Being a parent is a difficult job, more so when traveling with children. Parents are tasked with ensuring their kids’ safety and comfort while dealing with the logistics of travel. From leaving your kid’s hoverboard along with their favorite hoverboard attachments at home to dealing with jet lag and still having to drive by McDonald’s to grab their favorite meals, traveling with children can be a challenge.
Let’s take a minute talk about some common struggles parents deal with when traveling with their kids and the solutions to them, so that you feel confident traveling with your family.
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Dealing With Children’s Fears
One of the most common struggles parents face when traveling with children is dealing with their fears. Kids often get scared in new places, and it can be difficult for parents to manage this fear.
The best way to help a child overcome their fear is by talking about the place before visiting it and explaining the exciting things that can be done. Ensure that your child knows they are safe and secure, and stay close to them as much as possible.
Keeping Kids Entertained
Another common struggle parents face while traveling with kids is keeping their children entertained. This can be especially challenging when you’re stuck in a long car ride or on an airplane. To make things easier for yourself and your child, make sure you bring plenty of toys and activities that can keep them occupied. Video games, iPads or tablets, books, and coloring books are great ways to keep kids entertained while traveling. Luckily, I have a full list of cool travel toys and games that will help!
Keeping Kids Healthy
Traveling with kids can be physically and mentally strenuous, which is why it’s important to make sure they stay healthy while on the go. Make sure your child gets enough sleep, eats healthy food and drinks plenty of water. It might be helpful to find out what kind of medical assistance is available in case of an emergency.
Dealing With Tantrums
Dealing with temper tantrums can be one of the biggest challenges parents face when traveling with children and it has happened to me PLENTY of times. The best way to avoid a meltdown is by trying to stay ahead of it and anticipate what might trigger it so you can plan ahead. If a tantrum does occur, try to stay calm, and focus on the root cause of the tantrum. They are usually simple reasons, like being tired, hungry, uncomfortable or scared. It is hard in the moment, but you as the parent remaining calm will be what cools things down. For some reassurance, take a look at our Family Travel Uncensored section to hear real stories from real traveling families and learn from their mistakes.
Packing
One of the biggest struggles parents face when traveling with kids is packing. Imagine having to pack for yourself and your children – it can be very overwhelming! To make this process easier, create a list of things you need to pack beforehand and stick to the list. Make sure you leave some extra room in your suitcase in case you need to add something later on. You can also have your child help with the packing process, as it can be a fun and educational experience. If you are a visual person, I made a whole video showing you my packing process for our large family travels.
That’s A Wrap!
By being prepared and taking the right measures, parents can make traveling with their kids much less stressful. The key is to be patient and understanding, and focus on making sure your child has everything they need to have a safe and fun trip. With these tips, you can make sure your journey is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Finally, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, kids are kids, just roll with it and breath.
Disclaimer: Links in this page are meant to help you find relevant information and book attractions easier by linking directly to specific pages on partner websites (i.e. TripAdvisor, Vegas.com). If you click a link, we may earn a small commission on transactions. This helps support the cost of running our website, and it adds absolutely no extra cost to you as the consumer. Thank you, we appreciate your support! You can read more on our disclosure policy.
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