1. Research Your Destination In Advance

Trip planning is very important.

When venturing to a new destination, you will need to research it in advance, especially if you want traveling with kids to be a “piece of cake.” This is especially important if you are planning to visit a foreign country.

Doing research in advance prevents you from becoming stressed out and helps you know what to expect once you arrive at your destination.

It can help you find an affordable hotel, figure out transportation to your location and once you arrive (to get around town), select the best flights, determine the mileage and gas requirements (if you are traveling by vehicle), select child-friendly and adult-friendly activities, and learn the weekly weather forecast.

See if you can find child discounts for activities you plan at your destination. Saving a few dollars here and there can add up.

You can also learn more about the population, culture, religion, foods, history, and significant people, places, and events in your upcoming location.

Older kids can research locations with you. That means you can use this planning activity as a teachable moment. Ultimately, researching can help your kids learn about other people, places, cultures, historical events, belief systems, and religions. They might even be interested in learning a few words in the local language of your destination.

Nuts and bolts – Including your kids in the research process can help them feel more included and prepared for the trip. Kids who feel included and valued are more likely to stay calm and positive and less likely to be in a bad mood, grumpy, angry, resistant or stubborn, bored, or destructive. The result? Less stress, more peace of mind, and more time to focus on the purpose of your family vacation.

2. Clearly Explain The Journey To Your Kids

After thoroughly researching your chosen location, you will need to explain the journey to your kids. Tell them what to expect, what they may see or experience, the length of time you will be there, and how you expect them to behave while there.

Wherever possible, include your kiddos in the research and selection process. Let them choose some of the activities you will do there to engage them in the planning. Clearly explaining the family trip to your kiddos can make them feel more empowered.

Talking with your kids ahead of a trip can provide them with their own voices to share their preferences, wants, and needs. Kids who feel heard and respected are more likely to be cooperative when traveling, while kids who feel ignored and disrespected are more likely to be deviant, difficult, grumpy, whiny, angry, anxious, and depressed.

Nuts and bolts – You can prepare your kids for the journey by being open and honest. Doing this can reduce or eliminate any anxiety they may have while it gives them a chance to bring up their questions and concerns. It can also help your kids become more empathic towards others, providing them with an opportunity to learn about other ethnic and racial groups, cultures, historical events, foods, music, and the arts. So, what is the key to success when traveling with kids? Honesty, openness, and clarity when sharing tidbits about the location with your kids.

3. Pre-book Flights, Transportation, Hotel, And Activities

Why is pre-booking important? Because it can prevent you from developing a massive headache and becoming extremely frustrated and anxious.

Understand that when you book your flights, transportation, hotel, and activities in advance, you are left with fewer worries and more time to devote to other endeavors, such as preparing for a business presentation, visiting family members, or just enjoying time with your family.

The guesswork is removed, reducing any stress or angst you may have about traveling with kids. For instance, you know where you are going, how you are going to get there, where you are going to stay, how you are going to get to your temporary residence, what you are going to do once you arrive, how you are going to get around town, and how you will get back home.

And since you know, you’ll be able to discuss all of it with them.

Nuts and bolts – Pre-booking can be a blessing, especially when traveling with kids. It can also help you snag more affordable flights, hotels, transportation, and activities. So, pre-booking helps you get more bang for your bucks. Ultimately, you will feel calmer because everything is organized and in place, which in turn will make the rest of your family feel calmer and more in control of their behaviors while traveling.

4. Complete A Checklist

Creating a pre-travel checklist is another thing you can do to reduce your anxiety and help you feel more in control. A checklist is important because it ensures that you pack smart, include only what you need, and yet don’t leave anything important at home. Parents who are well-prepared for a trip tend to fare better than those who are not.

And truthfully, traveling just goes more smoothly when things are organized. That is why having a checklist is imperative before traveling with kids.

The last thing you need is a crying child who left her Minnie Mouse at home or a grouchy kid without his iPod or Kindle. All that does is lead to a stressful and depressing experience. Tears and tantrums do not make for an awesome trip with your kids. So, sit down with your family, including your kids, and create a pre-travel checklist.

Base this list on your family’s needs and wants, and try to go over it together a few times to make sure nothing is left out. And as it gets closer to your departure date, gather the things on the checklist.

Ask your kiddos to collect the items they want to take with them, and have them bring those items to you to pack. Even younger children can carry their own bags if they are not too large or heavy.

