The Babble List: 25 Family Travel Tips
Stress-proof your next vacation!
by Annie Bacon
May 18, 2009
Always have a couple of small toys in your bag for outings. Avoid toys that have many small pieces: Polly Pockets are perfect to keep a young girl occupied in the hotel room, but you don't want to have to crawl under the table to find a missing shoe. Also, don't
bring any "beeping" or musical electronic toys: parents have a selective sense of hearing that allows them not to go crazy in the presence of anything from Vtech, but others might not have that skill.
A few good choices...
- Coloring book with washable pencils
- Activity or sticker books
- Etch-a-sketch
- Magnetic play scenes or dress-up dolls
- Anything that comes in a small case
If you prefer not to use the stroller as a feeding spot, use the bathrobe belts to secure your toddler to a chair. To avoid cleaning fees, place a towel on the chair and floor.
Resist the urge to ask for a child's plates before yours. It might keep him quiet at first, but then he'll have nothing to do once it's your time to eat.
If you travel abroad, keep in mind that some cultures have different meal schedules and that restaurants' open hours may differ from what you're used to. Make enquiries before heading out, or you might hit your nose on a "Closed" sign.
Pace yourself. Some adult travelers are used to booking their whole day with planned activities, but rushing children from one museum to another is a recipe for disaster. A tired child is a cranky one and nothing ruins the fun of vacation as effectively
as constant tantrums. With older kids, you can give them access to the tourism information and let them pick one activity that they'd like to do during the trip, so they feel it's their trip, too. For younger ones, check Bugaboo's
daytrip site for stroller-friendly suggestions.
Don't feel guilty about slacking off on your usual discipline and education standards. It's vacation time! So what if they've already watched an hour of cartoons? Or had a second serving of chocolate ice cream? Everything they'll gain by the rest of the experience will far outweigh any set back in discipline and good habits. Those can always be taken care of once you're back at home.
Try letting your children nap in a bed once in a while, alternate big activities with smaller ones and allow some down time to let them explore. Going to the park may seem to you like a waste of precious sightseeing time, but you should instead consider
it an opportunity to experience the life of a local. Who knows — you might even make some friends.
About the Author
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Annie Bacon is a freelance game designer living in Montreal. She's also the author of the french youth novel series Terra Incognita and akidstory.com personalized books. |
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