Travel with Kids

Make Traveling with Kids Fun!

Every time I go on a vacation or travel with my kids somewhere that’s supposed to be “fun” and relaxing…..well….I end up MORE tired after the trip than before we ever left for the trip.

My husband and I spend the entire car ride trying to keep our 4-year-old daughter and 10-yearold son from fighting over anything and everything. It’s the Bill Cosby classic…..”She’s touching me, stop touching me, he’s touching me, I said stop touching me” bit. “It’s mine, this is mine, he has mine, she has mine….” It goes on and on. We aren’t stupid parents. We TRY to be prepared.

Our car has a DVD player, and still with this fabulous modern day luxury, travel with our kids is painful. I decided this year, there was going to be NO more! After all, we had long travel time with kids scheduled this summer! It was going to take fifteen hours to drive to Disney in Orlando. And because it was taking every bit of our tax return check, plus some to make this happen — I would NOT be denied peaceful travel with my kids!

I started researching.

Traveling with Kids Made Easy

Sounds easy. But I had been in the trenches too long. I would not be swayed by some silly “I see something you don’t see” game. No way…I needed REAL true and tested travel with kids ammunition.

First lets start with the DVD player. Granted, mine is built right into the SUV we drive — yet, it seems my kids can’t agree on what to watch or they’ve SEEN everything. This time I made sure to pick up movies they hadn’t seen, and that would appeal to both a boy and girl

and a older child and younger child. I made more thoughtful choices and picked both cartoon-y type shows and shows that weren’t animated. I also picked something for my oldest to watch alone if the little one fell asleep. With a headset–the tuckered one can sleep, while the other one is entertained.

If your vehicle doesn’t have a DVD player, you can find decent ones for a deal at discount stores. Best Buy, Target and Kmart all have portable DVD players relatively inexpensive for travel with kids.

OK…my next fabulous find is a little thing called Pixter. My 4 year old loves this thing. It entertains her for long periods of time. You can pick up different cartridges so that you have a couple of different options and games for it. It’s not an expensive toy. I picked it up at Target for less than $30. You might even find one cheaper on eBay if the shipping doesn’t kill you.

Here’s another fun thing I found for my older child and for my husband and I to all play. I found this really cute book called, The Way Cool License Plate Book. Great plates to decipher, a little history and games. My son is 10 and thoroughly enjoyed this one, so did we.

Of course, you can pick up many books with Travel with Kids games and activities. The best one in my opinion is the 5-star rated one that we used on our trip. It’s called, Kid’s Travel Fun Book. You can see it below as well.

Neither of these books is expensive and worth every penny.

Other great 5-star rated travel with kids books:

Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children

A Kid, A Grown Up and A Travel Bug: A You-Can-Do-It Travel Guide for one-on-one getaways with your child

One other book I want to mention that I absolutely adore….I think you will too….because if you travel at all…you get the urge to stretch. And you NEED to stretch. This book is the perfect remedy. We break out in hysterical giggles – but I promise – it’s worth the buy:

Travel Exercises: Stretches for Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and More!
Yes….exercises. Don’t roll your eyes. It’s fun. You’ll think it’s fun and the kids will too!

I picked up Travel Bingo too. This was kind of fun for all of us, and both kids could do it. The boards are made with things you’d see on the road. A speed limit sign, or a cow or maybe even a police car are on the board made of cardboard with little red sliding windows over each picture. I picked these up at a yard sale for $1! But even new – they are not expensive. We all like to play too – so it’s fun for kids and grown ups!

Don’t Forget Travel Snacks and Nibblies

Of course having snacks on hand that aren’t “too” sugar-y or filled with caffeine is a good way to go as well.

Minimus makes wonderful travel “packs”. Not just snacks – but you name it.

Travel in Comfort – It’s Key with Kids

Comfortable things from home like blankets and pillows from their own beds can make kids feel “less” out of sorts and fussy. Little ones might have a stuffed animal or doll that is special to them and is soothing when there is change or the regular routine isn’t in place.

You wouldn’t believe how much more comfy your child can be in the car with the right supplies. We all know that car seats look very uncomfortable. Don’t you feel like you’re strapping them into a prison sometimes? Of course – we all know it’s lifesaving to keep kids buckled up – so why not make it a tad more comfy? Noodle Head Travel Buddies – you’ll be glad you’ve got one. My daughter loved the wolf – but they have all kinds of travel buddies to choose from.

Try to Stay Upbeat and Positive (Even If You Don’t Feel That Way)

Just remember that if you get agitated and complain, your kids will pick up on your vibes when traveling. (Or any other time for that matter). They rely on mom and dad to keep things going and to make them feel safe.

Cellphones, car tune up, mapped out routes and sandwiches can go a long way for making a trip more bearable. Being prepared for the worst case scenario may seem silly, but you’ll be thankful if that radiator does decide to act up or you a sidelined by a flat tire.

Once you get to your destination take time to rest and  give your kids time to “settle in”, use the bathroom and unwind. Give yourselves and your kids at least that wedge of time after traveling to acclimate yourselves to your new surroundings for the stay.

Most of all, try and stick to regular meal times and bed times. I cannot emphasize this enough. There is nothing worse than a tired, hungry kid away from their home. You are ASKING for a meltdown form your child, it isn’t their fault.

Disney was a smash. NO glitches except for my little one needing several potty breaks on the road. We planned each day and even squeezed in a day to just chill by the pool. We brought lots of sunscreen so no one was burned and because we stayed a week (the only way to do Disney without killing yourself!), we didn’t have to try to cram it all in one day. It was worth the time and energy to save for the trip and to prepare in all ways.

Travel with kids doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Keeping them occupied, giving them a few comforts of home, snacks and a feeling of being safe can go a long way.

Good luck on your next road trip with the kids!

 

Tagged as: Travel with Kids Tips