Travel

Traveling with Kids Made Easy

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Traveling with Kids Made Easy
by Dr. Nadia

Does the phrase ‘traveling with kids’ cause you to break out in a cold sweat, give you palpitations and/or anxiety? Have the travel misadventures of other parents convinced you to never leave your house or at least appreciate stay-cations on a whole new level?

As a seasoned traveler with two kids (ages 3.5 and 1.5 years old), let me just say that traveling with kids can actually be fun–but you have to plan it right. Here are some of my tips to make traveling with kids a fun experience both for you and your kids.

(This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission with no extra charge to you if you purchase through my links. See disclosure for more information. Please note these are recommendations of what I found useful. There is no obligation to purchase any of these products.) 

So why travel with kids? Is it worth the effort?

Travel gives exposure to other places, people, and cultures helps broaden perspectives, enhance world view and experience things we may not have before. It makes one realize that the world is large and we as individuals are just one small part. Most importantly, it humbles us to realize that the world is a beautiful place with beautiful people and cultures. We are more similar than different.

Travel expands the heart and mind and fosters curiosity and adventure. Beyond that, it helps kids realize that the world really does not revolve around them. They are just a small part of something great. It helps them adapt to different conditions, try new foods, maybe even learn different languages.

All that from just a vacation? Not too bad, huh?!

Hopefully by now I have convinced you that travel important. But the bigger question is how to cultivate all these positive points in your kids (and yourself) while maintaining your sanity?

Challenges with Travel

Common concerns about traveling with kids include the following:

1. The change of routine and structure
2. Too many (unknown) variables
3. Tantrums and concern about how others will respond to the child’s behaviors
4. Sleep schedule disruptions
5. Lack of previous experience/kid hasn’t travelled before and unsure how to plan a ‘kid friendly’ getaway.

These are very valid concerns.

However, how do we expect our children to learn how to work on life skills– creativity, flexibility, willingness to try new foods, improve sleep, manners, etc– if we do not provide them enough opportunities to build on these skills?

Just like any other skill, the development of life skills takes practice. Each experience may not be perfect but it is a valuable learning experience.

We have two kids 3.5yrs old and 20 months and both have been traveling with us since they were 2 months old. We’ve flown in planes and taken road trips with the kids including the beaches on the coast of Texas (5+ hours away), Chicago, Houston, Washington DC, Phoenix, San Antonio, Grand Canyon, Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Disney World in Florida, and most recently and our longest trip to Maui, Hawaii–to name a few!

So, let me share some of my travel tips to make travel with kids easy and fun!

Tips for Travel

Prep them for travel by going over what to expect. This is a great time to discuss travel expectations and ‘plane rules’. This gets them excited about the upcoming trip and sets them up for success by knowing what is appropriate and what is not.

Travel Rules can include

– Speaking softly
– Sit in seats.
– Enjoy the activity bags.
– Let mom or dad know when you need somethings (ie. hungry, sleepy, potty time)
– Have fun just being in the experience

Use positive affirmations before, during, and after the trip

My favorites include:

‘I love traveling with you guys”
‘You are my travel buddy”
“We have so many fun adventures, don’t we?”
“What was your favorite part of the vacation?”

It seems simple but often times we forget that our grumbles are heard by our children. And they respond accordingly.

Get excited!

Make travel fun and something they get excited about. Our kids have their own rolling pilot suitcases which they love to pack with toys and take w us on our travels.

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Pack for ease

Pack light at the airport. Have a stroller and a roll-on suitcase in which you can have diaper bag, snacks, kids on-flight goody bags. The stroller is multipurpose and functions as a changing table for diaper changes, cart to keep extra luggage/food, or maintains its original purpose of hauling a child.

For infants, keep them in a carrier and have older kids walk to get their energy out.

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Bring a blanket
You can put the light blanket or shawl on the floor near your feet. That way, if toys fall down on blanket it’s still ok to play with them.

Another idea is to have  kids take off shoes and let them sit and play on the blanket near your feet when the pilot allows seat belts to be removed and passengers to freely move around cabin.

