Stress-free travelling with kids

When travelling with kids, it is important to take it slow. Give yourself extra time to get the kids organised and don’t put pressure on yourself to rush from place to place. Remember – this is meant to be a vacation! When planning your activities for the day, make sure you include some much needed downtime for you and the kids. Schedule in some chill time, whether that be at the hotel pool or at the beach. Alternatively, head down to a local park and let your children tire themselves out in the afternoon.

You’ll also want to plan activities that will keep your children stimulated and in good spirits. You may have to forgo the museum trips and cultural tours this time round and save it for a kid-free trip! Or, try and keep these types of activities brief and include some more high energy activities that will allow your kids to let off some steam. When planning your holiday, try and get your children involved in picking some of the activities you get up to. This will help them get excited for the trip and hopefully give them an incentive to behave.

Take some of the stress out of travelling by making sure you have booked accommodation ahead of time. You’ll want to research child friendly accommodation and book in advance. Kids typically love playing in the water, so hotels with swimming pools and spas are great! Top 10 Holiday Parks also work a treat, with fun play areas that will keep your kids entertained for hours. This is also a very affordable option, allowing you to budget a little more for food and activities.

You might also want to factor in the location of your accommodation. If you have young kids, make sure you book a place that is relatively central. This reduces the need for lengthy drives or long walks that could result in cranky children. If you have children of the pram/stroller age, you’ll also want to avoid accommodation that offers poor accessibility. Tackling a whole bunch of stairs is not the easiest task when you’ve got a buggy on your hands.

As you know, kids tend to have a short attention span. It is important to keep them entertained along the way to prevent any unwanted tantrums. Bring along your child’s favourite forms of entertainment, whether that be reading books, playing on an iPad, listening to music on their headphones or gaming on their Nintendo Switch.

You’ll also want to make sure they get a bit of sleep on longer trips, which can be made a little easier by bring travel pillows and blankets. A favourite of ours is the Samsonite Convertible Travel Pillow, as it doubles as a soft toy. It is also worth packing some snacks for the road so you can avoid hangry children from kicking up a fuss. Pack some muesli bars, raisins, or chippies to prevent little stomachs from growling.

Getting your child their own suitcase is sure to get them super excited for your upcoming trip! Allow them to exert their independence and pack their own case. This will teach them valuable organisation skills and helps them feel involved in the planning process. Just make sure to check over their suitcase the night before to ensure they haven’t forgotten the essentials and just shoved in a whole bunch of toys. Click here to browse the kids luggage we have available! Disney-obsessed children will love the Frozen themed luggage featuring all their favourite characters. For a suitcase that doubles as a form of fun transportation, opt for a Trunki Ride-On suitcase.

Organisation is key! Write a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything important. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have forgotten a toothbrush or deodorant when packing my bag. Some things we would recommend including on your list would be:

• Charging cables for your devices
• Kids entertainment for the car or plane ride (e.g. iPad, books, kindle)
• Medication (e.g. allergy tablets)
• Day pack for daytime outings
• Walking shoes for hikes
• Neck pillow for a comfy journey
• Headphones

You may find it helpful to carry a small bag of essentials with you on day trips. This bag could include a water bottle, charger, snacks, medication and first aid kit. This should hopefully ease your worries and keep you prepared for whatever challenges your kids may throw at you.