.: Is Travel with your Kids a Monumental Family Disaster?
Category:Home / Recreation and Leisure / Travel
Whatever your mode of travel, there will be special challenges if you take the kids along. The key to sanity is some careful planning - and a calm, unruffled approach.
* Where Should we Stay? *
If you are planning at stay at a bed and breakfast, do some research. Many bed and breakfasts are not suitable for children. However, you may be able to find a 'farmstay' - a bed and breakfast on a farm that allows your kids to interact with the animals. This can be an unequalled family experience - especially for city dwellers.
Staying in a hotel? Do they provide extra cots and/or cribs for children? Do they have a restaurant with a kids' menu? Is there a playroom or playground on the premises? Are there children's activities nearby?
* What Should I Pack? *
Use common sense. Every family is different. Check the following list and pack what is appropriate for your household:
- Small first aid kit
- Liquid anti-nausea medication
- Liquid Tylenol
- Individual-sized tissues
- Moistened hand-wipes in individual packs
- Paper towels
- Photos of the kids and important details regarding medications
- Telephone numbers of doctors (at home and at your destination)
- Copies of passports, birth certificates, custody documentation
- Decks of cards, favorite toys, children's books
- Coloring books, crayons, mechanical pencils, paper
- Crossword puzzle books, erasable pens, highlighters
- Windbreakers, slickers, umbrellas
- Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen
- Plastic bags from grocery store checkout (for storage and cleanup)
* Diaper Disposal *
There are scented disposal bags available - or you might want to pack some small zip-lock bags. Plastic grocery bags or newspaper bags can also be used. The solid matter should be disposed of down the toilet. Next, roll the diaper up with the soiled area facing inwards so that you have a compact bundle with the plastic on the outside. Place the diaper in the zip-lock bag, seal most of the way, then press out as much air as possible while you complete the seal. Discard in a bathroom garbage container or outside garbage bin.
If you are outdoors and there are no outhouse or bathroom facilities nearby, you should carry the entire diaper contents with you, disposing of appropriately when you find a garbage bin or bathroom. DO NOT leave diapers or diaper contents behind. Besides polluting the environment, some animals are attracted to human waste. Protect the environment even more by making sure that you purchase biodegradable diapers (or switch to cloth).
If you must carry soiled diapers along with you for any length of time, you might want to consider packing a few deodorant disks or a baking-soda based scented deodorizer.
* Snacks *
If your children are finicky eaters, chances are you will encounter problems with airline and restaurant meals. Pack a few nutritious snacks. Snacks may include fresh fruit, granola bars, individual-size cereal boxes, cheese and crackers, raisins, unsalted peanuts - or snack-size containers of applesauce, puddings, and fruit cocktail.
* Boredom *
Boredom is always going to be a problem. Even a half-hour trip seems like a long time to a young child. The easiest and most accessible boredom solution is YOU. Use the time to interact with your kids. Ask them questions. Get them to tell you stories if they are old enough. You can keep young children entertained by telling them stories - complete with sound effects of animal noises, whistles, and whatever else you can invent.
Play guessing games like 'I Spy' with older kids, or get them involved in some children's cards games. Although games like 'Go Fish' can be played with a regular deck of cards, there are many games with special, brightly-colored decks made just for children. Do an internet search for 'card games for kids' and you'll find plenty of resources.
* Inactivity *
Sitting still for long periods of time is not a natural activity for children. If you're on a plane, train, or bus, get up and take a walk down the aisle once every hour. When travelling by car, find an appropriate pullout and play frisbee or go for a short walk.
* Relax - Lighten Up - Unwind *
Treat every family trip as an opportunity to connect with your children. Relax, enjoy their unique personalities, and enjoy yourself!
Article keywords: travel, kids, children, family, families, tips, hints, advice, air, airline, fly, flying, car, bus, train, trip, trips, pack, packing, food, snacks, activity, activities, safety, security, hotel, bed, breakfast, meal, meals
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
* There are many more travel tips available at 1000tips4trips.com.
