Family Travel Checklist
For a while, I was so petrified of my kids having a meltdown on a plane or waking up an entire hotel with night terrors that I was too afraid to travel with them. But after one particularly nasty winter, we decided that we needed to head to the beach in order to save our sanity…and I am oh so glad that we did. So I’ve created this family travel checklist for those of you who are nervous about traveling with kids to help ease your worries and fears. I can’t predict a perfect trip, but I can help you feel more prepared and in control.
Become a snack vending machine. Seriously. Stock up on tons of individually wrapped snacks (Goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, apple sauce pouches, yogurt raisins, granola bars, veggie sticks, cut up fruit, carrot sticks, etc.) And don’t forget the gum and/or suckers if you are traveling by plane for takeoff and landing.
Get the wiggles out before your long plane or car ride. No park nearby? No problem! Use my favorite hack…all you need is a roll of masking tape and a vivid imagination. Use the tape to set up an obstacle course for kids to jump in and out of. Challenge them to dance like a robot all within a square area cornered off by masking tape. Then have them help you clean up when play time is over by pulling the tape off the floor. Easy peasy.
Get the kiddos involved in packing. Even though it is very important to pack new and special toys and prizes in YOUR bag to snap kids out of a tantrum or meltdown, it is also key to have your kids pack their own favorite things. Let them pack whatever they want (as long as TSA isn’t going to stop you) into a toddler sized backpack. And be sure to warn them that they will be carrying the bag so they shouldn’t make it too heavy.
Prepare for the worst but hope for the best. That means that you need to have an entire change of clothes for everyone, extra wipes and diapers, medicine, paper towels and plastic bags…all available at a moment’s notice. And if someone is giving you the stink eye because your kid is having a rough time, rest assured that karma will undoubtedly bit them in the butt…hopefully in the form of food poisoning while on vacation…
Plan more activities than you think you need. Stock up at the Dollar Store, Five Below, Target…anywhere you can get cheap and lightweight toys that aren’t too annoying for those traveling around you. Pack half of your toy/prize stash in your suitcase so you don’t preemptively use them on the first leg of your trip. Need some activity ideas? Here are our favorites:
Play foam
Mini play dough
Water pen coloring books
Reusable sticker books
I Spy books and cards
I Spy bingo (prepare by writing down words or drawing pictures of things you anticipate seeing while on your journey)
Pipe cleaner sculptures (be sure to supervise so no one pokes an eye out!)
Dry erase boards and markers
Flash cards
Mini etch a sketch
Colored pencils and stencils
Finger puppets
Do your research. If you are making a cross country road trip, map out interesting spots to stop and stretch your legs (some suggestions are cool parks, children’s museums, etc.). If traveling my plane, look into the airport amenities. Chicagoans shouldn’t leave the house without reading my tips on navigating O’Hare and Midway.
Get rid of your screen guilt. If you know your child will happily sit still and quietly if Elmo is dancing on the I pad, go for it. You are going on a vacation, and everyone is allowed to relax and have some screen time. Here are my suggestions of great travel apps your family should know about.
Relax. It’s all going to be okay. Really. It is. Our first flight as a family, my husband had the stomach flu. On our second flight our son cried hysterically for 22 straight minutes (it felt like hours). But we all survived. And so will you. We embark on a road trip this month and are hoping we don’t forget pajamas this time (oops).
Amanda Simkin, a lifelong Chicagoan, created her blog (queenofthelandoftwigsnberries.com) to share how she celebrates motherhood in Chicago. She offers “insider’s guides” for both well-known and off-the-beaten-path family-friendly gems. Her fans include Red Tricycle Chicago and Chicago Parent Magazine. You can also follow Amanda on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram,
