Tips for travelling with kids!
Travelling with kids is fun! Unless they are throwing a temper tantrum at 30,000 feet.
That kind of sucks.
If you plan on spending more than 30mins on an airplane with your kids, this list of easy travel tips and activities is just what you need!
Travelling with kids can be a bit like taking a herd of wild goats on a holiday. Challenging, messy and 100% unpredictable. But with a little forward planning and some strategically planned bribery, the whole experience can be a lot of fun.
Carry On – Pack at least one bag purely filled with things to entertain the kids on the flight. Snacks, Ipads, activities and little novelty surprises. Hand out the activities and snacks at different intervals to keep the journey interesting.
Surprises- Pack an array of surprise activities for the kids that you can offer at different intervals when you feel things are starting to get ugly. New, small toys or activities that the kids have never seen before will help keep boredom at bay. You can even wrap them like gifts to add to the excitement of what essentially may just be a new colouring book.
For some great activity options check out the Melissa & Doug “On the Go” range including mess free foil art, scratch art and water pens.
This whole range of products from the Melissa & Doug brand are ideal for airplane entertainment. With a number of different themes and styles to choose from, these fuss free, mess free art & craft projects are a definite winner. Gone are days of panic when you discover your child’s masterpiece in bright pink Texta on the aircraft walls!
Electronics – It’s no surprise that kids love electronic devices. Even for those of you who restrict usage normally, having a new movie to watch or downloading a couple of new games on your phone or Ipad can buy you a lot of time. You might want to invest in kids headphones specifically designed to fit their little heads and they often have noise cancelling features.
Cleanliness - Even if all of your children are long out of nappies, don’t forget the baby wipes. They’re ideal for washing hands, cleaning toilet seats and wiping down restaurant tables. Small bottles of hand sanitiser can also be a godsend in some countries.
Clothing - ALWAYS bring an extra pair of clothing in your carry on for all the children and for you as well. Trust me, you do not want to spend the flight covered in juice or any of the other less savory possibilities that may occur when travelling with children. Pack a large ziplock bag for any soiled items too.
If all else fails, count to 10, take deep breaths and avoid eye contact with other passengers!
Sharing the world with your children is a priceless gift. However you like to travel, I’m here to take the hard work out of your vacation planning, to make it easier for you to discover the world and explore with your kids!
Email me at fgent@mtatravel.com.au or phone 0401 410 690 to plan your next family adventure.