Travel with Children

Planning to travel with children is a family activity in itself.

It can be fun but also be a challenge. Here is how to get the most out of the planning process.

Brainstorm the Trip

Develop the family travel itinerary.

Gather the family together and brainstorm where you would all like to go and what you will do once you are there. “The Family” may be more than the nuclear family – it may be a multigenerational family or an extended family.

For brainstorming, try these steps:

1) Listen to and record everyone’s ideas (no matter how outlandish)

2) Prioritize each idea, taking into account the cost, time and distance to a destination

3) Plan your vacation around the interests of the youngest child – but make sure that there is also something exciting for the older children

4) Build in time for everyone to relax by planning no more than two activities per day

5) Schedule in full days for relaxation at the beach or around the pool several times during the vacation

Visit Great Family Vacation Tips and review the different family vacation possibilities that exist.

Now that you have the necessary information from brainstorming, prepare your vacation in the manner outlined on this website. Begin with Travel Planning Infrastructure



Consider Your Children’s Personalities When Traveling

Infants

1) Sleep very well in transit and while you sightsee

2) Maintain regular eating and sleeping patterns

Toddlers

1) Short attention span

2) Brief activities and short drives best suit them

3) Ask many questions (get them interested in something)

Children (5-12 years old)

1) Like action and entertainment

2) May become tired or bored easily

Teenagers

1) Like their own space

2) Enjoy some nightlife

3) Enjoy sleeping in late

Packing Tips

Travel with children requires additional packing considerations - especially with respect to very young children and the extra items they require.

Here is a website that focuses on packing for children:

www.kidstravelzone.com



“Are We There Yet?”

“Are we there yet?” is probably the most common question that children ask on a trip. For full impact however, don’t forget the whiny tone that sometimes accompanies this question.

Fortunately you can easily handle this. Focus on keeping your children constantly occupied, stimulated and fed.

Here are some tips for how to deal with “Are We There Yet?”:

1) Outline the travel route in a manner that your children can follow. Tell them about some of the interesting things that they should watch for. If your children are older, let them “navigate” as you travel.

2) Bring some games along for your children to play with.

3) Stop every 1.5 to 2 hours to eat/drink something, move around or use the restroom.

You can download some children’s games at:

www.momsminivan.com
http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com


Travel Expenses

Remember to account for any expenses associated with your children into the travel budget.



Chapter 19 of Turn Your Dream Vacation Into Reality: A Game Plan for Seeing the World the Way You Want to See It addresses travel with children in greater detail.

Return from Travel with Children to THE FAMILY VACATION