Fox Network’s hit groundbreaking television series Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader pit 5th grade children against adults with a series of quizzes and questions on a variety of subjects based on elementary school academics. Surprisingly — or unsurprisingly to some — the questions weren’t all that easy. Similarly, neither is planning a vacation and traveling with kids, especially internationally! In fact, a recent research study conducted by Wyndham Rewards revealed that 53% of kids think they would be able to plan a better vacation than their parents!
However just because traveling with kids requires you to be on top of your game, it doesn’t mean that the process has to be frustrating or stressful. In fact, traveling with kids can awaken your own inner child and encourage to really live in the moment and soak up all there is to experience. In addition, travel can be an important, life changing educational experience for children, one that is integral for their own personal development and maturation.
Travel can really awaken a sense of wonder and excitement within children while also exposing them to other cultures and people. It’s an important life lesson that helps to build empathy, compassion, and understanding of different religions, customs, and people. As such, travel experiences can really help future generations to choose peace over war by fostering a sense of belonging to a global community.
Whether you’re vising Paris or going over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house for the winter holidays, traveling with kids is no easy feat. Traveling alone can be complicated enough but traveling with the little ones requires you to really step up your game in order to ensure their happiness, health, and safety.
Although the thought of traveling with kids can be intimidating because there are so many extra things you have to remember, don’t be intimidated or worried! Instead, remember that proper preparation prevents poor performance. The key to bringing the little ones along with you is to prepare well in advance to make sure all your i’s are dotted and all your t’s are crossed.
Here are some other important things to keep in mind.
Find a home away from home
Finding the right kind of accommodations are essential to ensuring your vacation with children goes smoothly. Whether you’re thinking of renting a luxury apartment through AirBnB, checking out kid-friendly vacation rentals, looking at short-term apartment rentals, or you decide to go with a more traditional option such as a hotel, it’s extremely important to find accommodations that will work for you and the needs of your family. If you’re having trouble finding an accommodation and you don’t know where to look, consider reaching out to a travel agency or an online forum for traveling parents for further insight and advice.
Plan kid-friendly activities wisely
Planning the right activities for kids is essential for ensuring your vacation runs smoothly. Going to see a historical monument and other popular tourist attractions are a good start for having some good, clean, family-friendly fun. In order to capitalize on the steady flow of families and tourists, these monuments often have family and kid-friendly accommodations such as bathrooms with changing stations, restaurants, and play areas. Need help finding activities that are kid-friendly? Also, always keep the season in mind. Spring tourist attractions won’t look or feel the same in winter, so be sure you’re traveling with the seasons. You can always rely on concierge services for insider information as to the best spots.
Ensure the flight goes right
Flying is bad enough for adults and it can be especially tough on kids. Everyone has experienced the tension of a young child having a tantrum during a long flight! For long flights, be sure your kids are dressed comfortable in loose clothing. Layering clothes is a great way to make sure your kids are dressed appropriately and comfortable at all times. This can help to prevent any fussiness. Also, be sure your children have enough material to keep them occupied. Charge your electronic gadgets to ensure they have enough juice for watching movies and playing games. Also, be sure to bring along good old fashioned reading material!
