The thought of travelling with your little one makes you feel pretty overwhelmed. As you know, kids are unpredictable, they say what they want and they test your patience at times. Even if you have the most well behaved kids in the world, the thought of travelling a long distance can make you anxious. The truth is, when you’re going on vacation with your family, it is so important to get prepared for the journey. You can’t hop on a plane, arrive at your destination and expect everything to be smooth sailing; it simply won’t work out that way. If you’re panicked about your next trip, here are a few ways to keep your stresses at bay.
TV and Movies
You may be the type of mom who doesn’t like to distract them with television shows and movies all day at home. However, when you’re on a long haul flight, it can be a real life saver. Look up the best torrent sites and you will be able to download a whole host of their favorite content to your laptop or tablet. You might want to download plenty of back ups just in case you are delayed or stuck in the airport for a while too. Ask them what they’re favorite television shows and movies are at that time, because you know they’ll change their mind every day!
Stick to Their Schedule
Stick to their normal schedule as much as possible. Even if you’re in a different time zone, try to use the same cues to indicate a meal time, bedtime or nap. Take a comforter with them so that they feel reassured in a different place; travelling can be overwhelming for kids too! Make sure they’re completely at ease and they have all of their home comforts available to them.
Have a Plan!
Arriving to your chosen destination without a plan or a schedule will definitely cause some drama. You don’t want to ‘wing it’ too much during your family vacations, so make sure you know enough about the area you’re staying in. Get to know the public transport systems and the nearest activities that you can all enjoy as a family.
Be Patient and Have Fun
If you’re flying with kids, the most important thing to do is be patient. Your eight hour flight won’t last forever, even if you think it feels like it! Make the most out of a stressful situation whenever you can and don’t worry about annoying other passengers around you. Try to have as much fun as possible, because your anxiety and overwhelm will reflect onto your kids.
The most important thing to remember is that kids are always going to be kids. They might scream for a whole flight or they might sleep the entire time; you just never know how they’re going to react to a new environment. As long as you are armed with a plan and you remain as calm as possible, you will find the entire experience super stress free.