* You'll find more travel articles and lodging links at triple1.com.
* Search for more ideas at this page of search engines.
.: New Travel Articles
1). Sandyport Beaches Resort: A Little Worn But Comfy
A traveler describes a trip to Bahamas and a stay at Sandyport Beaches resort. Overall the hotel is satisfactory although it requires a lot of improvements. Prices at the hotel are moderate but the food is overpriced even in grocery stores. There are more useful tips in the article...
2). Planning Your Education Travel Tour or Trip
Students of all ages are among the largest groups of people who partake in educational travel tours.
3). Tips For Planning Your Student Travel Excursions
While school is a lovely place to explore history, math, English and science, there are many students who embark on journeys just to get a break from the classroom and campus.
4). Are You Ready To Organize Your Senior Class Trip?
When high school and college students start their senior year in school, many begin to think about and plan one or more senior class trips to be taken either right before or right after graduation.
5). Playa Conchal, Costa Rica; A Beach Made of Shells
It looks as if you are walking on normal sand, but when you look down, you discover in astonishment that the shiny white sand is actually made of tiny crushed shells...
6). Atlantis Royal Towers: Nice But Ridiculously Expensive
A traveler reviews a trip to Bahamas and a stay at Atlantis Royal Towers Paradise Island Bahamas. There are also some good tips on getting the most of your stay and saving a few bucks...
7). Paradise Island Harbour Resort: Generally Satisfied
A traveler tells about his trip to Bahamas and reviews his stay at Paradise Island Harbour resort. Although the hotel requires some renovation it still provides a satisfactory experience and worth the money.
.: Top Travel Articles
1). Oktoberfest - A Celebration Of German Culture
Oktoberfest is one of the world's great seasonal festivals. It is held every fall in Munich, Bavaria, and in other locations around the world.
The first Oktoberfest started as a series of horse races in honour of the wedding of the Crown Prince of Bavaria in 1810. The horse races became an annual event and were combined with the state agricultural fair the following year.
2). Halloween In Siberia – Sort Of
Live in another country and you’ll start to experience serious cultural differences. This is particularly true as I discovered with Halloween in Siberia.
Russian Holidays
I loved living in Russia and the primary reason was people. Russians love to celebrate and they are big into holidays. In Chita, Siberia, practically everyday was a holiday. During communism, Russia celebrated the worker with holidays such as bus driver day, teacher day and so on.
3). A Nice Savanna Vacation
Almost everyone have their own ideal vacation spot. This usually considered as the perfect place where the worries and toils of survival can be forgotten momentarily. And two natural elements that often characterize this ideal vacation spot are the sun and the ocean.
There must be something about the sea that makes people flock to it. But humans we know are very unique.
4). First Class Upgrade Secrets Tips and Strategies
Top 12 Ways to Upgrade to First Class on the Major Airlines
Getting Upgraded to First Class
These days with little profit and extra overheard costs, a flyer with no past history on a given airline has little chance of upgrading to first class. But it can happen if you do your homework. Hence why you are here today.
Method #1: Asking the ticket counter agent nicely or perhaps offering him/her a bribe.
5). Backpacking – Go Light On Your Budget & Luggage
Backpacking is one of the best ways to see the world, travel light and enjoy cheap travels.
6). An Oregon Coast Ghost Hunting Guide
The winds cut deeper and make progressively louder noises as the days shorten. Fog creeps in from the sea more often. And then Halloween shows up, as if to really remind us about things otherworldly. It's no wonder Oregon's northern coast has a load of ghostly tales swirling about. It's no wonder the remake of "The Fog" currently in release is set in a fictional North Oregon Coast town.
7). Chapeau Noir...Cheap Chic Travels!
Copyright 2006 The Edventures Group
You've got a favorite photo from your last vacation, right?
Mine is of moi in Paris on the Champs Elysee. I'm posed at the edge of boredom. After all, I am an American in Paris, and can't look too exited.
Looming large in the photo behind me is the famous Louis Vutton store. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about.