Taking a fun trip with the kids is possible, believe it or not! The children can get a little too excited or even bored when traveling. This puts some pressure on you as a parent. However, there are some ways you get off to a great start and keep the fun going in a stress free environment.
Store Your Stuff Upon Arrival
Just getting to your destination can be a hassle. So why make it worse when you get there? Short trips such as a city break or one-day trip can be just as wonderful as a two-week family vacation. But you will need some essentials; essentials that don’t make sense to lug around. Bust transport hubs like those in London or other major cities offer self storage. You can use Piccadilly Circus luggage storage as you explore the city and come back when needed.
A Fun Trip with the Kids with Games
From the moment you leave the house, the kids will probably start getting bored. A survey found that it takes, on average, 27 minutes for children to become bored when in the car, with Australian kids becoming bored the quickest at 23 minutes. However, kids are easily entertained. Trains are excellent for board games because they typically have tables. However, there are also digital versions of popular family games like Monopoly and Scrabble you can play on a phone.
Bring Comfort Items
Older kids are typically used to travelling and don’t need much supervision. Let them use a smartphone, and they’ll be pretty quiet until they get hungry! Younger children will almost always act out when travelling, especially long-distance. Many times, it’s because they are missing home comforts. So why not bring a piece of home with you? Security blankets, favorite toys and other things they interact with on a daily basis can be a Godsend for calming a child.
Create a Schedule for a Fun Trip with the Kids
Your vacation begins when you leave home, and it makes sense to have an idea of what you need to do. Of course, this is where your parent-mind comes in handy with planning and analysis! A schedule is a lifesaver when travelling, or even cruising with kids, so consider these:
- Give yourself plenty of time to get moving and beat any potential bad traffic.
- Include a breakfast stop somewhere at the start of your travels if on the road.
- Let each family member input which activities you should get around to doing.
- Read classic stories like Beauty and the Beast to younger children.
- Make time so that all family members get to do something they want to.
- Plan for 100% family time with activities that you can do together without phones!
Never go too long without breakfast when hitting the road! Fortunately, there are many great food stops on any major highway, and you can kind of bribe the kids with their favorite restaurant! While on a trip, it always helps when each family member feels included in activity discussions.
Take Breaks and Refresh
Whether on the road or at your destination, travel can be tiring. Even in the funniest places on Earth, such as a theme park, tiredness gives way to stress, and this never ends well. Try to take breaks when out and about or when driving long distances. Refreshing yourself and the kids with a sit-down, drink and/or food recharges the batteries and sets you up for having more fun. Of course, this will cost you a lot of cash if you aren’t careful, so include breaks in your budget, too!
Mix It Up for a Fun Trip with the Kids
There is some discussion about whether a trip with children is even a vacation at all! Perhaps those parents don’t have kids that behave well. The fact is that all children are different. Even so, 85% of parents take their kids with them on trips and vacations. But remember it is your vacation too. It’s great to do all the things the children enjoy, but you won’t have fun if you neglect your enjoyment. Mix it up with some intense and low-key activities designed for all of your age groups.
Have a Family Safety Meeting
Any family vacation can turn into a disaster when something goes wrong. Staying safe is more important than ever, given modern natural disasters, the weather and crime. Even theme parks like Disney are no strangers to criminal behavior. However, a family meeting to make sure the children understand what to do in an emergency can be the difference. Ensure you have each other’s contact details, tell the kids what to do when lost and place tracker apps on phones.
Summary
Using storage lockers at your destination transport hubs means you don’t have to lug stuff around, ensuring a fun trip with the kids. A schedule allows you to plan your time well and make the most of what’s available. Safety meetings help the kids know what to do in an emergency.