Nuts and Bolts: You can pack the items for your kids or supervise them while each one packs their own backpack or small bag. This will help ensure that your kids are packing everything on the checklist. Check off each item as you or your kids pack it.

Having a checklist can truly be a blessing – for you and your kids. And it can help you have an awesome adventure together!

5. Check The Weather

You can avoid dressing inappropriately by checking your destination’s weather in advance. The last thing you want is for you and your kids to arrive with the wrong clothes, like shorts and summer dresses in cold weather or sweaters and sweats in hot weather.

If you are uncomfortable because you’ve selected the wrong attire, you will be cranky. And if your kids are uncomfortable, they will be cranky, too. They will also complain that they are cold or hot the entire trip. Keep in mind that airports and planes tend to be cool, so you should take jackets or coats in your carry-ons or wear them, just in case.

Therefore, the best way to avoid unnecessary stress, irritability, complaining, and bad moods is to make sure you and your kids have dressed appropriately not just for traveling but also for your destination.

Nuts and bolts – You can avoid drama by checking the weather and temperatures to make sure you pack the appropriate attire for you and your kids. Also, don’t forget to pack the weather-appropriate shoes and extra blankets for the plane or car ride.

Lastly, pack a travel umbrella in case it rains unexpectedly, a windbreaker in case it becomes windy, and a sweater, long sleeve shirt, or heavy coat for any unplanned cold weather.

6. Plan Ahead And Leave Plenty Of Time For Mishaps Or Delays

The best way to travel with kids is to plan ahead and anticipate any mishaps or delays that could occur while venturing to your destination. How can you anticipate mishaps and delays? Well, no one knows your kids better than you, so think about how your kids behave when out and about or when you have been traveling with them in the past.

Were your kids well-mannered, polite, and cooperative, or were they difficult, stubborn, and deviant? Did your kids follow instructions, or did they run wild at the first opportunity? What are some areas of improvement for your kids when it comes to their behaviors in public spaces? What are their strengths? And what sorts of remedies have you found to get them back in line when these problem behaviors come up?

Once you determine if there are areas of improvement needed, address them with your kids at least two or three weeks in advance. Don’t forget to think of unexpected delays or accidents that could occur when traveling, things that might have nothing to do with your kids but could affect them.

For instance, a flight delay, running late for the airport, needing bathroom breaks with no rest stops around, an unforeseen hotel cancelation, an unclean hotel room, bickering family members, cramped living spaces, motion sickness, getting lost, cramped seating on the plane or in the car, and closed activities due to Covid-19.

Then think of possible solutions should the unexpected happen. Lastly, write these solutions down in a notebook, and put it in your carry-on bag.

Nuts and bolts – Planning ahead and giving yourself plenty of time for glitches or delays can empower you and ease your kids’ anxiety. It can also ensure that your kids are on their best behavior. And it will certainly help you feel adequately prepared for whatever may happen along the way—because nothing ruins a good trip like stress and anxiety from being unprepared.

7. Do A Practice Run Before Travel Day

About a week or two before you head out on your trip, do a practice run with your kids. Pretend you are heading to the airport or packing up the car, and then go through the motions with them. Have your kids pack their bags or luggage the night before the practice run and put them to bed earlier than normal that night.

Get your kiddos up early (if you intend to leave early) the next morning at the same time they will need to get up on the actual travel day. Instruct them to take showers or wash up, comb and brush their hair, get dressed, make their beds, and eat breakfast. Also, make sure your kids have dressed appropriately for the trip.

Lastly, pull out your travel checklist and do a quick check of the kids’ bags to make sure they have packed everything they want and need for the trip. If all is in order, take their bags to the car. Don’t forget to grab your kids’ coats or any other weather-related items they may need while traveling.

Then head out to the airport or toward the interstate or highway. A practice run will help your kids understand what to expect on the travel day, so there is no confusion when it is time to go.

Nuts and bolts – Explain to your kids that you are doing a dry run to experience how it will all work on travel day. Make sure they know this is just a drill and not the actual day! If things become shaky during the first practice run, repeat it until you have the kinks worked out and everything runs smoothly.

In Conclusion

It does not matter if this is your first trip with one of your kids or your tenth time with multiple kids; traveling with one or more kids can be challenging, if not overwhelming.

From researching your destination, buying tickets, determining what to pack, preparing for accidents and delays, and making sure everyone is staying relaxed enough to enjoy the trip, traveling with kids can be nerve-wracking. But it doesn’t have to be.