Navigating Summer Adventures: Tips for Calmly Traveling with Kids
Traveling with Kids
Summer vacations are a cherished time for families to bond, explore new destinations, and create lasting memories together. However, the prospect of traveling with kids can also bring on feelings of stress and overwhelm for parents. From navigating airports to embarking on road trips, the journey itself can sometimes feel like the biggest challenge. As a therapist and mom, I'm here to offer guidance on how to calmly navigate summer travel with kids. Let's explore some strategies to help you make the most of your adventures while fostering a sense of calm and harmony within your family.
Set Realistic Expectations:
One of the keys to maintaining a sense of calm during summer travel is to set realistic expectations from the outset. Understand that traveling with kids may involve unexpected detours, delays, and occasional meltdowns. Plan for potty emergencies, they will happen! Embrace flexibility and approach the journey with a mindset of curiosity and adventure rather than rigid adherence to schedules or plans. By adjusting your expectations and remaining adaptable, you can minimize stress and better enjoy the journey.
Involve Kids in the Planning Process:
Engage your children in the travel planning process to instill a sense of excitement and ownership in the adventure. Discuss destination options together, allowing them to express their preferences and interests. Depending on their age, involve them in researching activities or attractions at your chosen destination. By empowering them to be active participants in the planning process, you can foster a sense of anticipation and enthusiasm for the journey ahead.
Create Opportunities for Connection:
Amidst the hustle and bustle of travel, prioritize moments of connection and quality time as a family. Have conversations, play games, or share stories during car rides or downtime at the airport. Encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings about the travel experience, validating their emotions and experiences along the way. By fostering a sense of closeness and connection, you can strengthen family bonds and create cherished memories that endure long after the journey is over.
Practice Patience and Compassion:
Traveling with kids requires patience, empathy, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. Be prepared to navigate tantrums, boredom, and occasional conflicts with a sense of calm and understanding. Take cues from your children's emotions and needs, offering reassurance and comfort as necessary. Model patience and resilience in the face of challenges, demonstrating healthy coping strategies for managing stress and frustration.
Pack Thoughtfully:
Packing efficiently can help streamline the travel experience and reduce unnecessary stress. Create a packing list well in advance, including essential items for both children and adults. Encourage kids to pack their own belongings (with supervision as needed), emphasizing the importance of including favorite comfort items or entertainment for the journey. Their backpack can be filled with snacks, small games, books, and other novel activities to keep children entertained during transit. Make space in your bag for some necessities. Some suggestions for the trip would be: toilet covers, baby wipes, flushable potty wipes, hand sanitizer, zip lock bags, travel lysol wipes and noise canceling headphones (for take off and landing). I even prepare a toilet bag that I put in a gallon ziplock bag to take to the restroom with my youngest so we don’t have to touch anything dirty. This includes the lysol wipes, toilet seat covers, hand sanitizer and flushable baby wipes. Some links are below:
Summer travel with kids may present its share of challenges, but with thoughtful planning and a mindful approach, it can also be a rewarding and enriching experience for the whole family. By setting realistic expectations, involving children in the planning process, packing thoughtfully, practicing patience and compassion, and creating opportunities for connection, you can navigate summer adventures with a sense of calm and grace. Remember, the journey itself is an opportunity for growth, learning, and bonding as a family. Safe travels and happy adventures!
-Brittany