Any parent knows the headaches that can occur while traveling with kids. From a bathroom break every 30 minutes to an outbreak of sibling rivalry; Bringing the kids on a road trip can really test the patience of a Saint. However, with a little advanced planning and some easy family travel tips, many of these travel pains can be minimized.
One of the top tips for family travel is to simply relax. Nothing ever goes quite as planned on a trip, and bringing the kids along only adds extra stress when things go wrong. Even seemingly benign setbacks can cause outbursts of crying and screaming from tired, road-weary babies. And because children naturally look to their parents when gauging the severity of a particular situation, if you show signs of stress, this will inevitably be amplified by the children.
For a child, nothing makes a car ride seem longer than having nothing to do but look out the window. And if you’re a parent, nothing makes the journey seem longer than a bored and unruly child. In this case, it is necessary to provide a variety of entertainment when traveling with young children. Books, games, DVDs, and anything else that can serve as a distraction will make a long road trip that much faster for both parent and child.
An often overlooked aspect of family travel advice is choosing the right time to travel. When possible, traveling at night is often the best idea, as most babies simply fall asleep during a short amount of time on the road. If you have to travel during the day, arranging your travel time around your regular siesta periods is an excellent idea as it can provide at least a few hours of peace while driving.
It is also important to make sure you have plenty of time to travel. Having enough time to stop regularly along the way not only helps break up the monotony of driving, but it also gives kids a chance to move around and burn off some energy. And with any luck, by following these family travel tips, your next vacation will be a great experience for the whole family.