Take the Stress Out of Traveling With Kids

December 23, 2023 / momwithamap /

Take the Stress Out content provided by Mom With a Map staff writer

Traveling with kids in tow is notoriously stressful. We’ve all heard the horror stories parents like to share after a particularly challenging family vacation. But does traveling with kids always need to be super stressful? Is there a way to make family travel easier and more enjoyable?

You’ll be really pleased to know that a family break doesn’t need to turn into a forgettable experience. You’ll be even happier to know that there’s a ton of ways to make traveling with kids so much easier. You may be thinking that it’s great to know that regular family vacations can be made easier. But how about those more adventurous trips? What about if you’re hoping to take your family on an expedition of a lifetime?

Can you really come home with happy memories of your time away? Again, the answer is yes.

There’s nothing like heading off on an adventure to spend quality time as a family. Creating memories in different settings is an incredible experience. Plus, your travels will benefit your kids in so many ways. From opening their eyes to other cultures to instilling a love of adventure, the benefits are endless. But to enjoy all the benefits, you’ve got to make the experience a positive one. Figuring out how to take the stress out of traveling with kids isn’t always easy.

With this in mind, take a look at these top tips to take the stress out of traveling with kids:

Planning is Everything

Spontaneous getaways are great when you’re traveling solo. But when you’ve got your kids along for the ride, some extra planning is required. A lack of spontaneity doesn’t need to make your trip any less fun. It just means that you’re going to need to be a little more organized with your arrangements.

Do your research

You can’t afford to take risks when you’re traveling with your kids. Your children’s health and their safety is way too important. So, figuring out where you’re traveling to really matters. Plus, how long you’ll be there, and how you’re getting there is vital to know.

Carrying out plenty of research before you go is a great way to make your trip successful. Getting the kids involved in the research is so important too. They’ll love being a part of choosing where you’re all going.

Figure Out the Practicalities

Taking care of the practical side of your adventure can seem like the most boring part. However, once you’ve got it sorted, you can relax a little and enjoy the fun parts of planning. If your kids go to school, this is a really huge consideration. Are you going to travel during the school break, or are you going to take them out of school for the trip? If you’re taking them out of school, you may need permission from the principal. Also, you may have to figure out taking some school work with you. Spending a long time away could put them far behind with their education. So, knowing how to handle this gap in learning is a must.

Focus on health and safety

Thinking about whether your destination is going to need you and the kids to have vaccinations or take medication before you visit is vital. This is something that you’ll need to research as soon as you can.

Another health and safety precaution to take is getting health insurance. No one enjoys thinking about insurance. But when you’re traveling with your kids, having travel insurance can be a big help. At least then you’ll have some peace of mind if someone does get ill on the trip, you should be covered.

Keep Kids Comfortable

A big trip is super exciting for adults. But for kids, there’s a lot of unfamiliar stuff to deal with. Kids thrive on routine, so mixing things up can be a bit daunting for them. So, making sure that you get kids involved in the planning of the trip is super helpful. Showing them where the destinations are on a map is a great start. Looking at Google Earth images of the place is also a huge help.

Consider your travel times

As well as getting kids familiar with your destination, there’s tons more you can do. Taking extra steps like planning your travel times to fit in with the kids’ routines as best you can is a wise move. The thought of being stuck in mid-air with their kids screaming is something that terrifies most parents. There’s no doubt that having your kids feeling anxious, scared, or just bored on a flight can make flights a really stressful experience. So, if you’re taking long flights, booking flights that match your kids’ normal sleeping times is a great idea.

Timing your booking so that kids can sleep through the flight can help your kids to stick with their normal routines. This will stop them from becoming overtired and more unsettled than they need to be. If your trip involves a long transfer after the airport, having kids sleep on the journey can be a great help. They’ll then feel in a better mood for the start of your trip and less likely to become upset and overwhelmed.

Make Life Easy for Yourself

Making travel as easy as possible for both yourself and your kids is a smart move. The easier you make things, the lower your stress levels will be. This gives you the breathing space to really enjoy your trip without piling on the pressure.

Focus on low maintenance

Keeping things low maintenance is a great way to make life easy for yourself. Finding ways to keep the kids looking clean and groomed without taking lots of effort while you travel is a great start.

Packing clothes for the kids that are easy to wash on the go and will dry fast is a smart move. This will then help you to stay on top of the laundry and keep the kids in clean clothes throughout the trip. Learning some low maintenance kid’s hairstyles to keep their hair looking

neat and tidy on your adventure is really helpful. If your kids have longer hair, you can make life easier for yourself by watching a bubble braids tutorial. This will mean you can quickly create a hairstyle that’s practical and looks cute.

Give yourself a head start

Getting ahead of the game is key when you’re traveling with kids. The more prep you do, the better. This is going to make the trip so much easier. Making sure you start your preparations as early as you can will help you avoid last-minute headaches. To help you stay even more organized, it’s a great idea to also write a list of everything you need to do to prepare for your adventure. Having everything written down means you don’t need to try and remember everything.

Try to relax

There’s no doubt that traveling with kids can be really stressful. Your trip won’t be quite as carefree as it was before you started a family. However, there’s something really magical about seeing the world through the eyes of your children.

Being as organized as possible is essential. Knowing that you have given yourself a head start means you’ve got plenty of time to thoroughly prepare through your adventure. You can then take the pressure off yourself.

Take the Stress Out of Traveling With Kids

Can you really come home with happy memories of your time away? Again, the answer is yes.