So you’re planning to go on vacation? When you first think about taking a trip together as a family, it can fill you with mixed emotions. Not only are you excited to have a break away, but you may also feel the pressure of trying to organize something so big, keep everyone happy, and ensure that your kids can enjoy the experience as well. It’s a lot to take on, but when you first become a parent, you know days like this will come. So don’t be tough on yourself. Instead, you’re going to want to work that tiny bit harder to make sure it’s both easy and enjoyable.
One of the best ways you can do that is to ensure that you involve your kids in all of the different processes. Of course, they’re going to be going on the vacation with you, so they’re technically already involved, but there are ways that you can encourage them to feel a lot more involved with the planning, packing, and even the traveling aspects of the vacation too, and not just while you’re there. So, if you want to make sure that you can enjoy your vacation from start to finish, here’s how to do it.
Planning
The planning stages of traveling as a family are often crucial. If you’re going to make this trip a success, you’re going to want to make sure that you plan a trip that the kids can not only enjoy, but feel involved in too.
Do Your Research
Researching your trip ahead of time is often important to a lot of people, but it can be crucial when you have kids. The last thing you want is to arrive and find out that the hotel you’re staying in, or the resort you’re going to isn’t kid-friendly. But if you’re able to scout around before you book, you can look out for the perfect place suitable for your little ones, maybe even with a kids club. It’s important to know that other families will be staying there too to give your kids some friends to play with.
Be Smart With The Time Of Year
As a part of your research, you may want to think about the right time of year to go too. Traveling with your kids isn’t easy, so you want to make sure that you do it at the right time of year. If the weather is going to be too hot, you may find that your little ones will be unsettled and the trip won’t be as enjoyable for you all.
Get A Good Deal
You should also try to look out for the right deal too. It’s tempting to book something right away, and then it’s done, but you should definitely shop around. With great discount sites such as DontPayFull.com, you can often save a huge chunk of the vacation cost. Then, it means that you have more money to spend while you’re away.
Packing
Then you’ve got the packing stage to think about. When it comes to including your kids, things could a get messy with what they want to take. So you could find that showing them how you pack helps to teach them to pack themselves, and help them to feel involved.
Shop For What You Need
Every time you go on vacation, you can often find that your children have outgrown the last set of clothes that they had for the nice weather. So, you’re going to want to go shopping for new bits and pieces. Be sure that you get everything that they need, including any pieces of equipment like shoes for the sea that can help you practically. You should aim to take them with you, so they feel involved too.
Set Everything To One Side
When you have everything you need, you should set it to one side. If you want to make the packing process as easy as possible, keeping everything out at least a week before you go should aim to help you out and make everything easier – and this will include anything that isn’t new but that you’ll be taking with you anyway.
Pack Smart
When it comes come to packing, here are a few tips that can make things easier. Packing for a trip with kids means you have more to think about and more to do. So do it in stages. Preparing the week before will help, but this post should also give you some valuable tips to make things all the more easier too.
Traveling
The actual travel part of your trip can be the hardest bit. When your kids are unsettled, you can feel unsettled yourself and also be wary of the comfort of other passengers. But there are a few ways to make is easier on everyone.
Time Everything Well
This will tie into your planning stage, but it’s also one of the things that can help you to make the process of traveling easier. It’s arguable as to whether there is a best time of day to travel with kids, but when you know your kids well and how they react, you can get a flight or travel time that will ensure they sleep through it and wake up feeling rested and ready for the vacation.
Bring Ammunition
As you’re packing, you should also remember things to keep your kiddies entertained. Although there are lots of different ways that Parenting.com say you can do that, bringing things with you will definitely help. Whether it’s an iPad to play movies or a book to read, make sure you have distraction ammunition at the ready.
Make It Exciting
It will also help if you’re able to make your travel time exciting for your kids. They can often become unsettled when they’re not sure what’s going on, or when they’re bored. But, if you can talk them through the transport you’re on, whether it’s a plane or a boat or anything else, and get them excited about traveling, they will be interested enough to keep calm and enjoy the experience.
While You’re Away
It’s easy to believe that being away with your family will be the nicest part, but it can still be stressful. So, you’re going to want to avoid any difficult situations while you’re away, and ensure that everyone has fun instead.
Include Activities For Everyone
It’s easy to think about your kids when you’re planning your break away, but you should also aim to think about activities the entire family can join in with. Whether it’s watersports on the beach or entertainment in your resort, be sure that you can all be entertained and enjoy your time together, rather than doing the same things every day.
Plan In Variety
You may also want to aim to make the days varied. We all know that kids can get bored easily, so they often need a change of pace to keep them interested. Be sure to make your activities exciting, and to go for a change of scenery throughout the week. Also, keep to your regular nap schedules and prepare snacks too, as this should help to keep them energized and avoid overtired tantrums.
Make Friends
As a family, you should also think about making friends on vacation. It’s always useful for everyone to befriend other families. Not only will your children be able to play with the kids in the other family, but the adults can often be great company for you both too.
On The Way Home
Make It Exciting (Again!)
As you did on the way to your vacation, you want to make it exciting again. This post on LonelyPlanet.com has some great advice about getting your kids excited for each trip which can help. But try to drum up the excitement of the transport and being home again to see your family and any pets that you may have.
Be Prepared
Just like you did on your break, you should also make sure you have some great travel snacks for the kids. This can be especially important if you’re road tripping it. You could also plan in some different games to keep them entertained, and also try and time their naps well if you can (and if they need to nap). Then, the transport home should feel easier to manage too.
Have Something Waiting At Home
Finally, you may also want to think about having something at home waiting for your kids when they arrive. If you don’t have a pet, they may find it hard to want to go home. But, you can promise them that someone is waiting for them. So pick up a stuffed animal or another small toy before you leave, so that they can come home to something exciting and not feel so bad about having to travel home.
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