and the truth is that you never really know when you’ll
be able to feed them their next proper meal. Whether
you’re waiting in line at the airport or you’re stuck in
traffic on the highway, snacks always come in handy.
Sometimes, you may arrive at your destination only to
discover that the kids don’t like, or won’t even try, any
of the local food.
… and Entertainment
In an ideal world, the kids will spend hours quietly
looking out the car window, mesmerized by what
they see, or they will be so excited to be on a plane
that they won’t need any other entertainment. That’s
rarely the case, though. Kids often get bored by things
adults find fascinating, and vice-versa. So, pack lots of
entertainment, like tablets loaded with their favorite
movies and games.
Bring Books and Cameras
Bring books and cameras. It’s okay to loosen your usual
restrictions on electronic gaming a bit – after all, the
kids are on vacation. Still, try to also engage them
in more educational ways. Bring hard-copy books or
download them onto your electronic devices. See if you
can get some great books on audio. Kids love listening
to a good story. Kids also love taking photos, so bring
cameras for everyone, especially for the young ones
who don’t have smart phones.
Make Reservations in Advance
Most people like to be spontaneous. There’s nothing
more satisfying than doing what you want to do
whenever you feel like it. But, when it comes to
vacationing with kids, uncertainty can also be stressful.
Consider pre-booking not just your transportation and
hotel, but also the local attractions you want to see and
restaurants where you want to eat. When things are
booked in advance, you can just relax and enjoy each
other’s company.
Let the Kids Own the Trip
Kids can get restless and needy when they’re taken out
of their usual routines, constantly asking what they’ll
be doing next and why. One way to avoid this from
happening is to include them in planning the trip from
choosing the destination, to discussing how best to get
there, and what to do when you arrive. When kids take
joint ownership of the vacation, everything becomes so
much more fun and exciting to them.
Accept That Things Can Go Wrong
It’s great to look forward to your vacation, but don’t
expect that everything will go exactly as planned;
that’ll only stress you out when something unexpected
happens. It may take longer to get to a local attraction
than you’d planned, and once you get there you may
find that it’s closed. Sometimes you just have to go with
the flow.
Split Your Duties
One of the best things you can do for yourself and your
partner is to split up your duties. Instead of trying to
do everything yourself, which can be stressful, take on
different responsibilities or rotate them during the trip.
For example, one of you can be responsible for making
restaurant reservations, and the other for figuring out
how to get to and from the hotel and local attractions.
Keep Everyone Safe
It can be hard to keep track of the whole family. If the
kids have their own smartphones, make them download
tracking apps so you always know where they are. For
younger kids, write down your contact information
and secure it in a safe, concealed place on their body,
like sewn into a pant pocket. When you’re boarding a
local bus or train, decide who’s going on first and who’s
going on last to ensure that no one gets left behind.
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