Travel with kids in tow can be messy, true. But travel without kids can be messy too. on a recent visit to the MET in New York (one of our favorite places!) Rob had an unexpected emergency call he needed to attend. Our two hours allocated for the museum were him in a museum cafe on the phone while I explored a bit on my own. You can’t plan for everything but there are a few things you can do before a trip to make sure the entire family has a good time!
You can’t plan for everything but there are a few things you can do before a trip to make sure the entire family has a good time!
1. Prepare the kids
Involved your child in trip planning. If age appropriate, let them research and achoose an activity or two for your itinerary. Knowing they were able to pick something important to them that the whole family will do together will get them excited.
Also tell them about the other places you’ll be visiting. We love visiting our local library to find age appropriate books about the places we’ll be visiting. Tell them why YOU are excited to see or do an activity. Upon arrival you may be surprised to find out they are now more excited than you.
Pro tip: if unable to find a children’s book about a certain theme try a travel guide or coffee table style book with lots of pictures. Point out sights of interest you plan to visit.
2. Be prepared
If an activity involves a lot of waiting come prepared. Your child likely doesn’t have (or need..oops) a device to pull out to scroll while they wait. Bring a mini notebook and a small roll of colored pencils for them to draw while waiting in line to enter that exhibit you just couldn’t miss.
Pack a book for read aloud while on your trip. Pull it out while waiting in line for customs or for that ramen that always has a line down the block.
Visiting a museum? We’ve found many major museums have great info pages for families visiting with kids that include printables or scavenger hunts. Take the time to print before heading out or ask for a copy at the information desk. Want to enjoy a slow lunch at a cafe and it’s first time visiting a restaurant that doesn’t serve bread or chips and salsa to start? Let them know what to expect and make sure they aren’t already starving when you arrive.
A small gesture can go along way to making the experience enjoyable for them.
These little notebooks are perfect for long waits.
3. Expect complaining
Kids complain. Just because they complain or aren’t especially entertained by every second of every day does not mean you have to axe the activity. Allow them to express themselves. Remind them that everyone gets a say and we don’t have to ruin someone else’s fun just because it’s not their pick.
Of course, be reasonable. If your kiddo is new to museums, maybe just enjoy the highlights and save the extended tour for another time. Which leads me to the next tip.
4. Lower your expectations
Traveling with kids is not for the weak but the rewards can be great. Keep reasonable expectations and avoid disappointment.
We usually plan to have one easy meal a day. If we enjoy a long slow lunch at a restaurant. That may mean takeout dinner in a nice park or back at our Airbnb to allow for a calm evening.
Dinner plans in a place that opens a little later? We plan to rest (and nap if needed) in the middle of the day and make sure to have a snack to get us through until dinner.
Visiting a museum? Don’t plan to become an expert on every work displayed. Choose the highlights important to you and prioritize those. If there’s extra time and energy to see more, great! If not, enjoy what you prioritized!
5. Divide and conquer
Some activities are inherently not kid friendly. At home we often divide and conquer to handle the after dinner routine and have some time to relax alone after.
You can apply the same technique on vacation. Want an hour in the hammam? Can one parent handle bath and story time while the other heads down for a little relaxing in the hotel spa? Want to book a massage? Can one parent take the kids to a nearby park while the other gets pampered?
Kids need time to learn and practice their travel skills. But with a few moments of preparation and a shift in perspective, traveling can be enjoyable for the entire family.
