Lone Star Nannies: Traveling with Kids
We’re all counting down the days until spring break! In Texas, this means highways covered with bluebonnets, no homework, and perfect temperatures for lunch outside. There’s something hopeful about the change of seasons, and spring holds an especially significant connection to new life. We all want a fresh start, we all want to try new things…and we all love the thought of sipping a coconut on the beach! If you’re looking forward to a family vacation in the coming months, this post is for you.
There’s a significant amount of planning that goes into traveling, especially if half the people in your car are high energy boys under the age of ten. Veteran moms know they’ve got to have a game plan. At some point on a previous road trip they learned that “Twenty Questions” only has a certain amount of mileage before it starts to drive everyone crazy.
Whether you’re flying, driving, or taking public transport, there is a road map to traveling with kids, and it’s not on a gps! Fuel up your tank with some coffee and keep reading…We’ve got some great ideas for how to make this year’s travel experience a win for everyone in your family.
BEFORE THE TRIP PACKING
There are quite a few life hacks and packing tips floating around the internet. Here are a few of our favorites for parents of babies and toddlers…
Use disposable diaper changing pads for public restrooms such as these puppy pads on Amazon. When you’re done, throw them in the trash! They don’t take up much space and reduce the amount of laundry you’d have to carry around during your trip.
Search for travel checklists on the internet. There are lots of free or low cost templates you can edit to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. Check out this baby travel checklist on Etsy . Once you buy a template, you can save it on your computer and use it over and over again!
If you’re flying, check everything you can to keep your hands free. Wear your baby in a carrier or use a lightweight umbrella stroller. You can strap on the diaper bag and ask someone else to bring a carry-on with all the other items you’ll need. Don’t forget an easily accessible change of clothes for everyone - including yourself!
For parents of our littlest travelers, we have to be honest up front. Vacations will always be trial and error. Take mental notes about what works and what doesn’t. Your baby or toddler is growing and changing so much! A trip at 3 months old will be different from a trip at 9 months old…and the same goes for toddlers. Plan for everything you can, but trust your intuition! You know your little one’s needs better than anyone.
For families with older children, the fun starts before you leave the driveway. Entrust them with a job and equip them to use their gifts. They’ll love being a part of the travel process from start to finish! Here are a few examples of ways you can include your kids as you plan your next vacation…
FOR ROAD TRIPS
Snack Bags Ask your child to interview family members about their favorite snacks, then let them pick items for everyone’s snack bags at the grocery store. If you’re taking a long road trip, you may need to restock on the way back!
Navigator Teach your child how to use a foldable map. Mark your route together with a highlighter or put them in charge of finding rest stops along the way.
Gas Do you have a student who loves math? Give them basic problems to solve such as calculating miles per gallon or figuring out the cost of gas (based on price per gallon).
Librarian Go to the library before your trip and check out lots of picture books or travel books about your destination. Your child can make sure you have lots of fun things to read while you drive.
FOR FLIGHTS
Backpacks Similar to the concept of snack bags, interview your kids about some of their favorite things and find inexpensive activities for carry-on backpacks. These items can be everything from small toys or trinkets from the dollar store to airplane activity books or busy boards . Siblings can pack backpacks or buy surprises for each other, just make sure they don’t find out what’s in them until they board the plane!
DURING THE TRIP
Historical Markers
Make history come alive by stopping at local historical markers or looking up interesting facts about the people and places that make up a region. Driving through Illinois? Read Little House on the Prairie or stop by Abraham Lincoln’s Presidential Library. If you’re in Philly, look up who invented the cheesesteak and then go grab one for lunch. Headed to the hill country to tube down a river? Stop by Gruene, Texas for some barbecue and watch a youtube video to learn how to line dance. Every destination is filled with stories…you just have to explore them!
Audio Dramas
With the advancement of technology, audio dramas have gone out of style, but that doesn’t mean kids won’t enjoy them! Focus on the Family has successfully kept the spirit of storytelling alive with Adventures in Odyssey, a biblically based series with thousands of episodes. You can listen to full episodes for free or join the club for one month and stream them online for $10. Focus on the Family also has a family radio theatre with audio dramas of classic favorites such as The Chronicles of Narnia. There are lots of free audio drama podcasts for kids. Try one and see what you think!
Books
Reading chapter books aloud is a great way to connect as a family and break up a road trip. Is there a series you loved as a kid? Share it with your children! Before you know it, you’ll be at the next rest stop. You can also check out interactive books such as “I Spy” or “Where’s Waldo?” These types of books are fun for elementary age children of all ages!
Games
Traveling can be difficult when there’s no outlet for pent up energy. For a child, every stage of the journey can become a game. When you’re walking in the airport, play “Red Light, Green Light” so that your kids don’t get too far away. When you’re driving through the country, road trip scavenger hunts are a great way to pass the time. Check out these free scavenger hunt printables from Fun Loving Families.
No matter where your next travel destination takes you, we hope you feel a little more prepared to load up the suitcases and make some memories. We also hope that, at the end of getting from point A to point B, there is a beach with a coconut! If not, book that trip for you and your spouse this summer, then give us a call. We have so many caring nannies ready to support you and the ones you love most. Start something new with your family this spring and find out how Lone Star Nannies can come alongside you in the greatest journey - your daily life.
With care,
Lone Star Nannies