If your children need a particular lifestyle and have specific needs that are hard to cater for, even at home, then you can imagine how difficult it can be to travel with them. This, however, is not an excuse for you to leave your kids in the hands of a nanny every time you travel or go on vacation. Travelling can help enhance their creativity and broaden their worldview, making them even better people than they are destined to be. Here is a list of things you can consider doing to cater to their needs instead so that you can bring them along on your next travel adventure.
Child-Friendly Accommodation
The first thing you need to make sure you tick off your list when travelling with your kids is getting child-friendly accommodation. Unlike when you are travelling alone, you need to ensure that the accommodation you book is not just some random house that has a bed and a door. Your children’s safety and needs should come first. This means ensuring that the accommodation has kid-friendly values and rules, kid-friendly entertainment and kid-friendly meals (if you plan on buying your food there). Before booking, ensure that you ask as many questions as you can to make sure that you can book the best child-proof accommodation there is. This will save you a lot of problems by helping to alleviate your children’s discomfort.
Pack Their Favourite Snacks
One of the funniest things about children is that they tend to ask for the most random things at the most unexpected moment. It, however, won't be funny when your kid asks you for their favourite chocolate bar mid-air, would it? I'm sure you can already picture the tantrum that they would throw at you with their very angry eyes daring you to be the person that separates them from their love of good snacks. You therefore need to ensure that you pack your children’s favourite snacks in your hand luggage so that when they get extra hungry, extra picky or just decide on their favourite snack during the travel experience, you'll be right at their service
Bring Their Comfort Items
Some of your kid’s items that you underestimate when you are in the comfort of your home are not as simple as you think. These things may be the items that give your child a little extra comfort when they feel overwhelmed, just as travelling might make them feel. You, therefore, need to make room for your kid’s favourite toy, a blanket or hoodie, so that they become more comfortable during the travel experience, making them less difficult and tantrum-ridden. Remember, If you forget their comfort items, you are up for a hectic travel experience (so don't).
Be Transport Ready
Travel times with your children are not the right time for you to want to experience different types of travel. It is also not the time for you to ‘go with the flow’ in terms of transportation to and from your different destinations. You need to have every mode of transportation planned out and ready to be at your service. It would be a terrible experience for you if you were to be stuck at the airport with a bunch of luggage, plus your children, awaiting a taxi. Make sure your transport providers are ready and well-prepared to receive you so that you don't go through unnecessary stress, as this will stress your kids as well. Be transport-ready when travelling with your children.
Be Well Prepared
Anything can happen while you are travelling with kids. Spill incidents, muddy encounters and sickness are almost inevitable when it comes to those tiny human beings. Due to this, you need to be prepared for any situation that can likely arise. This includes preparing for emergencies by carrying your first aid kit and making sure you know where your nearest hospitals are. This also includes you carrying extra clothes and underwear for the trip. Anything you think may be needed for this trip with your kids is a must-carry. It's better to overpack and over-prepare than to find yourself in an undesirable situation.
Wearing Comfortable Clothing
If a tie and a suit make you fidgety and comfortable, then who gave you the idea that if your kid were to wear the same, they would be so comfortable? You need to master the knowledge that the more comfortable you make your children, the less difficult it will be to travel with them. Clothing plays a major role in the success of this travel experience. You need to ensure that their clothing is comfortable and won't make them feel out of place during the trip. Go for looser clothes so that they can have extra playing room and so that they feel less restricted when they hit the playing ground.
Incorporate Child-Friendly Activities
Once you take your children with you for the trip, you need to ensure that you also involve their activities in your itinerary. Include trips to the zoo, park, arcade and other fun activities so that your children can also have fun on the trip. This will help keep them preoccupied, happy and compliant. Most of all, you will be able to connect with them more when you meet them on their level, paving the way for good memories and happy times ahead.
Keep Them Hydrated
You need to ensure that your children drink a lot of water when travelling. Sometimes, they are not frustrated, just thirsty. Keeping them hydrated will ensure that they stay refreshed and on high energy levels. This will allow them to enjoy the travel experience without looking needy or low.