If you’ve ever traveled with your young children, you know that it isn’t always the easiest task. There are many challenges that come along with going on trips with your kids, and it can sometimes be hard to know how to handle them. From picky eaters to restless toddlers on long flights and everything in between, we wanted to share some of the most common travel challenges you may face with your children, and give you some ideas on how to handle them, so that you can focus more on making memories, and worry less about the stress that can come from these tricky situations.
Challenge 1: Forgetting to Apply For Your Child’s Passport
Planning for a family trip can take a lot of preparation, and you may end up forgetting to do certain things, such as applying for your child’s passport. If this happens to you, don’t panic! Our expedited passport processing services can help you obtain passports for you and your family before your trip. We can help you obtain your passports in as little as a few business days, so that you can have them in hand before departure day. Simply visit our website to get the process started, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.
Challenge 2: Beating Boredown While Traveling
You’ve planned a million activities to take part in while on your family vacation, every hour of the day is filled with family fun, and your child still says that they’re bored. How is that even possible? Well, there’s a good chance that this has happened to you before, and there’s a possibility that this could happen to you while on your next family trip. If this is the case, we suggest that you bring along extra activities and entertainment for your child so that they are entertained, and you have some time to relax.
Challenge 3: Helping Your Child Deal With Jet Lag
Going on an international adventure with your children is a once in a lifetime experience, and something that you’ll remember forever. Though, it’s no secret that dealing with jet lag isn’t always the easiest task, especially for your kids. To help them overcome jet lag, we suggest drinking plenty of water, eating nutritious snacks, and getting a good night’s rest the first day of your trip. Getting a nap in here and there can also help!
Challenge 4: Taking Care of a Suddenly Sick Little One
One of the worst things that can happen while traveling as a family is your child getting sick. You are out of your comfort zone, and your child isn’t in their home environment, which can make it difficult for both you and them. To help your child feel better, make sure that they are drinking plenty of fluids and resting at the hotel. Hopefully within a few days they begin to feel better, and you and your family can go on with the rest of your trip.
Challenge 5: Handling Meltdowns in Public
Having your child throw a tantrum in public is something that no parent ever wants to experience. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you would think. If your child begins to have a meltdown in public, especially in an enclosed space like a restaurant or movie theater, the best thing to do is step outside with your child. Then, give them a minute to calm down, and if you think they are all better, proceed to go back to your activity.
Challenge 6: Dealing With a Picky Eater
Most children have a very specific taste when it comes to the foods they like, which can make it tricky to choose a restaurant that fits all of your family’s needs. Fortunately, most restaurants nowadays have a kids menu that is sure to have something that your child will enjoy. Before heading out to eat, look up the establishment’s menu online so that you know that they have at least one food item your kids will eat. It’s a bonus if that restaurant also has a coloring menu that will keep your children calm!
Challenge 7: Keeping Your Kids Entertained
During your trip there are going to be times when you go out and enjoy activities, and then there will be moments where you will be sitting back at the hotel relaxing. However, just because you want to relax for a while doesn’t mean that your child wants to do the same. To give yourself some time for that all important rest and relaxation, make sure that you bring enough entertainment and activities for your child to enjoy. This way, they can color or watch their favorite show while you sit back and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Challenge 8: Capturing Memories With Kids That Won’t Sit Still
Capturing those precious moments with your kids on vacation is so important, as these are photos and videos that you will look back on for years to come. Though getting your children to sit still so that you can take these photos isn’t always easy – but that’s okay! Some of the best photos and videos that you will capture are the ones that aren’t posed and perfect. So if you find that your child won’t sit still for a picture, still snap the photo. You’ll be surprised at how great they’ll turn out.
Traveling with your little ones can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Being prepared and knowing how to handle common travel challenges ahead of time can make a huge difference, and will allow you to enjoy not only the destination, but the journey as well. We hope that you enjoy your upcoming vacation with your children, and make memories that you can talk about for years to come. Safe travels!