It is a problem as old as time itself: how to travel with kids, and not go insane. It should practically be a college course: Travel and Sanity Maintenance 101. Children on the Mayflower, and in covered wagons journeying to California probably tortured their parents with that age old question: “Are we there yet?” Fortunately, today’s parents have a much greater arsenal of weapons at their disposal.
First, there is the issue of how you are traveling: car, RV, plane, train or ship pretty much covers all the options. So, let us take a look at cars and RV’s first. With these modes of transportation, the kids will be sitting for long periods, and boredom can set in. if you are lucky, your car / RV will have a DVD player. One of those and a stack of movies, and you are home free. If you do not have one of those, you will have to go with the old standbys: books, comics, Gameboys, games, and iPods.
When traveling by planes, trains, and ships, the whole issue of keeping the kids busy and entertained is pretty much moot. With planes and trains, they can get up, move around, and there are TV, movies etc. to occupy the kids. When it comes to cruise ships, it is not a question of keeping the kids busy, it is about dragging them away from all the fun that can be a problem.
Also, keep in mind the need for frequent rest stops. These are important not just for bathroom breaks, but to stretch, get a breath of fresh air, and to run off a little pent up energy. After all, when you stop for the night, you will be tired from the day’s drive. You will want to sleep, and if the kids are “bouncing off the woodwork,” you will not get any. Of course, this is where staying at a hotel / motel with proper amenities (that is: a pool!) can come in handy.
Next is the matter of what to pack for the kids. This, of course, depends on where you are going. But, beyond the issue of clothes, there are the “specialty items”. These can be iPods, laptops etc. and they can also be that special teddy bear or security blanket that a child cherishes. Travel for children, particularly very young ones, can be a bit overwhelming; the change of scene, the different people, the uncertainty about when they are going home can all combine to upset them. So, having a “comfort item” along can go a long way toward easing their nervousness. Just one key consideration: keep track of the item! Do not expect the child to remember if “Teddy” got packed. You really have to treat the item as if it is a member of the family! All it takes is one moment’s forgetfulness, and “Teddy” is left among the dirty sheets of a motel two hundred miles away. Then you are either dealing with a crying kid, or a lot of lost time as you make that big u-turn.
Then there is the question of medications. Does your child suffer from asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or some other malady? Well, then be sure to bring their medications, a prescription for those meds, and some sort of medical documentation; particularly if you are going to be traveling out of the country! Along the same lines, do any of your children have any sort of food allergies? With many cruise ships, they have alternative menus for such situations. If you are not taking a cruise, then make inquiries at the places you stay, and be sure to bring plenty of antidote. A really critical question to ask yourself is this: what is the level of medical science available in the place you are going? If it is in a modern city, then relax; they have state of the art hospitals. On the other hand, if your travels include Jamaica and the Grand Caymans, or some Third World country, you need to be prepared for less than stellar medical facilities. It may not be politically correct to say so, but that is the case, and you do not want to risk your child’s health when you are supposed to be having fun.
Along the same lines as health, there is the issue of safety. With many vacation resorts, they have attractions / rides that are age-appropriate. On cruise ships, they even have clubs / activity centers that are separated by age. With their excursions, the same applies: they have some that are for certain ages. Do not challenge them on this matter; the cruise line knows what they are doing. So, no matter how your kids might beg and plead, do not push to have them do activities that might be beyond their physical abilities.
Finally, there is the matter of personal safety. Nobody likes to think about it, but there are predators out there looking to hurt children, and they are even found in resort spots. So, check out the places you intend to stay at: how secure are they, and do they perform background checks on all their staff? Try to insure that your kids never go anywhere alone, and that you know where they will be at any time of the trip. Often times, teenagers hungry for a little freedom when away from mom and dad, and they can lower their guard on vacation.
So, make sure your kids have some form ID on them at all times, and that you have recent pictures of them with you. If, perish the thought, your child(ren) ends up missing, then every second is precious in finding them.
Follow a few simple steps, and you can be assured that you will survive the traveling to have a wonderful vacation with your kids.