Using naptimes and bedtime to your travel advantage

Try to incorporate your travel at least one naptime and/or bedtime. If possible, keep naptimes/bedtimes around same time as home time zone. If you are going somewhere that crosses multiple time zones, keep them up the first day to be on the schedule of that location.

Be flexible 

Aim for good enough, not perfection. Leave the “perfect filter” at home and try to relax and enjoy the experience.

The goal is to have fun and make memories.

Remember that everyone has their own attention spans and interests. Additionally, not everyone enjoys following a strict schedule on vacation. Plan 1-3 activities and the rest of the day can be activities everyone picks together.

I recommend having a general schedule of some activities you’d like to do during the trip. However, be ok with switching around the activities depending on the moods of the fellow travelers.

Help the kids recognize their emotions 

Recognize that emotions and energy will change during the trip and that it is ok.They may feel happy, or frustrated at times, or every fussy. That’s ok.

Recognize that Energy Needs Out

Find ways to constructively use their energy. Use the connections between flight changes or breaks during road trips to your and their advantage. A few minutes of mindful breathing, stretching, yoga, jumping jacks in place, walking to the terminal, etc.

Sometimes I get creative and give them a HIIT-worthy workout in 5-10 minutes at the airport during flight changes. We find an empty row at the terminal and encourage the kids to walk on the chairs, jump down, climb up, and then sprint back. They have so much fun during the activity and by the time we get back to our seats on the next flight, they are ready to do some calm activities.

Keep it low tech

If we are flying, we have an activity goody bag: Playdoh, crayons, notepad, stickers, books to read, small toys, cars, pen with multiple colors. We keep the actual contents of the bag a surprise and they get to open in the plane. It’s usually the things I mentioned above but the novelty of not knowing exactly what could possibly be in their little backpacks gets them so excited for the trip.

Keep the ipad away to use only in case of emergency or when they have exhausted all other forms of activity. Give them a chance to get creative instead of passively staring at a screen.

Manage your own emotions and stress levels

Kids are really good at picking the energy around them. If you guys feel/look stressed, kids tend to act out more. Read more on my meditation on letting go of perfection and making space for self compassion.

The most important part of travel with kids is that the parent sets the tone of the experience not the child. Kids will be kids. Of course they will be silly, goof around, maybe even through a tantrum or two. Read more on how to respond positively to tantrums.

The secret to fun travels with kids is to remember that you, the parent, are in control of your reactions and therefore, the situation.

Read more on power phrases that can help in stressful situations.

If you decide in your mind that this experience will be tough, hard, stressful, you are also guaranteed that experience.

However, as long as you stay calm, manage your own stress and expectations, recognize that it will all be ok, it will be ok.

Have fun!

Remember, you are taking a vacation to unwind, relax, and enjoy. No need to pressure yourself and your family to be perfect or to have a busy itinerary of activities. Even if you don’t see all the sights this time around, there is always next time.

What travel tips did you find helpful when traveling with your family? What have been your favorite family vacations?

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make travel with kids easy and fun with these mindfulness and positive parenting tips! #travel #affirmations #mantra, #travelwithkids, positive parenting, mindful travel, mindful parenting, kids, mindful md mom, travel hacks, travel tips

Other Posts You May Enjoy

How to be Mindful When Feeling Distracted

Mindful Parenting Tips to Start Today

How Parental Expectations Affect the Bedtime Experience

Meditation for Self Compassion

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission with no extra charge to you if you purchase through my links. See disclosure for more information.

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58 Comments

  • Reply
    Kristen Stuppy
    May 28, 2018 at 1:08 pm

    Great article as we kick the summer travel season off! As I read through this I’m enjoying a memory lane. I’m waiting for my daughter to land coming back from DC on a school trip and get to pick her up soon. She now packs for herself and I just need to get her to and from the airport, but I remember the days traveling with young kids! Play doh was a life saver when we had a long wait on the runway one year, making a short flight an hour longer. We even had another 3 year old join us in the fun. Coloring books were also great. As they got older my kids loved crossword puzzles and other booklet games, so I’d usually buy a new book for each trip. Snacks were key when they were little too- hunger and travel fatigue are not a good combo! I love that you end the article with the reminder to have fun. So often we work so hard at getting things “right” that we forget to just be in the moment and enjoy it all!

