I'd like to welcome and thank Kendra Thornton for providing this guest post today
Kendra
Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson,
PR
businesswoman,
proud wife and mama of 3. I
am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and
traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my
utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my
excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite
travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!
Traveling
With Children: Avoid Tears and Get More Cheers |
Wouldn’t
it be nice to get away this summer and spend quality time with your
family? You can experience an enjoyable retreat if you're prepared.
This year, plan on relaxing more because I have some tricks to ensure
your family trip is as delightful as ever. In order for your vacation
to be hassle-free, fun and peaceful, it’s essential to plan ahead,
particularly when it comes to keeping children content.
1.
Don’t take a vacation from routine
Most
children find comfort in schedules. The best way to provide
familiarity is to live by your usual clock. Snack times, naps
and play times can be adhered to if you think ahead. No matter what
steps you take to ensure your trip goes smoothly, consider every
family member’s needs. With a little planning, you can avoid the
age-old question, “Are we there yet?” and enjoy the harmony of
well-planned family vacation.
If
you’re stressed just thinking about planning this summer’s
vacation, a family-friendly resort is the answer. At a family resort,
you can please everyone while maintaining your sanity. Whether you
want to lounge around a tropical wonderland or go on a hiking
adventure, you’ll find a wide range of resorts centered around
family entertainment. Many even provide quality kids programs that
allow parents to enjoy a nice meal together while their kids
participate in supervised excursions on the same premises. The
highlight of my family’s stay in Hawaii was definitely our Honolulu
resort
that had exotic animals on site along with a wading pool for our
smallest. From indoor water parks to spa treatments, resorts provide
happy times for all.
3.
Packing as a parent
It
is easy to turn the packing process into an unorganized gala that
lasts days. Not only is this inefficient, it’s unnecessary.
Sticking with the fundamentals is the best way to avoid chaos. I know
when I traveled without children, I would often use my carry-on as an
over flow bag for anything that I couldn’t cram into my suitcase.
This isn’t ideal – packing well in advance will allow you to make
measured decisions about what will actually be needed if someone has
a meltdown mid-transport. If your children are old enough, have them
each carry a small backpack or rolling bag. This will help keep you
organized and spread out the load a bit.
4.
Diversion tactics are a mother’s best friend
Whether
you’re traveling by airplane, boat or car, the key to a happy child
is distraction. Although you likely wont use it throughout your
vacation, a portable DVD player is great for the travel portion of
your trip. Pack your child’s favorite movies and television shows;
you can likely rent some from the library for free instead of
purchasing new ones. You can also download audio books so that your
junior travelers will have various forms of entertainment. Don’t
forget to supply headphones. You don’t want your tranquil drive
through the country becoming your noisiest nightmare.
Traveling
on an airplane can be overwhelming for young children. If you expect
the unexpected, you can avoid any distressing moments. If you have a
first time flyer on your hands, prepare them for this new adventure
with a new
airplane book.
Let your little one sit next to the window, and encourage excitement
and interest. Make sure your child eats and drinks before boarding,
and bring some ginger or mint based stomach-settling snacks. Keeping
your seating area well ventilated will also help calm hot flashes of
panic.
Thanks for the tips!!
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