Travelling with young kids can be both exciting and challenging. On one hand, it’s an opportunity to expose them to new experiences and create lasting memories as a family. However, on the other hand, keeping young, energetic kids content and occupied during any journey can be quite the undertaking. As parents, the main goal is to ensure the little ones remain happy and engaged throughout the travel experience.
Here are eight effective strategies to keep young kids happy while you are on the move…
Ways To Keep Young Kids Happy While Travelling
No. 1 – Bring Familiar Comforts
Items such as a favourite soft toy, a blanket or a very soft pillow help children have some sense of security, making them feel much more comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. Packing a selection of toys also provides an excellent way to amuse smaller children and entertain them during the journey. Having comforts around them from home can make the process of travelling a bit more understandable and adaptable for the kids. Such familiar items catch the sense of stability and routine, things that can actually ease the transition to the unfamiliar. With these security objects in tow, young travellers can be more relaxed and comfortable, even when venturing into new places.
Ways To Keep Young Kids Happy While Travelling
No. 2 – Pack Engaging Activities
In addition to comfort items, there are several fun things to pack that will entertain young minds en route. Examples include sticker books, colouring supplies, travel size board games and magnetic travel toys. Storybooks on audio, music playlists and even preloaded educational apps on a tablet or phone come in very handy. And, of course, the very important snacks, which are always guaranteed to provide a distraction and a few minutes of peace and quiet. The thing is, you need a well-curated selection of age-appropriate diversions that you can switch up every once in a while throughout your journey.
Ways To Keep Young Kids Happy While Travelling
No. 3 – Schedule Regular Breaks
When taking a trip with young children, it is very important to make sure they get breaks often so they can get some energy and be restored. This could be as simple as making a quick stop at a playground, taking a walk around a park, or just letting them play around for a while at a rest area. Just getting up and letting out the energy once in a while can really make all the difference in their mood and general temperament.
Also, longer breaks-for example, leisurely lunch or an afternoon spent getting acquainted with a new destination-are warranted for the same reason, to avoid burnout.
Ways To Keep Young Kids Happy While Travelling
No. 4 – Embrace the Journey
Instead of considering travel time just a means to an end, help your younger children appreciate the journey itself. Talk about the interesting things that can be seen in the passing landscape, or play games that are characteristic of car rides; even let them help you with navigating, using a map. Sometimes, prompting activity instead of passivity in travelling will greatly develop their interest and enthusiasm. Second, it also helps to set reasonable expectations and to celebrate small victories in developing good correlates with travel, such as actually having a successful potty break.
Ways To Keep Young Kids Happy While Travelling
No. 5 – Manage Expectations
Setting expectations is one of the keys to happiness when it comes to young children and travel. That means establishing realistic limits on screen time, snacks, and other indulgences, and preparing them for changes in daily routine. Anticipate your trip with them, and estimated travel time, and prepare them for those situations, such as lengthy car rides or waiting for delayed flights. You will help minimise tantrums and disappointment if you are able to set clear boundaries and communicate openly with them.
Ways To Keep Young Kids Happy While Travelling
No. 6 – Prioritise Downtime
While it is important to keep young children stimulated and entertained, it is equally as important to allow for times of rest and quiet. Incorporate specific quiet times, either by way of nap times or simply some downtime back in the hotel room. This allows them to recharge their batteries but also gives you, the parent, a much-needed break at the same time. Generally happy kids usually begin with well-rested, less-stressed parents.
Ways To Keep Young Kids Happy While Travelling
No. 7 – Encourage Exploration
If at all possible, let your young children have some freedom to explore their surroundings when it is safe and supervised.
Let them run through a new park, around a new building with unique architecture, or simply people-watch at the busy train station. Giving them the space to feel excited and amazed by something in their environment is a truly nurturing way to build trust. Of course, this should balance with safety concerns and your own comfort level, but a little exploration can go a long way in keeping them engaged and content.
Ways To Keep Young Kids Happy While Travelling
No. 8 – Be Flexible
But perhaps most importantly, travelling with small children means embracing flexibility. Nothing goes according to plan, and all it takes is a little twist of fate. If there was a plan for some activity, make sure to have a backup. Wherever kids decide at any moment in time to meltdown, be prepared to go in another direction until resolution comes about. The more flexible you can be, the better prepared you will be at taking on those curveballs that come inherently with travelling with young children.
As you can see the secret of keeping young kids happy while travelling comes down, in the end, to just one thing… preparation, from packing soft toys to stocking up on their favourite snacks. Patience and going with the flow aren’t bad either, as they will help you turn what can potentially be an onerous journey into a memorable, enjoyable experience for the whole family by being prepared for their needs, providing engaging distractions and being flexible.