Travel is hard; travel with kids is insufferable. Though the idea of a family getaway always seems pleasant and noble at the outset — you need to get out of the house, you want to expose your little ones to new experiences, etc. — when you are finally on your way to your vacation spot, you will undoubtedly already regret the ill-fated trip.
Kids need endless care and attention at the best of times, and most parents are well-aware of the value of a good routine. However, vacations always deviate from the rigid structure of a child’s everyday experience, which puts that little one on the brink of complete and utter meltdown.
Fortunately, with proper preparation and appropriate responses, parents can prevent disaster on family vacations. Here are the biggest mistakes you’ve made in the past — and what not to do on future family trips.
1. Forgetting In-Flight Entertainment
When kids have to sit still, they get bored. When kids get bored, they get grumpy. When kids get grumpy, you have a problem. Even the shortest flight (or road trip) is enough to make kids and all surrounding adults lose their minds, so you must make sure your little ones have enough toys and games to last from take-off to landing. Here are three cheap and easily transportable entertainment solutions:
- Coloring. Bring a coloring book, printed coloring pages, or just blank paper and some rectangular crayons (or other non-round coloring implements so they don’t slide and roll around in the car or on the plane).
- Beading. For older kids, grab a handful of paperclips to craft simple necklaces and bracelets. Add beads for more variety and fun.
- Storytelling. Pack favorite or new books for your kid to practice reading. When those get old, work together to write your own story on a napkin or extra paper.
2. Booking a Single Room
You may be used to sleeping next to your significant other, but no one in your family is accustomed to sharing a room with so many extra bodies. Even if snoring isn’t an issue, your kids will probably have a hard time drifting off while you are up and about. Though it is slightly more expensive, a suite of rooms allows your family to spread out and have privacy. Plus, they usually come with useful amenities, like a refrigerator for snacks and drinks.
3. Skipping Snacks and Naps
At home, you are sure to keep your kids on a fixed schedule of eating and sleeping, and it is crucial for their little sanity (and yours) that you maintain their snacks and naps while you are away. While it is appropriate to relax timing slightly — for example, they can sleep in later than usual if it fits your itinerary — but you should always have munchies on hand and a way back to the hotel when nap time comes around.
4. Not Budgeting Souvenirs
You don’t need to buy your kids the Taj Mahal, but it is smart to make sure they have a little spending money so they can get something to remember the trip. Whether it is a bag full of sweets from Hershey’s Chocolate World or a snow globe to start a lifelong collection, your kid’s souvenir will make the trip more special for them. If your vacation budget is tight, you can ask friends and family to forego holiday presents and instead give gift cards or cash for your little ones’ souvenir funds.
5. Trying to Do It All
Many people develop a special vacation mentality of seeing and doing as much as possible. For adults, it is possible — though perhaps not enjoyable — to keep going all day without breaks, but so much activity causes kids to meltdown fast. Instead, a trip should contain three or four major events interspersed with plenty of down time.
6. Not Doing Enough
Of course, too much down time is dangerous, as well. While they are in a new place, your kids will want to explore, and keeping them cooped up because you are afraid of a meltdown will likely only cause one. Plus, you should reward your kids for being excited about travel to ensure they look forward to trips in the future.
7. Neglecting Adult Needs
For decades, the focus of parenting has been on raising balanced, healthy kids — but what about keeping yourself balanced and healthy? Because this is your vacation too, you should ensure that you are meeting all of your relaxation needs. If you can, you should bring along a second adult with you can take turns watching the kids. Then, you’ll have some private adult time to mitigate your own mini meltdown.
