If you’re getting ready to embark on a vacation with your little ones, you might be wondering how you can prepare them for what lies ahead. Although travel is incredibly enriching, it can also be extremely overwhelming for little ones. As a result, preparing them in any way you can is very beneficial. This is especially true if your kids have never traveled before, as throwing them in the deep end will likely only heighten the already intense feelings that they’re having. So, keep them informed, relaxed, and entertained, and you should be in for a great family vacation!
Get Them Some Swimming Lessons
First and foremost, according to littleaqua.co.uk if you’re going somewhere hot, you can’t go wrong with swimming lessons for kids before you jet off. Not only will this improve their confidence in the water, but it will also make you feel more comfortable about them being in the water. Without swimming skills, being in the water can be a very daunting experience for children and parents alike. So, if you equip your kids with these skills before you go, it will be a weight off their shoulders as well as yours. Any way in which you can increase your child’s safety on vacation is a positive thing.
Implement a Safety Plan
Speaking of safety, it’s of the utmost importance that you have a safety plan in place before you take your children out of their comfort zone. Unfortunately, safety discussions aren’t ever an easy thing to have as a parent; however, they’re not something that can be avoided. When you and your kids are in an unfamiliar place, implementing various safety measures is essential. These measures might include creating an emergency contact list, choosing a safe word, choosing a family password, talking about stranger danger, creating identity cards, practising what to do if someone is lost, practising what to do if you get separated on public transport, and doing your research.
Pack Electronics, Activities, and Books
When traveling, keeping the kids entertained can be tricky, which is why a set of multiple activities is essential. In order to keep your little ones occupied, you’re going to need something that will entertain them for an extended period of time with limited mess, next to no noise, and not too many pieces. Tablets, electronic games, audiobooks, activity books, and storybooks are all good contenders. These are perfect for keeping kids occupied while they’re on the move or as they unwind at the hotel. Just be sure to bring along chargers and headphones for the electronic items, or this could cause some complications.
Stock Up on Drinks and Snacks for the Journey
Every parent understands just how fussy little ones can get when they’re hungry and/or thirsty, which is why it’s so important to always have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand. Just remember that if you’re traveling via an airport, you won’t be able to take large bottles of liquid with you, so it will be a case of buying drinks when you get through customs. That said, most snacks will be permitted. Some parents start to feel guilty when they’re traveling because it becomes a lot harder to have healthy snacks to hand. Despite this, it’s important to remember that you’ll only be traveling for a short while, and a bunch of “unhealthy” snacks during this time won’t be the end of the world. As long as your children are fed and happy, that’s all you can do.
Watch Movies or Read Books Set in Your Destination
One exciting way of preparing your little ones for travel is reading books or watching movies that are set in the destination you’re going to. Not only will this get them excited about the location, but it will also mean they get a chance to familiarize themselves with the location ever so slightly. Of course, we can’t trust movies and books to always accurately represent a location; however, they tend to contain the key landmarks that you’ll likely be visiting during your vacation. If you’re worried that your little ones aren’t yet excited about what’s to come, movies and books could just be the saving grace.
Prepare Their Palate
Different cultures have different delicacies, meaning you may encounter foods that your little one wouldn’t usually eat. Therefore, you might start to prepare them for new dishes by cooking dishes from the location you’re going to visit. For instance, when planning a trip to the UK, you might give fish and chips a go. A vacation to Spain calls for paella. A getaway to Thailand might encourage you to make your own Pad Thai. If your little ones are fussy eaters or have sensory food aversion, it might be wise to research restaurants before you go to ensure there are places where you know they’ll eat.
Get Them to Help with the Planning
Another way to get your little ones excited about the vacation is to get them involved in the planning. This might include having them gathering drinks and snacks for the journey or packing some of their clothes. Of course, you’ll need to double check; however, giving them little responsibilities like these will allow them to anticipate the trip in a positive manner. You might also have them do some research to find notable sights that you need to visit. Similarly, you could give them the task of learning a few basic words and phrases in the country’s language.
Discuss the Trip
Last but not least, talk to your kids about the trip regularly to get them excited! Naturally, if they’re quite young, they might not quite understand the concept, but asking them questions and telling them things will help you gauge their interest. If your children can get quite anxious, you might use these talks to help them adjust to the idea of a change of routine. This way, they’ll be able to get used to the idea of change before it starts to take place.