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Successful Summer Travel with Kids!
Written by Cena Block, Sane Spaces
Summer vacation is here! Your vacation destination is chosen, reservations are made, now – onto the packing… Read how you can make travel easy with kids.
Use The Internet – Have your children look up maps, destination locations, restaurants, excursions, gift shops, tours and other options for the trip. Getting them involved will indefinitely help you during your trip. I’m heavily relying on the fact that the kids already know their way around the parks because of their map review and preparation… They’ll be our tour guides and get us where we need to go, and I can relax and let them lead the way!
Review Your Itinerary – Before you begin packing sit down with your children and review the itinerary. Identify travel days, and tentative plans you’ve made. Sharing all this information engages the kids in the whole trip and helps them plan too. Highlight any special events such as dinners out, performances, or places to visit and discuss any questions your child has. An itinerary review encourages kids to take ownership of the packing and planning stages themselves, and will help you feel more comfortable about the list of items each child will need for the destination location.
Give Kids Ownership – As much as you can, enroll your kids in the planning and packing in preparation for the trip. Kids can handle a lot more than many parents give them credit. They get so excited and can really help out as you are getting everything ready for the trip. For instance, we are planning a trip to Orlando, and will visit different parks this summer. We reviewed the itinerary and the kids picked out tee shirts and outfits they wanted to wear to each park. They also remembered special items that will help them pass the time during the trip… as well as placing one of their “summer reading” books in each of their bags. When kids pack their own bags, they’re likely to remember miscellaneous personal items as you repack to return home after the trip.
Consider Travel Time - Allow each child to bring a travel bag for which they are responsible during the entire trip. Inside, they can place special items, toys, trinkets, games, camera, wallet, or anything they feel may help pass the time. Review travel games such as the Alphabet Game, 20 Questions, Car Charades, Build-A-Story, Categories and others… these games can break sibling tension and quell that last 20 minutes between you and the next exit.
Happy & Healthy- Whatever your travel plans, remember a well-fed child is a happy child. Avoid sugary sweets and drinks and take the time to prepare nutritious travel snacks like fruits, veggies, nuts, crackers, cheese, and low/no-sugar alternatives. Offering your child nutritious food will avoid the crazy blood-sugar shifts that happen with fast food and sugary snacks – and the resulting shifts in moods and patience! Organizing for travel will ensure you and the family a happy and enjoyable summer vacation!
Cena Block is the owner of Sane Spaces Professional Organizing and Productivity Consulting. Sane Spaces is a professional services firm that offers residential and business organizing, training, coaching, and motivational speaking to individuals and organizations. Sane Spaces helps clients increase productivity and minimize wasted time by designing efficient and productive home, work and paper management systems – eliminating disorganization at its source.
Contact Cena at (570) 351-7146, email cena@sanespaces.com, visit www.sanespaces.com
Sane Spaces... Organizing life one space at a time
NAPO National Member, NAPO-NNJ Member, NAPO In The Schools Trained Provider, Pike Chamber of Commerce Member, Send Out Cards Independent Distributor.
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