Traveling with Kids: Bracing for A Very Long Trip!
The time is coming for me to put everything about traveling to the test as our family prepares for our biggest trip to date. This will be the longest flight that the kids and I have been on, and you may recall that I am not the best traveler around; I tend to get anxious and irritable when flying, and it only intensifies the longer I am on the plane—I just don’t like being in a confined area for very long, throw in a few airports and layovers, and you might as well knock me out and drag me around in one of our Travelmates or Cruisers. . . Ooh, there’s the next Go-Go Babyz innovation: adult models! Well, I guess that’s what wheelchairs are.
All joking aside, I have gotten better over the years. I still get nervous, anxious and a bit stressed out, but I am not quite as bad as I used to be. Usually it’s just pre-travel anxiety, and once we wake up and start our ventures, it’s all good; well, with the exception of an occasional lapse in reason and a tantrum or two, but otherwise, I’m great! As I mentioned, however, this will be our longest trip yet, about three times as long as our standard vacation travels, even more when you include connections and layovers. Not to mention that this is also our first international flight as a family. So, it will really test my fortitude as a traveler.
As anyone with kids knows, family traveling is more of a process. It takes more planning to make sure the trip is a success and everyone’s sanity is safe and secure and not lost somewhere in flight. My plan is to approach this long trip like I would any other trip; this one just has a few more logistical challenges. I will focus on what I need to do to make the flight smooth for everyone involved. On our regular trips, I focus on what I need to bring to keep the kids, and myself, happy and content (a good book is a must for me). This time it’s even more important I don’t overlook myself; otherwise, Kerry might feel like she is traveling with three kids. My guess is that one book isn’t gonna cut it for this trip. So, I will make sure that I have plenty of options to keep me occupied as well.
One of the most important things for me is organization. I definitely can’t be organized if I have too much stuff, so I have to pack smart and as light as possible; I don’t mean to under-pack mind you, just pack the essentials for a good flight with a couple wild cards—you‘ve gotta have something you can turn to when all else fails. This is key for me because just the simple act of getting something out for the kids can turn into a very stressful ordeal; it can be the act the takes my sanity. I told you I tend to get stressed out when traveling, so if I can complete this next trip keeping my, and the family’s sanity in check, then I think it will be okay—we will just have to wait for my update this summer when we return.
In the meantime, how about all you seasoned travelers out there post some tips, tricks, and general advice to help ensure we, and any other family planning a long trip, arrive to our destinations relatively stress free!
Happy Travels!
- Kevin Williams
VP & Dad
Question before I offer tips: How old are the kids?
6 year old girl and 8 year old boy.
Things that I find useful on ANY trip:
*Pack several plastic grocery sacks for collecting trash throughout the flight. That way you can keep things clean without having to depend others.
*I find it easiest to check bags when traveling with family. Then just bring a backpack and lunch box for carry-ons. Older children can carry their own small backpack.
*Always pack a change of clothes for everyone, including underwear and socks. Also medicines such as Tylenol and allergy and cold relief. I like to bring a thermometer in case illness suddenly hits in flight. (The change of clothes can be useful in case of spills, vomit, or other accidents. Not to mention if the airline loses your bag, at least you have 1 change of clothes.)
Hit Michaels for mess-free $1 crafts to stock up for the trip. Whatever electronic entertainment you have, be sure you have headsets for each person using them. Airlines require the use of headsets (or volume off), and even if they didn’t, it’s the considerate thing to do. Check with the airline about powerports if you’ll depend on them for powering your electronic devices. I know American Airlines has disable the powerports on the 767 and 757 aircraft at this time. Think about back up batteries.
Hit Michaels for mess-free $1 crafts to stock up for the trip. Whatever electronic entertainment you have, be sure you have headsets for each person using them. Airlines require the use of headsets (or volume off), and even if they didn’t, it’s the considerate thing to do. Check with the airline about powerports if you’ll depend on them for powering your electronic devices. I know American Airlines has disabled the powerports on the 767 and 757 aircraft at this time. Think about back up batteries.
Thanks for all the tips Abby!
Hi! Packing light can be somewhat of a joke when you have kids – or maybe it’s an art form that I have not yet perfected. I DO know that I always, always, always pack too much and regret it later when I’m juggling bags and baby and hubby.
I will share the top 5 things I’ve learned on my travels, which have taken me around the world with my family:
1 – Pack light. We already covered that. The best method I have for doing this is to lay every single thing out on the bed or floor and then edit from there. Usually when you look at it all at once, you can edit better.
2 – Let your clothing work for you. And by this I mean wear cargo pants. That was the single smartest thing I’ve ever done was figure out I could stash passports, boarding passes, iPhone, snacks, hair ties and a small toy for my daughter right on my body. And they are comfy for travel, too.
3 – Apps, apps, apps. With the tight spaces that traveling usually forces one into (cars, planes), apps allow you to play games or read news to distract or entertain you. I love my Wall Street Journal, BBC and NPR apps. They make me feel like a grown up.
4 – Employ the 50 /50 rule: Half the time you deal with issues that arise (i.e. your children are having a boxing match halfway through your flight) and the other half, you deal with it. That way each of you is guaranteed a break at some point and you won’t be so resentful when you get to where you’re going!
5 – And this last thing you simply cannot leave home without no matter what: Your sense of humor.
I don’t have children your age, but one idea to keep them engaged is to encourage them to do their own travel documenting with a journal and / or camera. It seems like they might be of an age where they’d like to express their own perspective on traveling and it could be a fun thing for people to read on your blog later.
Have fun and be safe!
Abby
Thanks for the tips Abby!