Summer Travel With Kids

Guest post from Christy Halsell

We have traveled quite a bit with our kids.

At one point we were home for three weeks in a four month period. The other 13 weeks we were driving around the country.  California to Tennessee.  California to Denver.  Northern California to Southern California.  Twice.  It was a lot of driving.  With two antsy little boys: ages 2 and 3 1/2.

We flew to Bali, Indonesia three times with toddlers in tow (which is SIX 35+hour travel periods).  A few of those flights I was pregnant.

{Ahem, one little boy MIGHT have gotten on an elevator in an airport in Taipei without my knowledge.  That was kind of awful!  Shh, don’t tell my mom.}

We currently live a six hour drive from my family – so we do several road trips each year.

We do not have a DVD player in the car.  Although it is a dream of mine…

I’m telling you about all of these travels because I want you to know I’ve been there.  I’ve ridden in the car with little ones fighting in the back seat.  With popcorn flying past my head.  With children throwing up.  Simultaneously.  I’m right there with you.

Sometimes a road trip or a plane flight sounds as fun as walking over snails with bare feet.  Eww.  That totally grossed me out.

Here are a couple little pointers to help:

• Change your mindset, Mama! 

This is NOT a soothing plane flight during which you can catch up on your reading and watch the latest movie releases.  This is a time to focus on the kids so that everyone on the plane doesn’t hate your guts and pelt you with peanuts at the end of the flight.

Not only do you want others on the plane to enjoy your children, you don’t want your children to have memories of how awful it was to travel with their family, do you?

Before the flight or drive remind yourself that you will be sacrificing how you want to pass the time to make the trip enjoyable for your kids.

Keep in mind:  travel time will go slower.  If the drive is normally 5 hours, add at least 1.5 to your estimates.  You will stop for potties more, and sometimes for sanity.  Many is the time we have pulled over in empty lots to let the kids run around for a few minutes.

• Keep it Simple!

I have seen moms gift wrap a toy for each hour of the flight or go crazy trying to find enough things to entertain their kids for the whole trip only to end up with a child who plays with the remote control the whole flight.  {Okay, I’ve been this mom.}

See, I’ve done this, and it’s great to keep a few secret toys and treats tucked away for an emergency, but really it benefits you and your kids to keep it simple.  I don’t usually take coloring supplies, because people eat the crayons and they roll off the seat to the Great Unknown until you find a melted puddle of wax that has hardened onto the floor of the car…keep it simple…

But…if you want a few ideas you can check out my Tips & Toys for Road Trips.

• Break the Rules!

Bring fun snacks.  Yes, include fruits and veggies, but bring stuff you would NEVER EVER let your kids have at home.  Or just fun treats that you save for special occasions.

Some of our favorites:

• licorice
• peanut butter-filled pretzels
• Pirate’s Booty
• Kettle corn
• fun chips
• “fruit” snacks

You can stop at a gas station or fast food place and let everyone pick out an ice cream.

Any other rules you can think of to break?

• Bring a kit for Car Sickness

(or at least throw some plastic bags in the glove box!)

I have four kids now, and probably every other car trip someone throws up.  Everywhere.  Why have I failed to make this box a priority?  It would save me a lot of stinky clean-up hours!

I saw the Car Sick Kit at Life As Mom last year and think I’ll finally start packing one along this year for all of my outings.

Join me over at my blog today for a link-up, and some talk about Summer Day Trips!  Link any posts having to do with summertime!

Do you have any tips to add to my list? I’d love for you to share them!