If you’ve ever traveled with children before you might feel that packing up the kids and putting them in a car for an extended period of time is something close to impossible. Crying, cranky, and crabby children can easily put a damper on any vacation getaway before you’ve even arrived at your destination. Having to factor in the kids doesn’t have to be a reason to put off a trip for another year. Follow these tips to make traveling with tots simple and smooth.
Keep the kids app-y
Make sure you download plenty of new, fun, and available offline (without WiFi or internet access) apps on your smartphone or tablet. Kids will stay entertained for quite a while when playing a new and intriguing game on Mom or Dad’s gadget. Download a few different apps to allow kids the option to cycle between games.
Not caring for sharing.
It’s no secret that kids aren’t the biggest fans of sharing. To prevent arguments, tears, and tantrums, make sure each child has their own forms of entertainment. Don’t make the mistake of bringing one of everything for three children and expecting them to share without an issue. Save yourself a headache and bring a plethora of toys and games for each child.
Fuel them the right way.
Groggy kids can be difficult to handle, especially if you’re on a tight schedule. Rather than feeding them sugary snacks to hype them up, make an effort to feed them nutrient dense food to keep them going throughout your travels. Nothing is worse than arriving at your destination with overly hyper kids on a sugar high.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Traveling on a schedule usually makes things go much more smoothly. Traveling with kids does not. Making a strict schedule for everyone to follow on your journey might not be the best idea. Loosely outline how you want the traveling to go and estimate travel times, however don’t be upset if you are going slower than usual. It will be helpful to plan for an extended time traveling and a slower pace than usual.
Mother’s mark.
Moms (and dads!) can “brand” the kids in case of wandering. Take a non-toxic marker and write your cell phone number on the kids’ arms, especially for children who are too young to remember phone numbers themselves. If you’re headed to a waterpark, feel free to coat the marker in liquid bandage to make the writing waterproof.
Traveling with the kids is a great way to give them new experiences and learning opportunities. Encourage the kids to write in a travel journal or dictate the trip from their point of view while you do the writing. Don’t forget to always pack extra clothes for both you and the kids that are easily accessible during the travels and always secure your car seats for road trips!
For information on Ellicott Hotels 8 destinations throughout Western New York as well as airport parking, please visit www.EllicottHospitality.com
