Travelling With Kids: How To Keep Your Sanity!!

Travelling alone or with a companion is always an adventure, and even when things go wrong and it is stressful, you know you can cope. Add kids into the mix and you are catapulted into a whole new realm. Problems are magnified by a hundred and even simple tasks such as finding a car parking space in a strange city (click here for help with that one!), are a challenge….

Many parents actively avoid non-essential trips with their kids, at least until they reach a certain age. This is one solution, but as long as you plan ahead, travelling with kids need not be a major trauma.

Research the Route

Never set off on a trip with kids without having a good idea of where you are going and what’s along the way. Getting lost on a road trip is fun if you are with a friend, but not much fun if you have an irritable toddler on board. Check your route in advance and make sure you know where everything is, especially parking and rest stops. It is also worth checking if there are any fun places to visit along the way, as you can use this as an incentive to keep the kids quiet.

Break Up the Journey

Long journeys are hard enough on your own, but kids tend to struggle even more. They get tired and don’t settle too well, especially on flights. It is better to break up a long trip where possible. If you are driving for more than six hours, plan a rest stop half-way. For long trips, consider booking an overnight stop to break up the journey and give everyone a break.

Pack Essentials

Depending on the age of your children, there are some essential items you can’t afford to leave at home. Do not forget to pack several changes of clothing, nappies (if applicable), toys and anything else you may need. No parent wants to deal with a car-seat full of vomit, only to discover there are no wet-wipes or clean clothes.

Be Prepared

Be prepared for every eventuality. Do a risk assessment before you travel and think of everything that could possibly go wrong. That way you won’t be caught out unawares by traffic jams, hot weather, or car sickness. You also need to bare in mind that kids can be a distraction so make sure the person driving is experienced in driving with children otherwise sudden shrieks from them could cause sudden braking which obviously could cause whiplash for everyone which wouldn’t be good at all.

Food, Drink and Entertainment

The one thing guaranteed to cause a meltdown on a long journey is a lack of food, drink and entertainment. Kids find long journeys exceptionally boring. They struggle to sit still for hours, so unless you provide entertainment and snacks, you can look forward to complaints, arguments with siblings, and a very stressful journey.

For younger children, talking books or DVDs are great for keeping them occupied for a few hours. Older kids will probably be happy with a handheld gaming device or their mobile phone and playlist. Do remember to pack chargers, however, or you are in for a rough ride.

Don’t get stressed at the thought of travelling with kids. As long as you are well prepared, it should be a piece of cake.

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