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 28, 2018 at 1:23 pm

      Thanks for sharing your experiences, Kristen! I love that you used the low tech ideas too. Helping kids foster their innate creativity is so important. It’s funny how the details seem so important at the time and we forget that really just the togetherness and the shared experience is that make travel so fun!

  • Reply
    Steph Eddy
    May 28, 2018 at 1:24 pm

    These are great tips! We are travelling with two kids for the first time later this year and I will be keeping these in mind!

  • Reply
    LeeAnah James
    May 28, 2018 at 5:52 pm

    This year we are going on vacation! I am committing to it now! Great tips and ideas. Thank you for this!

  • Reply
    feyisara akanki-ahmad
    May 28, 2018 at 6:02 pm

    Just found your blog this week and this post could not have come at the right time when I’m just about to take my 3 year old on a flight to Boston to see other family members he hasn’t seen since he was 8 mths old. Love it and love your blog!

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 30, 2018 at 10:55 am

      Thank you for your kind words! Hope the tips help and your travels are easy breezy!

  • Reply
    Twinsietips
    May 28, 2018 at 6:52 pm

    Traveling with kids is always hard. I like the idea of bringing low tech toys. That way you dont annoy all the people around you! Thanks for the tips!

  • Reply
    Jennifer
    May 28, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    Wonderful tips! Getting to see different places and cultures is a wonderful way to grow up!

  • Reply
    bwithblue
    May 29, 2018 at 5:57 am

    Great blog post -I am not a mother myself yet but I have a lot of nieces and nephews so all of the above are great tips for when travelling with them 🙂

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 30, 2018 at 10:54 am

      Great! These tips can apply to any traveler, not just kids! Hope they help 🙂

  • Reply
    Christina J.
    May 29, 2018 at 7:34 am

    Love the organization of this written piece! I especially like the idea of creating “travel rules” and even though my kids are 10 & 12 I’m still going to institute the “speak softly” one!

    Thank you.

  • Reply
    Katie
    May 29, 2018 at 8:23 am

    Great tips! Planning on taking my son on a plane soon. He definitely picks up on my energy so that’s a good reminder that I forget far to often!

  • Reply
    Lifewithzg
    May 29, 2018 at 8:38 am

    So timely as we have an upcoming trip tomorrow. Great tips and I always have a busy bag for my toddler to keeps her busy while on the plane.

  • Reply
    candy keane
    May 29, 2018 at 10:37 am

    Great tips! We have a big trip to Ireland coming up so I need all the help I can get, lol.

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 30, 2018 at 10:50 am

      Oh how exciting! For longer plane trips with connections, use the time between flights to have the kids run and jump around to get their energy out. So excited about your trip!

  • Reply
    Zuri-Starr
    May 29, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    I will be traveling with my two sons this summer on road trips and an airport trip for our birthdays next year. I will keep all these ideas in mind and make sure I keep my goodie bag of activities a surprise.

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 30, 2018 at 10:48 am

      That’s great! Hope yall have a great trip! Let me know how it goes.

  • Reply
    Jenny
    May 30, 2018 at 7:55 am

    The blanket on the floor and keeping the contents of the bag a surprise are GREAT tips! Thank you so much for sharing!!

  • Reply
    Toni
    May 30, 2018 at 9:32 am

    Great tips, beyond random day trips we haven’t traveled with our 2 and 1 year old. It makes me so nervous but these tips make me feel a bit more confident we could do it.

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 30, 2018 at 10:47 am

      That age is perfect to travel. The younger they get used to travel and adapting to new situations, the better. Plan a vacation, roadtrip, and go for it! Let me know if these tips help <3

  • Reply
    Brandy
    May 30, 2018 at 9:42 am

    Great tips! My kid’s do okay on trips considering we don’t get a chance to travel often. I definitely try to schedule long car trips for nap time, makes life a little easier.

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 30, 2018 at 10:46 am

      absolutely. Hope these tips help 🙂 Thanks, Brandy!

