A peek at surviving peak travel dates
Holiday travel is enough to give even the most savvy globetrotter a headache, but traveling with kids can be "migraine city" if you're not prepared. However, with some advance preparation and a few creative tips from parenting experts, you can start your holiday on a happy note.
Before you leave the house, it's smart to pack more than just your suitcases for the trip. "If you want to keep your kids on their best behavior during car, plane or train trips this holiday season, make sure you don't go too long between meals or snacks," says Leah Ingram, The Manners Mom.
Fun snacks like animal crackers and jellybeans can double as creative games when you're tight on space. Parenting experts say a little bit of play with food can actually stimulate young children. Challenge your child to count the number of jellybean colors or group animal crackers by species. It's better to pack too many snacks than not enough, since hunger is a surefire trigger of temper tantrums.
A good rule of thumb is to bring a tote bag filled with games, toys and a few surprises to keep your kids entertained and busy. Small toys such as Polly Pocket!, aptly known as "the girl-on-the-go," and Hot Wheels cars, coloring books and playing cards are easy to pack and play.
"Don't pack all of the items for this ‘carry-on' with the kids around so that they're pleasantly surprised when you reach for a new distraction," says Lolita Carrico, founder of ModernMom.com, an online community and resource for todays busy parents. If you're traveling by car, include the whole family in a game of I Spy or the License Plate Game. If you're traveling by plane, it can be difficult to engage the entire family in games without attracting glares. A small carry-on with a few toys is a good idea, and ask the flight attendants if there are any children's books or magazines on board.
One way to engage your child in the trip and avoid the "are we there yet?" syndrome is to bring disposable cameras for documenting the journey. Let your child play the role of photojournalist and give him or her a journal to write about the trip and include photographs. Encourage your child to take photos at the airport, on the airplane, at baggage claim, and throughout the trip once you arrive. Your child will be so focused on documenting the journey, he or she won't have time to whine or complain, and your child will have a fun project to complete when you get home.
Traveling can be hard on your body, so allow time for your children -- and you -- to stretch. Children in car seats for extended periods of time can get antsy and are prone to a pins-and-needles sensation in their legs. "Allow them to run around at a rest stop or wander the aisles of the airplane every couple of hours to avoid restless meltdowns," says Carrico. By keeping your children on their regular activity and sleep schedule, you'll avoid the possibility of them becoming grouchy or sleep-deprived. Don't forget to bring along a favorite pillow, blankie or stuffed animals for easy snoozing.
The best way to ensure your holiday travel is enjoyable is to set the right example for your child by using good manners. Well-mannered children have well-mannered parents. "Use ‘please' and ‘thank you' as much as you can when dealing with folks during your travels and your children will pick up these good manners themselves. Soon enough they'll be saying ‘May I please' and ‘No, thank you' on their own," says Ingram.
