave them face up and turn over two more. Once
they turn up two that don't match, they should replace them face down and
it becomes the next person's turn.

Sidebar Two –

Never Travel Unprepared – Pennzoil offers these suggestions for traveling.

· Bottled water - Helpful if the radiator runs low on fluid or simply to
quench your thirst while stranded on the side of the road.

· Flares - Essential if you experience car problems after dusk.

· Jumper cables - You never know when the battery will give out.

· Tire inflator such as Fix-A-Flat® - A quick, convenient solution for a
flat tire...no tire jack or spare tire required.

· Flashlight (and batteries) - Always be prepared.

· Duct tape - The ultimate solution for quickly repairing a ruptured hose
until you reach the nearest service station.

· First-aid kit - For all the little emergencies.

· Blanket - Helpful if you need to slide under the vehicle to further
examine a problem.

· Reflective triangle - To be used during day or night to warn oncoming
vehicles. Reflective triangles are required in some states.

· Cell phone - If all else fails, simply call for roadside assistance.