Vacationing is supposed to be fun, right? Well, sometimes vacationing with kids can be stressful. Not because you’re a bad parent or because your kids are bad, but because it’s a new environment to them. They need a little guidance on what to do and how to behave while on a vacation.
These 7 tips for vacationing with kids should help you out.
Let them know what’s going on: Kids can get a little crazy when they aren’t sure what the next step is. You don’t have to tell your kids every next move, but you can give them an idea of what’s going on. For example, after we do this activity, we are going to grab some lunch. Telling your kids what is next will help their behavior and expectations.
Show your kids a little leeway: It is very unrealistic that your kids are going to have perfect behavior while on a vacation this summer. They are excited, rowdy, and thrilled about being out of school and on a vacation with the family. When your kid acts out, let them know it is unacceptable, however, you can still give them a little leeway. As a parent, you don’t need to get horribly bent out of shape. If it keeps happening, you may have to try a different tactic.
Try to make the destination kid friendly: When you choose your destination for a vacation, keep in mind that it needs to be somewhat kid friendly. It’s hard to bring your kids into an adult world and expect everything to go smoothly. This is especially true if you have super little kids, make sure the destination is as kid–friendly as possible.
Pack as practically as possible: It can be tough to pack for kids, just because you won’t know what they need. One tip is to pack as practically as possible. Bring things they will need and not necessarily what they will want. There’s just not room for a PlayStation 3 and 50 video games. You get the idea, right? Just don’t forget that one lovey they can’t sleep without!
Think hard about the sleeping arraignments: Sleeping in a hotel room while on vacation is probably one of the hardest things for families while on vacation. What you will want to do prior to the summer vacation is think about how everyone will sleep. It’s best to cater to everyone’s sleeping needs if you want to get some rest. Perhaps an adjoined hotel room isn’t looking too bad. Maybe your kids will all sleep perfectly in one room together. At the end of the day, you know your kids best and how they will sleep.
Let the kids have fun: Going on a vacation is a chance for the whole family to let loose. If you’re uptight about every single thing your kids are doing on vacation, it will drive you nuts and the kids nuts. It’s important to let loose and have fun while on vacation. Let your kids have a week or two that they will remember for a lifetime. It doesn’t mean you need to buy them fancy things, just spending time with them and not harping on them for every little thing they do is good enough!
Let the kids make some choices: So, the parents got to pick out the destination for the summer vacation and most of the activities. Make this summer vacation with kids memorable by allowing them to choose a few things. Let them pick out a place they would like to eat. You can even allow them to pick an activity. No matter the age of your kids, they love picking out this sort of stuff. It makes them feel incredibly happy.
Vacations no longer have to be hectic and overwhelming. Follow these 7 tips for vacationing with kids to make everything run more smoothly. Do you have any tips to add? We’d love to hear!
Robin Masshole Mommy says
I always cut my kids some slack on vacation. They are excited, so I let them act a little more wild than normal.
Lisa Joy Thompson says
Anytime we do things that vary from our routine, our kids get a little edgy so we tend to be a little more relaxed on trips. We also try to make them as involved in the process as possible, so they know exactly what is going on when! These are great tips!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
These are great tips, and I follow them all when we travel with the kids. It’s important to remember to let the kids stretch out a little when you’re on vacation.
Pam says
Picking a kid friendly destination is essential. We always went to the beach because my husband and I enjoyed walking on the beach and the kids loved playing in the ocean. We all had a great time whenever we went.
MELISASource says
The best tip out of all of these is to make the destination kid friendly. It’s really hard for a kid to have a good time when when they’re doing something that’s super boring to them.
mary says
I agree with everything. I will say letting them make choices is hard because they don’t agree on anything. So, putting things to a vote will work for us!
Christie says
We definitely let our kids make as much choices as possible. These are great tips to keep in mind for us this summer
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
I think putting the kids in one room together sounds like a good idea. You could have some alone time and the kids could feel like they are on a vacation from the parents too.
Liz Mays says
I definitely agree with you on these tips. My kids would get a little frustrated if they felt the vacation was too structured.
Felicia says
These are wonderful tips. I think letting the kids make some choices is an excellent tip. It gives them so choice and keeps them involved.
Ryan Escat says
Good idea and tips! We are planning to have a vacation this month so glad that I found this.
Valerie Gray says
I love all of these tips, especially letting them have fun and not being so strict. Its a vacation so everyone should be able to let loose and have a blast.
nicole escat says
thank you for this helpful tips
we do it every summer so the kids will not be boring and they will nor focus using gadget
The Cubicle Chick says
These are awesome tips. My 12 year old and I do a lot of traveling together, and I love these!
Ann E Bacciaglia says
Great tips. It is so important to plan ahead when you vacation with kids. It is so important to have activities and snacks.
Shell says
Great tips for traveling with kids! It’s really important to give kids leeway. They aren’t going to be perfect!
Debra says
We just did our first road trip with the kids – Washington, DC, Williamsburg, VA & Baltimore. We planned it so that we’d spend no more than 3 1/2 hours in the car for each leg of the trip. That seemed to work well for us.