education KIDS& AUGUST TRAVELING WITH KIDS By Craig W. Armstrong Traveling can be stressful in and of itself, but throw kids into the mix and it can be hard to enjoy the journey. A well-travelled child, however, can become an adult with experiences few people possess. You want your children to be well-rounded, and travel can enhance that quality. But, traveling with kids, especially little ones, can be a real challenge. Here are few things to consider before hitting the road with the next generation. First and most importantly, plan ahead. Traveling requires planning, and planning takes time. It doesn’t matter if you are traveling alone or with the whole family, plan ahead. One of the best ways to go about this is to make a list. You can do this for yourself and your children. It is fine to involve the kids in the planning and packing process. Just don’t rely on them to have the final say on what gets packed, even in their own backpack. As the planning begins, make sure you do your homework regarding your destination. This means understanding the regulations for flying, the airline policies, the hotel polices and the amenities. You might be a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants person, but kids require structure. Making sure you have a place to stay before you get there is highly recommended. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t wing it. Traveling for pleasure should be relaxing, but how many times have you heard people say they need a vacation to recover from their vacation? Relaxing on vacation can be tough, but having a Zen-like demeanor with kids can help. Granted, this is easier said than done, but remember, kids aren’t on a timetable. Usually, they don’t know what hour of the day it is, and letÕs face it, kids can be free spirited. This is where patience and inner peace come in. It might be difficult, but both you and your children will benefit from you calm demeanor. It’s no secret that kids eat and they need to be entertained. It makes sense to bring lots of snacks and toys. Keep the snacks as sugar free as possible. Meltdown can become nuclear when fueled by sugar. The world of laptops, tablets and smart phone provides portable entertainment for the little ones. For older kids, encourage them to keep a travel journal, which can be recorded on an electronic device or in an old-fashioned notebook. They can also document their trip in pictures and video. Safety is important. Obviously, little ones should never leave your sight, but if they do, there are precautions you can take. Child leashes are an option. Some people like them, and some don’t, but say what you will, you aren’t likely to lose your kids on a leash. A more high-tech alternative is a child locator. These devices can be strapped to your child’s belt or shoe. If you get separated, you just set off the alarm on the device and follow the sound to your child. Travel is always an adventure, and that’s a good thing. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t control some aspects of the adventure. Be prepared, have a plan and, most of all. enjoy traveling with your kids. The memories will last a lifetime.
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