Tips for traveling with children
If you are taking a trip these school holidays with your children, read on for useful
tips on how to ease your journey. The key to an enjoyable and stress free trip is
planning. If your children are young and have not yet mastered the skill of 'self
entertainment' it's imperative that you consider preparing ahead.
Family Driving trips
If you are driving, and there are no planes or trains to catch, start your journey
just around nap time. Give them a small meal or a milky drink. Bring all the necessary
sleep accessories like milk bottles or pillows. Strap them in their car seats comfortably
and let the lulling effect of the car ride take its toll.
If your children are awake try these strategies:
• Bring snacks, enough to share so that there is no dispute. Keep the snacks relatively
healthy like dry breakfast cereal, crackers, dried fruit, small packets of milk,
soymilk or juice. Have a novel snack for emergencies, e.g.distracting during a tantrum.
• Always have one or two sets of surprise toys for use when patience wears out or
boredom sets in.
• Make the most out of your ability to control the number and duration of stops
for kids to run around.
• Play games like 'spot all the red cars' or 'read the licence plates'
• Bring along favourite music CDs/ cassettes for sing alongs.
• If your car has a VCD/DVD player, play a short video.
• Alternate the driving and child duties with your spouse if possible. Children
will enjoy the change in games and ideas.
• If things really get out of hand, do something unexpected such as slowing down
and winding down the car windows or blowing some bubbles in their direction.
• Give incentives for good behaviour. Set goals like, if good behaviour continues
until the next stop, they get a little reward.
Air Travel with kids
If you are traveling by air have a carry on bag that is stocked with snacks, drinks
and a few novelties. They can be books, puzzles and cheap toys that you can consider
not bringing back with you. Otherwise, borrow from friends. That way you do not
need to buy 'new toys'. You can wrap them up first for an extra bit of fun. Stickers
work well too. If you could get a bassinet seat, the wall in front could be a makeshift
canvas for stickers (which you can easily peel off later). Otherwise, get sticker
books that tell a story. Bring some play dough and child safe scissors. With a bit
of imagination, they offer tons of entertainment. If there is a suitable program
on the flight channels, you could let him watch a bit of TV. Walking up and down
the aisle occasionally will help burn up some of that toddler energy. Make it a
game, such as 'exploring the aircraft'. You can unobstrusively let him watch the
aircrew bustling in the pantry, help him look out the window or check out the toilet,
the cabinets can be full of "surprises" Pack snacks, bring some old favourites and
some "sure to delight" new ones.