Family Vacation

Traveling can be hard work. Throw some kids in the mix, and parents often need vacations from their vacations!

But despite the packing, unpacking and repacking—and the constant strategizing about how to keep my kids happy and entertained during the long hours of travel—my husband and I travel regularly with our children.

Sitting still isn't easy for any child, and my children are especially active, energetic children. Confinement is not an ideal situation for them!

But with a bit of extra planning—and a good sense of humor—we usually manage to have a great time.

So here are my top five tips for traveling with kids:

1. Keep ‘em clean!
Illness is never fun, but sickness on a vacation is just plain cruel.

So help to minimize the chances of picking up a bug by keeping hands (and bodies and feet!) clean.

I take sterilizing hand gel and hand wipes (the wipes are my favorite because I can remove both grime and germs from dirty hands and clean surfaces like toilet seats) in addition to the ever versatile baby wipes.

2. Stick it.
Never underestimate the power of stickers. For young children a package or booklet of new stickers and a notebook or sticker book can be a life saver!

My toddler just loves to play with stickers. And even though many of them end up decorating her face and body, I don't mind a bit. I consider it money well spent.

And while you are at it, make sure you add crayons or markers and a coloring or activity book to your entertainment stash.

3. Invest in technology.
If you allow movies and video games for your children, then portable gaming systems and DVD players can bring everyone a much needed break from the tedium of travel.

I think I enjoy the hour of quiet even more than my kids enjoy their movie or video game! (I limit the amount of screen time that my kids have on a trip though because too much can make them even crankier.)

4. Use rewards.
With my seven year old son, I start out the day with a balance of $2.00. During the day, he can be fined ($.10 or .25 fines, depending on the offense, and he can earn bonuses. At the end of the day, or at the end of the trip, we add up what he has earned through making good choices.

5. Model good behavior.
We all get cranky when traveling. Kids aren't the only ones who get tired and bored. And when our kids start pushing our buttons, we grown ups often get downright surly.