This is a collaborative post: We’re all looking forward to being able to travel freely again. And traveling with kiddos can be super rewarding. Making memories that they’ll cherish and exploring new places together is one of the best joys of parenthood. Yet every parent knows that long hours and being off your daily rhythm can easily lead to spats and tantrums.
If you’re a fellow parent who’s losing your mind while travelling with children, I’ve got you covered. Here are my top tips for not losing your mind- that is when we’re able to travel again.
Nine tips for not losing your mind while traveling with kids
1. Pack noise-cancelling headphones
While you may be tempted to think noise canceling headphones are a great choice for knocking out the outside distractions for yourself, that’s not what we’re suggesting here. A little bit of screen time can go a long way on a long flight so invest in a good pair of kid-sized noise-canceling headphones to keep your kiddos entertained on the flight.
2. Pack a handheld console
If your kids are anything like mine then they’ve got at least one handheld console, whether it’s the Switch, a PSP or even an old-school Gameboy (remember those?). Handheld consoles are super portable and can keep kids entertained anywhere, but you’ll want to make sure that you have power banks or spare batteries too, just in case.
3. Look into kids’ clubs
Lots of hotels and holiday parks offer kids’ clubs that are designed to give parents a couple of hours to themselves while keeping the children entertained. Many of these are provided for free, and so why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of them? Just be sure to check into the credentials of the people who are providing it to make sure that they’re trustworthy. Other than that it can be a great way for your kids to make friends their own age while on vacation.
4. Research in advance
One of the best ways to make sure that your kids don’t get bored during your holiday is to do a bunch of research in advance so that you know exactly what’s out there. If you have a shortlist of nearby attractions, you know exactly what’s there and where to go if you have a quiet moment. If you’re visiting Boston, for example, then you’ll want to look into Fenway Park or the Freedom Trail. Include the kids in the planning. Getting them excited for the journey ahead is a great way to start out a vacation.
5. Go old school
Sometimes the oldies are the best. You might be surprised at how long you can keep the kids entertained just with a simple game of I Spy or 20 Questions, and it’s a great way to kill some time if you’re just hanging around, such as if you’re waiting in line to get into a tourist attraction. Car bingo is small to pack and can keep youngsters entertained for hours on a long drive while keeping screen time down.
6. Take a pen and paper everywhere
You can combine this with the last tip by playing tic-tac-toe or hangman. Alternatively, you can bring out budding artists by encouraging them to write about their vacation or to draw pictures. You could even teach them to make paper airplanes or to do origami! Keeping busy is a great distraction when having to wait on food or in between destinations.
7. Get yourself a mantra
The idea behind having a mantra is that it’s something you can easily remember and repeat to yourself whenever the stress starts to get to you. If you’re religious, you could choose a prayer, but if not then why not find some lyrics that soothe you or pick out a section of a book? Even if you can’t remember it and have to save it to your phone, just consciously checking it when you feel stressed should do a lot to keep you sane. Include the kids in on this one by giving them their own mantra. When things are upsetting or getting tough, you can recite together.
8. Make them bingo cards
We’ve found that one way to keep our kids entertained and to get them more involved in our vacation is to create bingo cards with a list of different sights that they need to tick off during the trip. We usually use a combination of the tourist attractions that we know we’re going to visit and some broader stuff that depends on the location. In France, for example, we’d use both The Eiffel Tower and a baguette.
9. Remember that it’s your vacation too
Most of our tips today have revolved around giving the kids something to do to keep them busy, and while keeping kiddos entertained is great for everyone, remember that it’s important to take some time for yourself too. Make sure to include something for everyone on the trip. While seeing your kids happy and enjoying themselves is surely going to bring them joy, it’s important to include them in your passions as well. Perhaps even try to carve out some alone time with your partner, even if that means ordering in some takeout after the kids are asleep.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to keep your kids entertained while travelling, you’re ready to hit the road and start travelling. The most important thing is to make sure that you’re together. Have a wonderful time!