Traveling with your children is priceless but it can also be stressful so find out here how you can minimize the stress.
Traveling is such an enriching activity but it becomes even more memorable
when you are with your loved ones. However, it is a different story
altogether though when you are bringing children with you.
9 Ways To Minimize Stress When Traveling With Children
Traveling with kids
Bringning your children with you when you travel is so much fun. As a parent,
it also makes me happy to see my kids smiling in awe when they see, for
example, the beach or any beautiful scenery. Those priceless experiences are
gifts that I want to give my children as much as I can.
However, with their insatiable curiosity and limitless energy, it can be a
little challenging to bring your children along. You have to constantly watch
them or they might get bumps, scratches, and even bites. You have to pack
extra clothes for them, snacks, milk, and even an emergency kit with their
medicines in it.
Despite all the effort of bringing your children when you travel, we are firm
believers that children should be exposed to the wonders of the world early
on. Education from experience is, after all, deeply profound and more
memorable.
Making family travel stress-free
So, how do you make traveling with your children fuss-free, enjoyable, and
memorable? Here are some tips based on our experience:
1. Ensure that your kids are vaccinated
When we told our pediatrician that we were bringing our eldest son along with
us to
Bohol, she told us that it's best that we complete his upcoming
vaccination
before our trip. And that's just what we did. Miguel had a vaccine due in
about a month so he took that just a few days before our flight.
Vaccination is important before you head out to your family adventure because
that will ensure that your baby's immune system is ready to ward off diseases
and viruses, especially in areas where there is a huge volume of
tourists.
Consult your pediatrician about your planned trip and make sure that your
children's vaccines are complete. If you have a sick child, do not take them
with you as this will just worsen what they are feeling.
2. When you are outside, always put your kids' safety on top priority
Always prioritize your child's welfare and safety. You should never compromise
that. When planning for your holiday, Consider destinations that are
child-friendly. That means crossing out places that are rough or which involve
extreme activities like kayaking, white-water rafting, climbing mountains, and
other similar ventures.
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Meanwhile, you might just want to opt for a city tour with side trips to
museums, an excursion to a candy factory, or a visit to a historical site.
Kids love water; the beach is especially exciting for them. If you will take
them swimming or even when just going near a body of water, don't take your
eyes off them!
There are a lot of accidents involving children in bodies of water, no matter
how seemingly shallow these may seem.
3. Dress your children comfortably at all times
You may be tempted to dress your children up in cute clothes or costumes when
you travel. These may look fun but make sure that these are comfortable to
wear.
Give your children clothes that are cool, breathable, and easy to move in.
Children will get easily irritated if they are uncomfortable and sweaty. And
you should dress comfortably as well. It's hard to be chasing kids if you are
not dressed appropriately.
4. Bring child-friendly gadgets
Bring gadgets and devices that children can easily operate. According to Rough
Guides, giving children cameras can make traveling extra fun.
Look at their snapshots and you'll be surprised to see how different our
surroundings are from your child's perspective. Giving them something to
tinker will also keep children busy and interested.
5. Don't forget to bring their medicines and vitamin supplements
Emergencies happen when they are least expected. What's more, it can even be
panic-inducing when you are in an unfamiliar place where you do not know where
the next hospital or drugstore is.
A good medicine or first-aid kit containing children's medications such as
paracetamol, loperamide, probiotic supplements, anti-histamine, and insect
bite rub would always come in handy when you are traveling. Also, traveling
should never be an excuse to skip your children's
multivitamin supplements.
Also, if your child is not yet too fond of solid “adult” food, don't forget to
bring enough infant formula and baby food with you. Alternatively, you may
want to bring easy-to-process fruits and vegetables with you for a healthier
option.
6. Pack small meals for kids
A hungry toddler is almost as worse as a rabid raccoon. They'll raise hell,
not minding the people around them when they want food.
As such, bring light snacks like crackers, small sandwiches, or even packed
lunch so that you can appease your hungry child even when you are busy with
your outdoor adventure. And don't forget to bring them water or their favorite
drink!
7. A stroller is your best friend
It might seem impractical to be carrying a
stroller
around when you are traveling. But believe me, you will save yourself loads of
headache when you bring a stroller.
Babies and toddlers sleep during the day
so when they do, have something ready where you can put them down when they
snooze. Thus, bringing a stroller is always a good idea.
8. Teach your kids how to behave in unfamiliar communities
According to Lifehacker, whenever you are about to embark on a journey, always
teach your children how to behave -- while on the flight, when exploring a new
place, or when trying the food for the first time.
Teach children that some people are not like us, they do not dress up like the
rest of us, and they eat food that we might not normally know of. Let's tell
our children that these are normal and should not be made fun of.
Take advantage of the opportunity to impart new learnings to your kids,
especially on how to relate with people of different races or cultures.
9. Don't rush your trips or jam-pack your itineraries
Always take things slow. Take time to linger around a place to allow your
children to better appreciate and marvel at the beauty around them. Remember,
they are infinitely curious so allow them to satiate that curiosity.
Also, don't rush children because it can cause them stress and may give them
any negative experience. Remember to just enjoy each minute with your family
because you are creating happy memories with them.
Epilogue
These are just some of the tips I gathered from friends who bring their kids
when they travel as well as from my researches.
How about you, do you have any particular advice when you travel with your
children? Share them with us in the comments section below.
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Also read: 6 Ways Traveling Can Change Your Life
