Traveling
Keep Kids Happy While Traveling
School is out, the hot season is upon us and lots of families have already started packing for their summer holidays. When it comes to travelling with children, a major concern for the parents is to keep them occupied for the duration of the trip. A little preparation can go a long way. Whether you are flying or riding in a car, here are some suggestions to keep children happy.
*Play games. "I spy" is an all-time favourite but don't limit yourself to it. A stopwatch (check your mobile phone's features for a handy one) can be useful if you play games like counting all the red cars in 3 minutes. Young children will definitely enjoy that.
*Read maps. It is worthwhile to equip each child with its own map of the route. A photocopy will suffice. They can track the progress of the trip without plaguing you with the "are we there yet?" question. It also hones their navigation skills and opens the way to discuss the landmarks along the way.
*Have some puzzle books at the ready. Full of detailed illustration, they will keep the children busy while making sure their observation skills are developed. A great way to have fun in the quiet!
* Wrap individual items in a fancy wrapping paper. Give them out as a surprise when everything else has failed or to diverse their attention during a sibling fight. They will amuse the children for a while and when they get tired of it, you can have something else on hand. Items can include, crayons, little toys, stickers, balloons etc.
*Feed them. Have prepared healthy, non-sticky snacks. A low-sugar biscuit, slices of fruit or pieces of vegetables will satisfy them and keep them from howling "I am hungry" until the next stop.
*Get hold of some audio books. This is a great way to entertain children while educating them. It is also a good alternative to the nursery rhymes songs you have listened to hundreds and hundreds of times. It is an especially good way to get boys to read along.
*Take some pillows with you to ensure a comfortable nap.
*Consider giving the children their own camera. A disposable one will do. They can take snaps of the scenes around them, any fancy cars that might overtake you, a plane just landing or taking off if you are passing an airport, or each other. They will be looking forward to developing the film and the prints can then be placed in their own special albums.
Above all, have fun. Travelling is part of the vacation, a time to create memories and bond as a family. Have a safe trip!
Esther was always with her nose in a book when she was a child. She wanted to be a writer too. Nowdays, she is a freelance writer. You can contact her at kepa@tiscali.co.uk When she is not writing, she loves making handmade soap: http://www.naturallynice.co.uk |
Esther Vraka
Similar articles
10 Ways to Make Traveling Partnerships Work (For Everyone)
There is safety in numbers. Not only that, traveling with a group or a companion can make your adventure travel experience more memorable and exciting (hopefully in good ways). Read more →Download TV Shows When You're Traveling
The next time you're stuck in a little hotel room with nothing for entertainment but infomercials and a tattered room service menu, reach for the laptop instead of the remote control. Read more →Saving Money When Traveling
Traveling, particularly overseas, can be a great experience. For many people, it can also be an expensive one, which means you need to know how to save on expenses. Read more →Top Notch Choices For Traveling In The Caribbean Islands
If you have never traveled to the islands of the Caribbean you don?t know what you?re missing, it is truly paradise if such a place exists. The Caribbean Sea runs from South America up to the Gulf of Mexico and meets with the Atlantic Ocean on the East. Read more →Aphorism
When one realizes that his life is worthless he either commits suicide or travels.