A huge misconception is that once you settle down to have children, all travel is off the table. However, as most die-hard travel fans know, traveling with their kids is not only possible but also extremely rewarding. By sharing the joys of travel with the little ones, parents find that they often feel great about the learning experiences, life lessons and memories that are built in the process. Traveling with children is no easy feat but if you want to keep seeing the world and sharing it with your family, here are few tips to make it easier.
Be Stocked up & Prepared
Packing your bags will inevitably become a lot more complicated and a lot less about your needs than ever before. If you are prepared with the right items however, your journey will go a lot more smoothly than you may have expected. Make sure to bring plenty of snacks, toys, entertainment and comfort items to keep the kids happy along the way. They may not be able to understand why they have to sit on a plane for 10 hours, wait in line for 30 minutes or spend an entire day on public transit, walking around a city and getting lost. Try to make it as comfortable for them as possible. That being said, trying to practice a bit of minimalism for your own sake is helpful and there are plenty of compactable items out there to make it easier for you. There is a whole world of collapsible and packable children's items and just a quick browse can show you the best pack and play, diaper bags, toys, carriers and food storage items for your budget and type of trip.
Choose Kid Friendly Destinations
While you may be interested in hiking to Mt. Everest's base camp, it doesn't mean that your kids will be. Traveling with the little ones in tow is not always going to be conducive to what you want to do but there are still plenty of places that both parents and kids can enjoy. Do your research and find a happy medium that will satisfy your wanderlust while keeping the kids entertained. Find cities that have children themed museums, check out aquariums or take easy hikes around the national parks that you visit. Even if a place isn't inherently kid friendly, find a way to make it seem more interesting for them on your own. Visit the Dead Sea and treat it like a day at the beach or turn a trip to Petra into a scene from a movie. Use your imagination and your kids will be sure to love you for it.
Prep Them For Emergencies
One of the biggest concerns for parents traveling with their children is the fact that they could get lost. Nothing will ease your worries more than getting both you and your children prepared for these kinds of emergencies. Come up with safety words for your family to use to indicate that someone feels uncomfortable in certain situations. Wherever you go, make sure to dedicate a meeting spot and a time frame to meet there in the case that anyone gets separated or lost. Equip each child with a business card to the hotel you are staying at, a phone number that they can call to reach you, a phone to actually call you on or a locator that can be put on their clothes or bag. Taking these precautions can help you rest easier as you try to enjoy your journey around the globe.
With these tips and resources, hopefully you can start planning your next travel vacation soon!