We know how wonderful it is to let your kids experience the joys of going on holiday. When you have younger children, it can sometimes be a trip full of trials and tribulations that don’t make for much of a relaxing getaway – and let’s face it, sometimes we all need a break. Here are a few top tips to get your holiday with your little one(s) off to a great start.
Choose Somewhere Family-Friendly
With the smallest bit of research you can find a whole host of places that are family friendly and will provide all the facilities and understanding needed to keep your holiday smooth. If you’re struggling to find you exact requirements, people like Tots To Travel are a good bet. If your child’s old enough, get them involved in choosing your destination by showing them pictures – after you’ve made a shortlist of course.
Be Prepared
If your kids are Lion King fans, they’ll know the song ‘Be Prepared’ – make it your mantra. When you go out on day trips while you’re on holiday, coming armed with water and healthy snacks like fruit will help on flights and for keeping them going in between meals. Having arranged snack-times is good to stick to form a semblance of a routine away from the comfort of home
Keep it Simple
Books, mini puppets or toys, story CDs or tapes (outmoded, but cheap if you have a tape player in your car) are a great way to keep your children occupied in long periods of travel without worrying about taking an expensive iPad or tablet with you.
Keep Everything Achievable
Holidays can sometimes be tainted with the pressure to pack as much in as possible, so don’t try to do too much or be too ambitious for what you and your kids can handle in one day. Take it easy – it’s a holiday after all. Take recommendations from other families or local sources of information, and read reviews of tourist attractions to see if they’re kid-friendly.
Safety and Security
Travelling with kids can present difficulties with official documentation; even infants need passports to go abroad, and if you have a different surname to your child, you’ll need documentation like a birth certificate to prove you’re family. Making sure all of you are covered by insurance to avoid costly consequences if anything were to happen abroad.
New environments can be scary, tiring and uncomfortable for little ones, so doing all you can to listen to and understand your child’s needs is the key to a happy stress-free holiday.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post with Tots To Travel
Although I don’t have any children of my own I think is a super informative post and would be great to any parents who are taking their children out 🙂
So much good advice, I wish I had seen this last year when I was panicing about taking my two little ones on holiday. Everything was fine though, and I definatley agree with keeping it achievable – trying to do too much just stresses everyone out!