Tips for Traveling with Kids

Everyone dreams of that perfect vacation, that perfect family trip that will be talked about and remembered for decades to come. Unfortunately, for many of us, family trips aren't all what they are cracked up to be. In fact, if most parents were honest, they would say that traveling with their children is the one thing they look forward to the least. Traveling with kids can be stressful, demanding, and down right no fun. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are several things you can do before you travel to make sure your next family trip is a great one. Traveling with children doesn't have to be a chore; instead, it can be a real adventure.

Tips for Traveling with Kids #1:

Whether you are driving an hour away or 10 hours away this summer, you will need to bring some car friendly entertainment. Nothing is more car-friendly than movies. Many families have invested in a portable DVD system for the car, and in fact, some minivans already come equip with a built in system for viewing movies and playing games. Prices of portable DVD players range from #$$$ to $$$ and come with a variety of features. Find the model that best fits your family and your budget, then set aside a group of movies to take along on your trip. Be sure to include a few favorite ones as well as a few that they haven't seen yet.

When you are traveling with children, there are several features you want your DVD player to have. Duel screens are a great because both children can watch comfortably from their car seats. The screens should install easily and slide out of their brackets with a simple click. Easy removal of the DVD system is another important feature when traveling with kids. Not only can you pick up the headsets when your children are misbehaving, but you can also pick them up when you leave your car overnight in the hotel parking lot. But the best feature you can have is a DVD player that comes with a video controller and programmed video games in the system. One child can play videos while the other one watches a movie. It is a really nice option to have when your kids can't agree.

Be careful though not to use the DVD system around town in your daily life. Kids who get used to watching DVD's on the way to the grocery store won't find it particularly exciting when it comes time for the family car trip. Too much TV time isn't recommended for any age group, so save that DVD player for trips only, no matter how tempting it may be.

Tips for Traveling with Kids #2:

Books, Books and more Books!! Reading is a great way to pass time on car trips when you are traveling with kids, and a bag full of new books is certain to perk up even the most discriminating child. Remember to scan your local library for new books your children will enjoy. Sticker books and activity books are instant boredom busters when you are traveling with kids. Extra bonus: Reading is a quiet activity, which makes it a great activity for airplanes and other crowded modes of transportation. Fellow passengers will be grateful that your toddler is looking through an "Elmo" book instead of climbing up the seat in front of him.

Tips for Traveling with Kids #3:

Remember the oldies but goodies. When I was small, I spent many long car trips playing games like Car Bingo, I spy, and the license plate game. Why not introduce a whole new generation to these old familiar games. You can purchase a car bingo set for under $10 and the license plate game and I spy just take a little imagination and creativity. If you are unfamiliar with the license plate game, it really is as simple as it sounds. Kids scan the cars you pass and the cars that pass you for different license plates. You write down how many states you can find, how many personalized ones you see, and your favorites. Traveling with kids can be a great way to introduce a small geography lesson of the states without them even knowing it. The "I spy" game can even be turned into a learning lesson when you are traveling with children.

Tips for Traveling with Kids #4:

Take your creativity on the road this summer when you travel with your kids. The latest inventions from Crayola and Elmer's offer your child the chance to paint, color, and draw entirely mess free. If you haven't already been introduced to products like Go Paint and Color Wonders then you are in for a real treat. Go Paint come in a variety of colors and your kids can paint or draw without worrying about making a mess. No more melted crayons in the backseat or marked up windows! Even Magna Doodle offers a travel version of their popular magnetic drawing board for under $10. Perfect for long airport delays or any traveling you may do with your kids.

Tips for Traveling with Kids #5:

Feed the Beast!! When children are bored, they will suddenly realize that they are hungry. Listening to them beg for fast food or stopping every time one of them gets stomach pangs can really put a damper on the fun family vacation. Pack a bag of light car friendly snacks that are both healthy and easy to clean up. Nothing is worse than pulling melted M&M's out of your minivan's back seat or wiping up spilled grape juice. Remember to think traveling friendly foods and drinks and consider the clean up factor. No matter how much your children like pudding; it is not a good choice for traveling. Better food choices are dried fruit snacks, chewy granola bars and cereal like Cheerios. Pack sippy cups with tops on them so kids can drink their beverage of choice without worrying about spilling. Packing an assortment of snacks is especially important if you are flying on an airplane this summer. Delays on the runway may prevent you from eating lunch in a timely manner and many airlines have eliminated the complimentary peanuts and pretzels in an attempt to save money. Traveling with children just keeps getting more challenging!

Traveling with children can be a great way to bond with the family, or it can be a disaster. Planning ahead for the kids is an important part of the trip process but it often get overlooked by what seem like more important details of the vacation. How you get there is as important as when you get there, so remember to use these 5 tips for traveling with kids on your next vacation. Have a great summer!