Taking your children on vacation can be an enjoyable experience. There’s not much else that beats sharing beautiful places and once-in-a-life-time experiences with your loved ones. Unfortunately, kids and airplane travel don’t always mix well. Long flights and layovers can be rough on the youngest travelers in your family. However, experienced vacationers have figured out ways to make air travel with kids easier. If you’ve got an airplane trip with your children coming up, keep the following tips in mind:
– Make it an event. The more excited your kids are about your trip, the smoother it’s likely to be. You might want to consider instituting a daily countdown. Put the travel date on a calendar in your house, and let your kids cross off a day each morning. You can add stickers and colorful pens into the mix, as well.
– Carefully plan your carry-on. Make sure that your children have a bag full of toys and games to keep them entertained. Consider including essentials like wipes, diapers, and food in your kids’ bags, as well. Carrying them may make your kids feel more grown-up. And think twice before giving your kids their own little roller bag. They may find pulling it to be difficult, which may lead to frustration and tears.
– Arrive early. Imagine how stressful it is when you have to run to catch your plane. It’s even worse for children. All the careful work you’ve done to make the trip into a fun experience can be quickly derailed if your children’s introduction to the airport is an unhappy one. Instead, allow plenty of extra time so that your kids can play in the airport and feel comfortable as they get ready for your flight.
– Explain, explain, explain. Children may find many aspects of air travel frightening, such as putting their favorite shoes and toys on the security conveyor belt, hearing the roar of the engine on takeoff, feeling popping in their ears, and experiencing turbulence. You can help to make those things easier by explaining in detail what’s going to happen ahead of time so that your children aren’t taken by surprise.
