Travelling with children is not an easy task.
It takes a lot of planning and organization, otherwise, it can very quickly descend into chaos.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to make the process a little easier on both you and the kids.
Check out our 4 best tips for the process.
Include Your Children In The Packing Process
This might sound like a step that will just slow you down, but it is actually a big help.
This is a great way to make sure that your children have the items with them that they will be asking about down the line. You don’t want to get on holiday and realise that your child has a favourite pair of socks, that you haven’t packed.
Including them in the packing process can be fun, and it can be a good learning opportunity.
But it is also just handy to avoid any tantrums later on, by making sure all special items are securely in there.
Have Handy Snack Containers
Hanger (hungry anger) is no joke.
The worst way to spend a day travelling is with a hangry child.
Another unpleasant way to spend an entire holiday is realising your child doesn’t like any of the snacks available in a certain place, and won’t eat them.
Prepare for all eventualities by having easy, accessible snacks ready to go.
Tupperware is a great go-to, best packed with non-perishable items that don’t need to go in the fridge.
Handy items can be dry cereals, biscuits, chocolate, carrots, pretzels, etc.
Have Toys To Hand
Children love to play, and long trips or travelling can be very boring for them with little opportunity to play the way they normally do.
Make sure you pack some of their toys in their suitcase, but also have some small toys to hand in your pockets or carry-on bags.
A toy they’re already familiar with being close to hand can be a lifesaver in a tantrum situation.
This hack will also give you more space and time to do the things you need to while travelling, and will give you a break from the “are we there yet?” questions… maybe.
Lists, Lists, Lists
When it comes to travelling with children, you’ve got to be organised in advance.
And what better way to do so than with lists?
Moms love lists.
You can make lists for every part of your journey so that nothing slips by your radar.
The days of travelling themselves can be busy and stressful, and your memory might not be at its peak capabilities when you’re late for a train and two children won’t put their shoes on.
Keep yourself right and have lists ready that you made when you were of a more sound mind. They can be to check you have everything, to double-check timings, for itineraries, and anything else you might need.
You can make it more fun by involving your children in checking things off the list. Let them pop a little smiley face beside each item that gets ticked off, and you can enhance the whole experience.
This also helps because if you forget about the list, there’s someone else who might just remember.