  • Reply
    Sara | mshealthesteem.com
    May 30, 2018 at 9:53 am

    Such great tips and ideas for traveling with little ones! I’ll be sharing this goodnedd with all the parents I know ♡. Just in time for summer vacay!

  • Reply
    Tiffani
    May 30, 2018 at 10:08 am

    I LOVE this!!! Thank You for sharing! We are getting ready to go on our summer vacation with our 3 girls😬 If I said I was nervous it would be an understatement!!

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 30, 2018 at 10:42 am

      I hope you guys have a great time! Depending on the ages of the child, prepping the kids before the trip really helps. Also, great music to sing along if it’s a roadtrip. And the travel pack goody bags are good for car or plane. Have a great vacation!

  • Reply
    Angelica
    May 30, 2018 at 10:18 am

    Love this! We are traveling this weekend and I’ve been dreading it because of how difficult my little one can be. I’m definitely going to do a Goodie Bag! Great idea.

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      May 30, 2018 at 10:40 am

      Hope yall have a great trip! Hopefully some of these tips will help!

  • Reply
    Shannon
    May 30, 2018 at 11:16 am

    Thank you for this post. I am travelling with my son who will be 18 months in August and I was getting so nervous about it. Keep my emotions in check and focusing on making memories is such great advice! My new mantra for the trip “making memories”.

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      June 2, 2018 at 10:14 pm

      That is a great mantra! I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

  • Reply
    Abby
    May 30, 2018 at 11:58 am

    Great tips! I recently traveled with a friend and her kids and she had a surprise bag which the kids LOVED! They were excited to get a new little toy or activity 🙂

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      June 2, 2018 at 10:15 pm

      Sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference! Thanks, Abby!

  • Reply
    Heather LeGuilloux
    May 30, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    Really great tips for traveling with kids.. I can imagine being able to manage your own stress or anxiety levels would be helpful at modeling a calm demeanor to children who may feel nervous or even overly excited about going on a trip. This is a great resource for parents!

  • Reply
    Katie Grace Roseborough
    May 30, 2018 at 6:44 pm

    Great advice! Traveling with kids can be very challenging at times! I agree, you have to plan before the trip!

  • Reply
    Lynneah
    May 31, 2018 at 11:24 pm

    Great tips! I love taking my twins everywhere with me! It for sure takes planning

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      June 2, 2018 at 10:17 pm

      True, but I am glad that you are still traveling and letting your kids have many different life experiences!

  • Reply
    Makenzie
    June 1, 2018 at 9:46 am

    I’ll be traveling with a 4.5 month old next month, these are great tips! Thank you!

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      June 2, 2018 at 10:18 pm

      Woo hoo! Travel with young ones is great! Enjoy your travels

  • Reply
    Tiffany
    June 6, 2018 at 9:40 am

    These are really great tips. Travelling with kids is fun and challenging. Thanks for sharing!
    Xoxo,
    Tiffany

  • Reply
    Miranda Wheeler
    June 8, 2018 at 12:18 am

    We have been traveling a lot more lately. THese tips are awesome.

  • Reply
    Sarah Paul
    June 13, 2018 at 10:33 am

    I LOVE this. I’ve bookmarked it and will print it out to read when we go on vacation next month as a reminder. haha! Love the pointers about letting out energy as well as keeping it low tech. Great read!

  • Reply
    Eliza from Minimal MD
    June 23, 2018 at 11:39 am

    These are great suggestions for younger kids. I love that you use the electronics only as a last resort. (My kids are older, and we let them play games on the phone for half the flight time. But we don’t let them have access to iPads/iPhones any other time. It is the special treat for the plane that they know they won’t get to see again until the next international trip. 😂)

  • Reply
    Yuyu
    July 8, 2018 at 8:47 am

    I like that you keep the travel low tech. I see way too often parents relying on devices to keep the kid entertained while there ‘re other creative alternatives out there.

    • Reply
      themindfulmdmom
      July 17, 2018 at 12:33 pm

      Thank you! I think parents are quick to use tech to keep kids quiet or entertained in flights. However, how can we teach our kids life skills if they are always on the phone or ipad? Tech is fine but maybe not as the first thing to try on a flight.

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