Those who have gone on trips with with their children know full well how difficult it can be to actually have a relaxing vacation when you're trying to keep the young ones happy. If you've not yet experienced that, just think of that six hour plane ride you had sitting behind a cranky toddler or that whiny six-year-old. Now do you get the picture? Fortunately, there are several things you can do to remedy the situation that are both easy and effective. Making your trip a pleasant one for everybody involved is a worthwhile effort, and something that will serve you well for years to come.
Whenever you are preparing for a long drive or flight, it's best to have a lot up your sleeve. Travel with kids becomes astonishingly more pleasant when they are happy and absorbed in an activity that leaves you to concentrate on the task at hand (such as driving or trying to figure out which gate your flight has been reassigned to). When it comes to small children, it doesn't take much to amuse them- in all likelihood if you just collect weird little squishy balls and such that you get when reps visit your office or at conventions, you'll have a bagful of fun new toys to surprise your kid with as you travel. Likewise, having new books that your children haven't read before is a great way to keep them absorbed. For those too young to read, books on tape are a great way to let them entertain themselves. The trick is to pass these new items out at intervals, thus keeping your kids occupied for the entire trip. Travling with children becomes much easier when they are engrossed in other activities.
Once you've gotten where you're going, there are a few items you will want to have just for convenience. Finding a travel stroller that works for your family is very important. Many of them on the market today are very lightweight and even fold-able to a size that would fit in an airplane's overhead bin. You might also consider a stroller that converts into a car seat for your children if you are likely to be doing a lot of driving while traveling. Another item that you can usually find a good price in a very light-weight compact form are travel highchairs. The kind that latch onto tables are a popular model and make eating out of visiting relatives a hassle-free experience.
One important aspect of family travel that many people overlook is this: schedule your vacation so that each parent gets a little time off, and so that you and your spouse get to spend a little time together alone. This is more important than you realize! Time to recharge, even if all you do is take a nap and go for a swim while your kids are off playing mini-golf with your spouse, will keep you in good spirits. Likewise, it's nice to have connection time for you and your partner. Many hotels offer babysitting services, or if you're near family they can often be conned into watching the kids for you. Then, take a date night, just the two of you, where the focus is on each other--that means no discussing the kids over dinner-- and turn your evening into a little vacation within a vacation.
