- Before we travel, I show my kids pictures, talk about our plans, and let them have some input.
- I reduce anxiety and constant questions by making one of my sons a pocket notebook of our itinerary.
- I try to have food staples, a clean house, and a clear schedule waiting when we get home.
Vacationing with kids is undoubtedly more stressful than traveling without them. But with some careful planning, it can still be fun and rewarding.
After exploring Europe and North America with my two boys, I've come up with a pre-travel checklist to make our journeys more enjoyable. It involves more work at the beginning, but the payoff is worth it.
We talk a lot about what to expect on the trip
I thought it would be exciting for my boys to be surprised on our vacations. In reality, it caused whining and anxiety. For us, it's better if they're prepared. So for a week or two before our trip, we talk about the weather in our vacation spot. I always mention some of the food they can expect, whether it's pasta in Italy, couscous in Morocco, or a buffet on a cruise ship.
One of my sons always worries about where he's going to sleep. It helps a lot if I show him pictures online of the hotel, Airbnb, or resort beforehand.
With these preparations, my children have become more at ease and even get more excited about the upcoming trip.
Preparing my kids doesn't eliminate surprises, because every trip has them no matter how much you plan. Like that whale jumping up right in front of us in Alaska, or the taste of pistachio gelato in Venice, or the dolphins frolicking around our surfboards in Myrtle Beach.
Get them in on the planning
I was agonizing between two hotels as my son lurked behind me, interested. Do we pick the one that's more expensive but has a better location? Or trust the reviewers complaining about uncomfortable beds?
My son was just 10 but had thoughtful opinions, and we went with his choice.
After that, I've let my sons play a greater role in our trip planning, starting with the smaller details. Now as teens, I even get their thoughts on where we go and what we do, as well as where we stay.
I find they're happier and more invested if they've played a role in planning our vacation. It also takes some of the onus off me to make all the decisions.
A pocket notebook can save you a million questions
When my oldest was little, his stream of questions was never-ending. He wanted to know how long each leg of the trip was, where exactly we were sleeping each night, and what we were doing tomorrow and the next day.
I couldn't preempt every question, but I could answer a lot of them by making him a trip itinerary. In a pocket notebook, I'd make a checklist for each day of the trip. I'd give specific travel times and list where we were sleeping each night and if we had any activities planned.
That little notebook took about 15 minutes to create but paid for itself many times over in quelling my son's anxious mind and granting us precious minutes of peace and quiet.
Prepare for your return, your post-trip self will thank you
My mom would wash the floors and dust the entire house before a vacation. I don't go to that extreme. But catching up on laundry, emptying trash cans, and cleaning out the fridge saves me some post-vacation grief.
It's also worth the effort to stock the pantry with nonperishables like pasta, sauce, peanut butter, and some bagels in the freezer. Many times, I've had to run to the grocery store before our bags were even unpacked, and it's a pain. Another option is to create an online grocery list and have a delivery ready or a pickup scheduled upon arrival.
Though it can be a hassle sometimes, it can also be delightful — even life-changing — to show your children the world and experience it through their eyes. In the end, I doubt you'll regret the extra work, and you certainly won't regret the experience.