Traveling With Young Kids

When I came up with Family Weekend Breaks as my new website I realized that I needed to talk about extended vacation traveling as well.  So, when traveling abroad to Colombia with an 8th month old girl with stealth like grabbing precision and a 2 year old boy who speaks his freedom and independence through the word NO, one must be prepared for the unexpected.

Here are 4 tips that I found helpful when traveling with young kids.

1. Lollipops -As parents we worry about our kids health, I one time ate a whole pizza pie and a 2 litter bottle of Pepsi and survived so taking a BIG BAG of healthy lollipops and chain popping them in your 2 year old's mouth during traveling will make everyone happy.  Trust me.  :)

2. A NEW DVD - To get my son to watch something I think is more educational for him I tell him that it's a new show even if he has seen the same show 466 times.  He always says I want to watch Plaza Sesamo Nuevo (New Sesame Street).  So buying a new (never been seen before) DVD for travel and pulling it out at the right time is a great way to change the mood in a heartbeat.

3. Asking lots of questions - There is something about asking a question that makes everyone of us stop for a second so the listener of the question can be the savior of the day and help the person with the query in need.  I asked my son the same question during our trip so much that when I said to him towards the end of the trip "hey I have a question," he said, "What's the name of the shark in Finding Nemo?"  Ok so don't over use this one...  :)

4. Make up a story - Putting on a seatbelt is not a fun thing to do but it's the law and it has saved a ton of lives.  However, you can't tell that to a 2 year old because he doesn't care.  So, while on the plane I told my kids a story (use voice intonation for more effect) of GOD knows what to keep him from trying to take the seatbelt off and having a meltdown.  As tiring as it was...  It worked and put him to sleep.  Or bored him to death.  Whatever the case it works.  :)

Hope these tips work for you as they are tried and tested. 

Have a tip...  Please let me know.  I would be happy to try it out.  

Until tomorrow.

Jai (headshots nyc)