A lot of parents don’t take into account a lot of the new necessities that come with traveling with kids. As young adults, in their early to mid-20s, most people who traveled long distance would forgo bathroom trips for sake of expediency. It was more important to get to your destination at a reasonable time than to stop and eat, go to the bathroom, or stretch your legs. Unfortunately, children don’t have the same amount of patience as adults when it comes to the modern conveniences that we put off when traveling. With that said, here are some great travel tips that parents may be able to utilize when they vacation with their children.
It is important for kids to feel like they are helping you in the planning or preparation of your trip. If you allow your kids to pack their own suitcases or pick out things to do once you get to your destination, it will make them feel like they have become vested in the entire vacation experience. Kids who are allowed to pack for themselves don’t feel like they have been hauled off against their will to go somewhere just because “mommy” or “daddy” said so. Additionally, if you allow them to pick some of the activities to do once you get to your final destination, they will feel more compelled to get there and do their special chosen activity.
Speaking of picking out Orlando attractions for kids, kids want to feel as care-free as you do on vacation. With that said, there is no need to plan every last detail and make kids feel like they are constrained against a schedule or that they have to do everything on a given list. Isn’t that what you’re vacationing to get away from? Make sure to under-plan or under-schedule on your vacation, leave plenty of opportunity to just meander throughout your day and take them as they come. Kids will be much happier if they feel that they have more free time to find things to do on a whim, then they would if they had to stick to a schedule that has been orchestrated for them without their input.
Finally, it is important that both you as the parent and the kids appreciate the time that you get to spend together in the car, plane, train, or boat – whatever your means of travel. Most families don’t even eat together anymore and as such the familial relationships of many are severely strained. Don’t think of travel time as a chore or as a means to an end, but instead consider that this is valuable time that you could be using to foster stronger relationships with your kids and getting them to open up about themselves while returning the favor. Vacations should be about more than just getting to a particular place – it should be about creating memories that will last a lifetime.
