The phrase ‘family holiday’ is enough to send many parents into panic mode. The thought of a relaxing getaway with your nearest and dearest sounds exciting, but as it gets closer stress can quickly get the better of you. As a seasoned traveller you know how to handle the rabble even on the most difficult of days, but when you’re on holiday it can become a whole different story. When you go on holiday with the kids you want to instill peace, calm and happiness right from the very beginning. This means that you need to equip yourself with some clever techniques to get you through the tough times.
Battling time differences, new locations and strange foods can be overwhelming for young children, so how do you overcome this hurdle? The secret is to create a home away from home when travelling with youngsters. This involves sticking to a relatively sensible schedule, using gadgets and providing their favourite snacks at the drop of a hat. The next time you’re planning a big trip, keep some of the following ideas in mind and it is bound to go off without a hitch.
Gadgets and Gizmos for the Kids
Never underestimate the power of portable electronics when you’re travelling with children. If you’re delayed in an airport or trapped inside a villa on a rainy day, you need easy access to fun at the drop of a hat. Games consoles that can be plugged into a television or played on the aeroplane are always a great idea. They might want to play Witching Tower on a virtual reality console or a Mario Kart battle on a Nintendo Switch. Your children are bound to have a favourite game that keeps them occupied for hours, so make sure you pack it. Don’t forget the chargers too; you don’t want the battery life to drain and then be stuck without any power for the rest of the trip.
Special Foods and Snacks
Travelling to an exotic country often comes hand in hand with an array of foods. If you have fussy eaters on your hands, then you don’t want them to go hungry. It’s worth packing some emergency snacks in your suitcase and hand luggage just in case you can’t find anything suitable. Think about breakfast bars, special spreads for toast and other easily portable foods that will keep them happy.
Pillows and Comforters
No matter how old your kids are, they probably have a special pillow, blanket or teddy bear that makes them feel comforted. Packing this on your trip might seem like risky business just in case you lose it. However, it is definitely worth taking a comforter along with you. If they feel distressed, tired or overwhelmed it will be the perfect distraction to calm them down right away.
A Smart Schedule
When you’re in a different country and on an opposite time zone, it can be very difficult to stick to your current routine. However, if you do go with a similar schedule to home you will make it much easier for yourself. Although bedtimes might be later and meal times could be more sporadic, you can still keep some elements of your home routine in there. You might want to follow the same bathtime, story and bed ritual to give them some sense of normality whilst they are away. Do what is right for your family, as everyone will have their own unique way of winding down at the end of a busy day.
Familiar Faces
When your kids are surrounded by people they know and love, it makes travelling so much easier. If they are old enough why not allow them to bring a friend along with them? On the other hand, you could open up the holiday invitation to extended family so they are surrounded by cousins, aunties, uncles and grandparents. The more familiar faces they have around them, the better!
If you can incorporate a couple of the following things into your next family holiday, your kids are bound to be happier and more comfortable. Even if you have pretty easy going children, they will always appreciate those home comforts. You might also benefit from taking a couple of items from home too. Anxious travellers often find serenity in familiar objects, so consider packing something special in your hand luggage too! There is no big secret to a seamless family trip, but with the ideas mentioned above will make it much easier for you.
