Traveling with
Kids-Holiday Travel Tips for Parents --
Save your sanity and holiday cheer with these family holiday
travel tips
and travel games.
Car Travel
You're
about to take a
long road trip. If history repeats itself the trip will
be riddled with whining, bickering and the usual
nagging. This trip CAN be different if you try some new
tactics. During the Holidays kids are bouncing off
the walls and in a car the walls are much smaller.
You'll want to provide simple entertainment for
close quarters. Contrary to what some kids think, torturing
siblings in not an acceptable form of entertainment.
However, these suggestions are perfectly
acceptable: Use a shoe box to make an
activity box for each child. Fill it with surprises;
stickers, notepads, stamp sets, Silly Putty and small
toys. A walkman for each child and a
book on tape can provide hours of peace and quiet.
*Sit down with your kids, a
map and markers. Show
them ALL of the travel plans.
Where you are staying, how
long the drive will take, how
many stops you plan on making and where you will eat meals. Provide
a calculator, pencil and paper in the car.
When they ask "How much longer", you say
"We are driving a total of ___miles, we have driven ___
miles so far." Use your calculator to find your answer.
Plane Travel
Much of the
suggestions above apply to airline/train travel as well.
For traveling with babies call your airline ahead of
time to see if any special accommodations can be made for
space, bottle heating, nursing privacy, feeding and
diaper changing.
If you have been seated apart from
your husband, older children or adult helper...politely
ask the passenger next to you to if they are willing to
switch. Most passengers are MORE than willing to switch
seats.
If your baby is crying when you ask - all the
more convincing.
Travel Games
Take time during your trip whether car or plane to play
with your kids.
Sing silly carols, play word games like
20 questions or ask questions that require a thoughtful
answer:
"If Santa fell off your roof, what would
you do?"
"If you saw a child that had little or no Christmas
presents, how would you respond" --
Here is our list of
family car games >>
Travel safely, sanely and with a smile - after all
"tis the season to be jolly"
Related Links:
Home Page
Christmas Page
Christmas Crafts for Kids
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