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How To Travel with Kids
Traveling with kids
doesn't have to be a bad experience. Instead of deciding
to leave the kids home for the next "family"
vacation, relax! You can make traveling with the kids
an enjoyable and stress-free experience.
"Are we there yet?" "Mom,
he's touching me!" "Well, she's looking at
me!" "Are we there YET?" "I've gotta
go!" "Aren't we THERE YET?"
It's phrases like these that drive fear
into a parent's heart, and make you wonder why you ever
thought taking a family vacation was going to be "fun!"
So what is a parent to do? Traveling
with kids doesn't have to be a bad experience. Instead
of deciding to leave the kids home for the next "family"
vacation, relax! You can make traveling with the kids
an enjoyable and stress-free experience by following
these simple tips:
1. When possible, travel at night and
let the kids sleep. But be cautious, because it's easy
to get tired. If you find yourself getting sleepy, roll
down the windows, play music, or better yet, find a
safe place to pull over and take a 20 minute nap.
2. Plan your trip during the day with
stops about every 90 minutes. By planning ahead, and
using travel planning software, online trip planning
sites or travel associations, you can find -- and stop
at -- kid-friendly places such as parks with playgrounds,
historic monuments or view areas where everyone can
get out and walk around for a few minutes. Giving the
kids even a 15 minute break will give them a chance
to "get the wiggles out" and work off some
energy.
3. Bring along some sing-along music.
Although your kids may groan at first when you start
singing, they'll soon join in, especially if the songs
are either well-known, absurd or "gross."
Think of your own childhood favorites, or camp songs.
Singing can really help to pass the time, and creates
happy memories later on. To help cut costs, you can
even record your own CDs? If the kids don't know the
words, create sing-along books for everyone by typing
them in your Word processing program and printing them
out.
4. Create a goodie-bag. Good ideas are
travel toys and games, bubbles, inexpensive art books
and pencils, even the latest in collectible cards or
action figures. (To save money, look for seasonal sales
or buy something every payday.) To cut down on arguments
about sharing, you can set a time limit for playing
with each game, before everyone has to switch. Individual
presents can be wrapped or not, and given out at whatever
schedule fits your needs and your kids' boredom levels.
You can even choose particular games for particular
stops, such as bubbles, Frisbees or small balls, which
will encourage running off energy.
5. Bring along individual "quiet
time" activities. These could include an art box
(keep the supplies inside an inexpensive plastic shoe
box), postcards or writing paper, or even a journal
given to each child at the beginning of the trip. Encourage
them to write letters, or record their thoughts and
feelings. You can also bring along hand-held games,
or inexpensive CD players and earphones, so that everyone
can listen to the music or books of their choice. Depending
on the space you've got and the length of time you'll
be gone, each child could have their own box or backpack,
to keep their things organized and accessible.
6. If your trip is going to include
a lot of sightseeing, pack a backpack with sweaters,
hats, swimsuits (if in season), extra socks and even
towels, in case anyone gets wet -- accidentally or on
purpose. Keep the backpack in your trunk, so you can
just grab it and go. Most kids, if given the chance
when near water, will really enjoy getting wet, and
it saves on the wear and tear of your vehicle if you
plan ahead. Also be sure to pack extra water and travel
snacks such as energy bars, nuts or travel mix. You
can add to your child's enjoyment if you also include
things such as a magnifying glass, binoculars, a disposable
camera and their own travel map.
7. Include a "kid's activity"
at least once every day. This may be something as simple
as going for ice cream after visiting a museum, or going
to a water or amusement park. There are often lots of
great free or inexpensive activities in most places
in the States. To find them, you can check ahead of
time with local Chambers of Commerce, on city Websites,
or with your travel agent. To help keep the expenses
down, don't forget to check for "two for one"
coupons, or discount tickets that are often available
at local fast food restaurants or in local papers. Also,
many family style restaurants offer a "kids eat
free" night, which could be a special treat.
8. Don't forget about the travel games
you probably played as a child. There is "Letter
Bingo" where you look at road signs and billboard
ads to find the letters of the alphabet, or "License
Plate Alphabet" where you go through the alphabet
in order. You can also create easy bingo sheets that
you print out with clip art of common sites you'll see
on your trip. Your kids will be more inclined to play
along if they know that your parents used to play the
exact games with you. (Grandparents are SO much cooler
than parents are...)
9. Let your kids help to navigate, narrate
and create information about your trip. There are so
many great resources online these days that can help
you make your trip even better. Letting your kids get
involved helps to make it more enjoyable for them. For
example, let one child be the "trip navigator"
each day. They have the responsibility of looking at
the map, and making sure that the right exits are taken,
or how much farther to each destination point. (If you
really want to get creative, the navigator could wear
a special hat or badge; the narrator could have a "press
badge" or carry a reporter's notebook, etc.) Older
children can create written entries into a journal or
even in a Blog, talking about the daily activities and
sights. Another option is to bring along an inexpensive
tape recorder, and let each child record their impressions
of the different places you see or things you do. Younger
children can draw pictures, or use a disposable camera.
10. Start collecting postcards. Postcards
are inexpensive, and your kids will enjoy getting to
send them to their friends or other family members.
Postcards are also a great addition to your family photo
album after the trip. You can cut them up, or even write
about specific experiences on the backs of them, to
help everyone remember what you did and where you went.
11. Create a scrap book at the end of
each trip, using the postcards and pictures the kids
took. Letting them help to decorate and put the journal
together is a fun after-the-trip activity.
12. Above all, give yourself a break.
There is no such thing as a "perfect" family
vacation. Inevitably there will be things forgotten,
things broken or other "unexpected" problems.
By planning ahead, and making every
effort to get your kids involved in the trip, and giving
the things to do to keep them occupied and interested,
there will be less stress and everyone will have a better
time. Have a great trip!
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