Travel Tips
Traveling with difficult kids |
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The fact is, some kids are more restless and revved-up than others; and find it harder to cope with change; and are often extra-sensitive to noise, to smells, to heat, to the tone of Mom's voice, to the very feel of their socks... Call it, in a word, a greater intensity of feeling. And it's often not easy to take these kids on trips. Here's some pointers that are good practice with any child: * Make your schedule  very clear.Describe the different stages of the trip: how many plane rides, and so on. Maybe even rehearse some parts. Use pictures or drawings with young kids. * Emphasize that plans can change. When unexpected things happen, we all have to adjust. * Beware of these three Danger Zones: o Disappointment Intense kids picture what they hope for so vividly that disappointments hit very hard. Sympathize; suggest alternatives; and keep a secret stash of treats and little toys. o Overtiredness Pace your kids. Give them rests and snacks before they fall apart. What does it matter whether or not you see the Louvre; it's more fun to sit outside and drink juice. Really. o Play Areas in airports These spots are wonderful - unless your flight is ready to leave and your child isn't. Tell your kids about the time limit right when they start to play. Remind them gently. Countdown the last minutes. For toddlers, have some enticements ready, to ease them away. * Suffer with Dignity Of course you never expected to crouch in a busy airport while your son has a tantrum on the floor. But you'll live through it. Forget the staring bystanders, focus on your child - who feels worse than you. Try distraction; try verbalizing what he feels... And afterwards, unburden yourself by telling a friend the whole story. Years later this might be a family legend! Remember when...? The five “P’s” of happy travel with kids Prepare. Take lots of snacks, drinks, amusements, (see below) on long plane rides - and, really, everywhere you go. Pace. Don't try to do too much! Schedule one major activity per morning, or afternoon; if all goes well, you can perhaps slip in a second activity. (Don't mention the second activity until you're certain, though - avoid disappointment!). Pacing also means allowing extra time in the day for some down time, and some wild time: kids need rest periods, and they also need to run around and let off some steam. Pre-empt: offer snacks and drinks before kids get too hungry or thirsty. Take a break before they're overtired. Patience: and more patience. And perhaps most important of all: Play. Have fun with your kids! Notes: * Patience actually saves time, in the long run: it's far quicker to muster an extra five minutes of patience than to spend fifteen minutes coaxing a three-year-old out of a snit. * Remember: even the bad moments of your travels with wee ones will look very precious, once they've grown into large-size kids! Newer news items:
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