Going on a family trip can create memories for you and your children that will last a lifetime. While you all will have lots of fun while you’re away, the only issue can be getting to your destination. If you’re traveling with at least one younger child, this portion of your trip can be quite stressful. In fact, worries about the hassle of flying actually prevent many families from taking trips together.
Since fun and carefree trips are something that every family should get to experience together, here’s what you can do to minimize the stress of getting to where you want to go:
Don’t Procrastinate
Even if you were traveling alone, waiting until the last minute to start packing would make this experience much more stressful than it needs to be. Not only are you more likely to forget something that you need, but no one wants to start off a trip by running all over their house. While there may be some items that you can’t pack until shortly before you leave, you can begin getting organized a few days prior to your flight.
Bring Plenty of Entertainment and Sustenance
Whether it’s a two or six hour flight, you want to do everything possible to keep your kids from getting restless. If they don’t have anything to do, their mood and attitude can quickly take a turn for the worse. Luckily, since you can pack a carry-on bag for each child, you should have no trouble bringing along plenty of sources of entertainment. Since they’re probably going to want to do more than one thing, it’s a good idea to bring a mix of items like a few books, iPod and small DVD player or tablet computer. And although you currently can’t bring bottles of water through security, you are allowed to bring snacks. Since some tasty treats will keep your kids’ blood sugar steady and give them something to do, you definitely don’t want to forget to bring them along.
Tell Your Child All About What to Expect
If this is going to be the first flight your child has taken, you want to make sure that they’re prepared for the experience. Although they may initially be apprehensive, you can steer them towards excitement by telling them all of the cool and fun things they’re going to get to do during your travel time. It’s much easier for everything to go smoothly when your kids are in a great mood!
Be Strategic
When you’re planning your flight, try to minimize the need for connections. If there’s no way to avoid at least one, make sure you have plenty of time to get to your next flight. And in terms of seating, if you’re going to be on a long flight, you’ll probably find that being towards the back is the best location.
Jon Wisenheimer is a freelance writers that blogs about babysitting and parenting. Goto www.babysitters.net for more information.