Spend some time before you leave planning where you will go, what you will do on the way there, and what you will see and do when you get to your destination. Safe and happy trips are usually the result of careful planning. Here are a few tips to help you plan a memorable trip.
Let Kids Help Plan Trip
Give children maps and reading material about the places they will visit. Help them use the Internet to find information about the places they will be visiting. Let them choose some of the activities once you arrive at your destination. Suggest several activities and help them maintain a balance between those that are strenuous and those that are less tiring. A long bike ride, a picnic, and a nature talk by a ranger should fill a day without anyone getting too tired and cranky.
What Kids Need to Know Before They Go on a Trip
They should know, for example, that it is dangerous to feed wild animals and that they must stay on designated paths when participating in outdoor activities. They should know what to do if they get separated from you, and what to do in other emergencies.
They should read or play quiet games on road trips. Tell them what you expect when you take them to a restaurant or a store. If there will be a lot of riding, the children will handle it better if they expect a long day and know there will be a fun activity when they arrive at the destination.
Bring Back Memories
In her article, "Creating a Travel Journal for KIds," Laurel Smith writes about travel journals. She tells grown-ups to make them simple. Only a notebook and crayons or markers are needed. Children can paste photos, brochures, or tickets in their notebooks. Young children can draw a picture showing what they did each day. An adult can write what the child said about the picture at the bottom of the page.
Another fun thing to do is to buy or make speech balloons to paste on the photos. Adults or children can write words or sentences that tell what the person in the photo said. The balloons are shapes that point to the person in the photo who is saying the words.
Give Kids Vacation Responsibilities
Let each child be responsible for a small amount of spending money to be spent on personal items or souvenirs. Give each child a backpack to carry personal items - water, sunscreen, insect repellent, fruit, and a disposable camera. Expect each child to help with chores, such as loading and unloading gear, and to be responsible for keeping up with his or her own gear.
Don't Let Surprises Spoil the Vacation
Even with careful planning, unexpected things sometimes happen on vacations. The weather might not cooperate, the wild west show might be delayed or cancelled, or someone might lose their backpack. Be ready to change your plans and make the best of unexpected events. Show your children how to turn challenges into opportunities. Decide ahead of time that you will not allow small disappointments to spoil your trip.
What to Do When the Unexpected Happens on a Vacation
Let them know what is expected of them in different situations, and give them some responsibilities. Tell them that unexpected things sometimes happen on vacations, but these things don't have to spoil their vacation. Be sure the children know what to do in an emergency. A safe and happy vacation is the result of careful planning. The reward for careful planning will be to see the world once more through young eyes and the memories that the children will treasure.
