No matter what age your children are, it's a great time for taking them on travels near and far. The surprise for many parents is that the amount of preparation and effort put into a day trip with preschoolers to a lake or on a picnic isn't much different than for a month-long trip to places farther from home. You just have to be prepared to take kid-sized steps and expect to restock on "essentials" as you go.
Traveling with preschoolers is really fun - they are so wide-eyed and ready for adventure, with few, if any preconceptions. You already know what great ice-breakers kids are, they talk to anyone and see other small kids as potential playmates. Kids always seem to find playmates to share kites and balls and other toys in parks and beaches. After all, sand castles are built from Bali to British Columbia. Kids are also a great excuse for going to some of the best spots, like pony rides, carousels and petting zoos.
More reasons why you shouldn't put off travels with little ones? Preschoolers have a wonderful ability to conveniently drop off into naps during long train and plane rides - and the cost of taking them on those trains and planes is usually far cheaper than for teens. They're also often a golden ticket to special favors and attention from strangers everywhere. Traveling in Europe? Don't be surprised to find waiters greeting kids with a small plate of crackers and cheeses to keep them content while orders are taken and prepared (how smart is that?). In fact, all over the world, restaurants are used to indulging finicky little ones, easy to do since little kids' tastes usually run to the plain and unadorned.
Of course, it's not all cooing waiters and napping babes, so go prepared if you want everyone to enjoy the trip.
The first preparation is packing, and you'll find that the "wants" and "needs" lists for little kids may actually be only one list. The trick is to consider what's needed for keeping little ones content and you'll soon realize that a lot of "wants" like toys and treats, really are "needs" for a long trip. Get lightweight nylon drawstring bags to hold fun stuff for each kid, then pack them in your carry-on luggage. Or, if your kids are four or five, they can have their own small backpacks full of toys, books, etc. or rollerbags they can happily wheel around the airport.
The number one thing to remember? A beloved "snuggly." Sometimes a toy is just a comfort item clutched when a child is in an unfamiliar place or trying to get to sleep. Sometimes it's animated in a child's imagination and confided to with whispered words in a corner. Whatever its role, don't separate a child from a beloved stuffed animal, doll, or other snuggly such as a blanket or pillow - the added bulk will more than pay its way.
Another essential is a stroller that's lightweight and easily collapsible. Airline crew will hang yours just inside the boarding door, and you can hook it on a coat rack or under chairs at restaurants, etc. In a pinch, many large hotels also offer "loaner" strollers (and umbrellas) as well, just ask the concierge. Buying one? Get a model with a sturdy mesh basket for "essentials," a good hood in case of drizzle, and easy to set-up or collapse with one hand.
A few tips on toys. Include some tried-and-true favorites, have some brand-new, inexpensive surprises, don't pack noisy toys (not only will you get tired of the noise, the people traveling nearby may get demonstrably irate) and plan on picking up local treasures along the way.
One friend always packs felt pads and a bag of felt shapes or the magnetic play board versions. They make great toys since the variety is limited only by imagination. Another friend packs new DUPLO packets. In short, try to take along toys that get used in lots of ways, there's no room for one-trick ponies in your luggage.
You'll also want to take along at least a couple favorite books and plan to pick up some local treasures along the way. Picture books for non-readers are great, but bring some you can share as well. Slightly older kids may like the suspense of hearing a chapter book read to them a little at a time. On one plane ride I apparently read "The Three Little Pigs" to my four year old with such emotion that two businessmen across the aisle dropped their conversation and started listening in (one gave me a big beaming smile when I started huffing and puffing). Don't be shy. Why should the sound of a children's story be any more intrusive than other conversations on the plane? It isn't. Besides, cuddling up together for a half-whispered story is a wonderful way to spend waiting time, or bedtime.
Bring your own movies for long flights. One friend recommends a portable DVD player, another uses a laptop to play DVD movies. (Newer planes have a outlet in the seat armrest to plug in your electronics.) Bring along one or two favorite movies for little ones - they will happily watch them over and over. Remember to pack headphones (ones that your child will wear) or turn down the volume while watching the movie.
Keep in mind that the most fascinating book, toy or game has limited appeal. Don't make kids go too far a stretch at once. Mix up sight seeing with play time and snack breaks. An exhausted preschooler (or parent) is no happy camper.
For long stretches on planes, trains, waiting rooms, stock up on snacks like baby carrots, trail mix, crackers, bite-size PowerBars, dried fruit, string cheese, juice boxes that can satisfy little tummies quickly, then restock as you go. One flight from Los Angeles to Denver was delayed for over an hour before we boarded, and for another hour on the runway. The crew refused to give anyone drinks or snacks while we waited, but my daughter contentedly sipped her juice and snacked on trail mix while we adults stewed.
Even if you order a kid's meal on a plane, whatever is served, it may not be something your child likes (some kids just aren't interested in peanut butter and jelly). Bring your own mini-meal, like instant noodles in a cup (just add hot water) or macaroni and cheese in a foil pouch. Ask the flight attendant to heat up the macaroni and cheese, and your kids can eat when they're hungry.
All this talk of snacks and toys and new purchases probably has you a little worried about running out of room. Well, if you've packed cheap crayons, coloring books, puzzles, etc. as your original "fun packs" when you left home, then you have "expendable" things you can ditch as you need to make room for new treasures.
In the end it all comes down to flexibility. Pack for preschooler needs, expect to be spontaneous, let your little one introduce you to a few new friends and places and everyone will have a great time!
Great Travel Foods:
- individual applesauce and fruit cups (don't forget plastic spoons)
- dry crackers - small snack pack size
- individual size water bottles (a permanent marker will help to keep these separate)
- individual cereal boxes
- flavored rice cakes
- juice boxes/bags
- jar of peanut butter and loaf of bread (don't forget a plastic knife)
Items to Always Have on Hand While Travelling:
- Band-Aids
- antiseptic hand gel
- small tissue packs
- sun screen
- Dr.'s phone numbers
- Tylenol - children's and adults
- a rubber door stop can provide extra security for a hotel room door
- small nightlight - to help find the bathroom in the middle of the night
- Crayons
- mechanical pencils
- highlighter - good for word search games
- paper
- deck of cards
- zip lock bags (collecting shells, storing food, wet clothes)
- sun glasses
- hats/visors
- light weight wind breaker
- umbrella
- camera with extra film
- keep a photo of your child in your wallet - in case you loose them in a crowed area
- extra copy of birth certificates, photo id, travel reservations, airline tickets
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