5 Creative and Effective Ways to Reduce Stress
When Traveling With Kids

By Derek Lotts

Family trips can be an awesome way to bond with your family members and have fun together. Spending quality time while exploring new places with loved ones can be incredibly rewarding and help create memories you’ll cherish for years to come.

While travelling with kids may seem daunting, there are ways for parents to make their family trip enjoyable and stress-free. All it takes is a bit of creativity and preplanning for your trip to be exciting rather than exhausting.

Let your kids help with some decisions

This can be a great way to include your kids in the decision-making process and make them feel more invested in the holiday planning process. If you haven’t already picked a destination for your vacation, consider letting them select where they want to go. They can also help you make decisions about the hotel you will be staying at or the activities you’ll enjoy once you arrive.

Letting your kids weigh in on a plan will get them even more excited about the trip, and this is also something you can use to control bad behavior. If your children start misbehaving, you’ll only need to warn them about the consequences of their actions on the trip. It’s a hack that will take some of the stress out of the equation so travel moms will definitely find it handy.

Plan for contingencies

Part of traveling stress-free with your kids is being prepared for the unexpected. Whether it’s missing your flight, losing your wallet, kids becoming ill, or your car breaking down, planning for contingencies is key to traveling stress free and overcoming obstacles if things do go wrong during your trip.

Preparing for mishaps is a matter of thinking in advance and taking necessary steps to prevent them. Going for a regular car inspection before a trip will reduce the possibility of your car breaking down in the middle of nowhere, while arriving at the airport super early will help you catch your flight on time. Similarly, bringing some cash with you and being wary of the pickpockets will reduce your chances of ending up without money, while hand sanitizer and medications will come in handy in case your kids or yourself become ill while traveling.

Prepare your kids for a safe car ride

Safety should always come first, especially when you’re traveling with kids. Aside from making sure that your car is in excellent condition before hitting the road, you should also strive to make the ride as comfortable and safe as possible for your children. For older children, this will mean making sure that they always have their seat belt on during the ride.

For smaller children, preparing them for a safe car ride will involve finding the safest model of baby car seats available on the market – a process that can be made much easier with the help of detailed online reviews. With a quick Google search, you can look into your options and make a smart decision, giving yourself peace of mind knowing that your little one will be safe and protected during the trip.

Keep a couple of distractions readily available

While parents should definitely avoid overpacking, when it comes to traveling with kids, it pays to have a couple of distractions at your disposal just in case you need them. Kids, especially toddlers, can get cranky quite easily, which only makes the situation more stressful for an already overwhelmed parent.

A couple of fun car ride activities can be a godsend in case you get stuck in a traffic jam and need to keep your kids busy. From coloring and sticker books to travel toys and journals, there are plenty of ways to engage your kids and prevent them from getting bored during the ride, but you should also consider bringing some new toys and gadgets to surprise them with in case they do.

In case your flight gets cancelled or delayed, you can get creative and keep your kids active by organizing an airport scavenger hunt, while airplane rides can be made more bearable with the help of tablets and headphones.

Make your family trip fun and educational

Traveling can be a great way to introduce your children to new cultures and teach them about the world around them, and planning fun and educational activities for the whole family to enjoy is an easy way to make your family trip a success. From aquariums to butterfly gardens to art museums, there are a lot of places you can visit with your kids and ensure they have some fun time while also learning something new.

Be wary of squeezing in too many activities into your day – take it slow, give yourself time to explore and relax. Not only will such a trip do wonders for your mood and general well-being, but it will also help you get away from the stresses you’re exposed to on a daily basis while also helping you create memories that will last a lifetime.

Wrapping up

There’s more to a family trip than simply packing your bags and heading off to your destination. The preparations, as well as the trip itself, can easily become overwhelming if you’re not careful. By taking the time to plan your trip, you will reduce stress and make it much more enjoyable.