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Travelling
with Children
Travel tips - by car, by plane, away from home
Family
vacations can be fun and memorable with a little planning
and preparation. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your
holidays.
Before
you go:
1) Talk to your children about where you're going and whether
you'll travel by car, plane, boat, or train.
2) Check your health plan for coverage while away from home.
3) Keep your Doctor's and emergency numbers and medical insurance
cards with your travel documents.
4) Keep emergency medical items and medications together in
one kit.
In
the car:
1) Have the kids help you chart your course on the map, pointing
out scenic highlights, etc.
2) Vary the distance travelled each day.
3) Play games - alphabet game (finding, in sequence, items
that start with each letter of the alphabet); counting games
(how many red cars, how many buses, etc.)
4) Reading aloud or listening to story tapes together.
5) Listen to music you can all sing along to.
6) Allow for some quiet self-entertainment time for reading,
scribbling, looking out the window.
7) Thrill the kids by outfitting them with a few electronic
entertainment gadgets.
8) Blow bubbles.
9) Schedule a big chunk of driving during naptime for younger
children.
10) Keep a variety of snacks & drinks on hand.
11) Pack small "goodie bags" for the children to open when
they get restless - pack each with a snack and a small toy,
stickers, crayons, etc.
12) Bring a comfort item from home - a favorite stuffed toy,
blanket or pillow.
13) For the trip home, buy a postcard from each place visited,
put them on a keychain ring. The kids can look at these and
talk about what they saw and what happened.
On
the plane:
1) Arrive early so the family sits together, or have seats
preassigned when booking.
2) Order kid's meals 24 hrs. in advance.
3) Book nonstop flights if possible so there's only one ear-popping
descent. Or, for longer trips schedule a layover to break
up the travel.
4) Let the kids play as much as they want so they will rest
during flight.
5) Give each their own small backpack to pack, wear and take
care of.
6) Pack small "goodie bags" for the children to open when
they get restless - pack each with a snack and a small toy,
stickers, crayons, etc.
7) Practice ear-popping for the descent; play a game where
you make faces at each other. Keep juice or gum ready, since
swallowing or chewing will also help.
8) Must-haves for carry-on bags: change of clothes, sweater,
ziplock bags, medicine, plenty of drinks, fun snacks, craft
supplies, doctor and emergency numbers, color photo of your
child--in case you become separated.
9) Bring a comfort item from home - a favorite stuffed toy,
book, blanket or pillow.
10) Keep your child informed about what the plane, piot and
flight attendants are doing. Explain the loud engine noises.
11) Wash hands often or use antibacterial gel to avoid germs.
Away
from home:
1) Have a home base to come back to after touring and sightseeing.
Plan a vacation that revolves around one location rather than
a trip requiring frequent changes of lodging.
2) Try to stick to normal routine with meal and bed times.
3) Be flexible!
4) Keep it simple.
5) Build in downtime.
6) Get outside whenever possible to let the children run free;
choose outdoor restaurants or have picnics.
Info.
from www.parentcenter.com
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