Hey Friends!
Happy Monday! I hope all of you are having a great start to your week. Today I wanted to share my TOP FIVE tips when traveling with your kiddos! At the end of this month we will be taking our annual beach vacation to Maine! We are all super excited to get away for a bit and to just relax and enjoy some much needed family time. With that being said, we all know how challenging traveling with kids can be. It's hard for kids because it's uncharted territory. They are off their regular routine, they are sleeping somewhere completely different, and everything in their eyes seems off! So I would like to share all the tips and tricks that I have learned through the years to help your little ones and yourself have a fun, stress-free vacation, well as much as we can!
Here We Go!
1. BUSY BAG: This is so important and is going to help you with the long drive. I usually pack a bag for each child, depending on their age! Things that they love and that are age appropriate. For example, both my kids love coloring, reading books, and activity books. Just pack crayons, clipboard and some paper or coloring books. I also purchased flash cards for Lilly to work on letters and numbers. The possibilities are endless, you just have to be creative and choose items that your kids enjoy using and engaging in.
2. EASY AND MESSY FREE SNACKS: We all know how much kids love to snack and on a road trip you need to be prepared. I suggest foods that are easy, not messy, and something that your child will enjoy. In past trips I have found that pouches, mini muffins, crackers, fruit snacks, cut up fresh fruit and veggies work best. Just something they can easily grab and go. You don't want something that will be all over the backseat and their carseats. Another great idea is prepared snacks in baggies that you can fill with trail mix, pretzels, goldfish or any fun, simple snack that your kids will like.
3. BRING SOMETHING FROM HOME: This is SO important and vital for you and your kids. They are accustomed to a certain nap and bedtime routine when they are home. So when you are not home and are sleeping in a different environment bring something that feels like home to them. For my kids, we bring their music machine, the kids favorite blanket and maybe a stuffed animal that they sleep with. When my kids were still sleeping in a crib I would bring a crib sheet so that it was something that they were used to. It helps so much and allows them to feel comfortable in a foreign place.
4. GET OUT OF THE CAR: We all know how hard it is to sit in a car for hours! Just think how you would feel if you were in a carseat. Your kids need to get out and stretch, the whole family does, especially the little ones. Stop at a rest area or park and let them get out and run, even if it's just for a few minutes. They need that fresh air and movement for their bodies. I always try to scope out rest areas every few hours because I know the kids will need to stretch their legs and just get out of the car to stretch.
5. SAVE SCREEN TIME FOR THE END: Yes pack the kids IPADS! Hey, as parents sometimes we need a break, we need a bit of quiet, but I say try everything possible first before giving them their iPads. Once they have electronics it will be hard to get them back. We also have a dvd player that we bring, it's been a lifesaver for us when we have a few hours left in our trip and we can just pop in a movie. So my advice is to YES, bring it, but use it wisely!
Thank you guys so much! I hope this helps you when you and your family take your next vacation.
Until next time!
XO
Kim
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