Holidays can be a time to kick back, relax and enjoy quality time with your loved ones. They can also be a brilliant learning experience for children. When you’re travelling with kids, particularly if they struggle to manage change and different environments, a holiday can be anything but relaxing. Managing holiday overwhelm for kids can be challenging, leaving parents shattered by the end of the trip and in desperate need of another break.
This article includes tips from independent travel expert Aled Evans, founder of Our Local Tour, as well as ideas from other adopters to help manage holiday overwhelm for kids, so your trip is enjoyable for everyone.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click them and make a purchase, I receive a commission from Amazon.
Include the kids
When you’re at the planning stages of your holiday, involve the kids (as much as their age allows) in terms of picking a destination and the kind of things you’re going to do when you’re there. It’s pointless booking a two-week beach holiday if the kids hate the heat and sand! Compromise will be key for everyone, as it’s unlikely you’ll all agree on the same things. Taking everyone’s wishes and needs into account is likely to lead to a happier holiday.
If you’re not sure where the best place to go is, here are Aled’s recommendations for child-friendly destinations:
“One of the best places in the world to travel with kids is Greece. The Greeks are highly family-oriented, and it is common for their families to be out late in the evening when it’s cooler, enjoying a stroll along the waterfront or having a meal in a local restaurant. The food is child-friendly, even for the pickiest kids, and the hotels and restaurants are very welcoming and understand the needs of parents with small children.
“I can’t recommend a safari enough for those with slightly older children. If you can stretch the budget, it’s an incredible experience for the whole family with action-packed days and relaxing evenings. For beginners, consider Kenya or South Africa, which have many lodges and parks ideal for families.”
Use images and videos
When you’re travelling somewhere new with kids who struggle with change, find images and videos of the location and accommodation you can look at with them. Start reviewing these well in advance of your trip so they can familiarise themselves with the location and ask questions you can answer if you don’t have the answers straight away.
Contact your accommodation and ask if they can send you images or a video of the exact room your child will be staying in, so your child can see where they’ll be sleeping and the room layout. This can help alleviate anxiety about what to expect. If they can see the bed they’ll be sleeping in and the bathroom, that may help them feel less anxious and overwhelmed.
Talk through their concerns
If your child is anxious about travelling to a new place, talk through with them what is worrying them. You might think they’re worried about a new location or a new bed, but it’s actually about food and how they’ll get breakfast.
Talk through their worries in an age-appropriate way and develop a plan together to help them feel more at ease. Again, use images and videos whenever possible to show areas such as dining areas, the swimming pool, and other places they may not have experienced before.
If they’re worried about going on a plane or ferry for the first time, show them a video of what to expect so they’re familiar with what’s going to happen. Seeing it means they can hopefully talk about which parts they’re worried about.
If you’re travelling with toddlers who can’t express their worries, using images and videos as much as possible will help ease their concerns.
Take familiar things
Make sure your child has familiar items with them, such as a comforter, a snuggle toy, and favourite PJs, to help them feel safe. Taking their favourite bedding and pillow can help make their bed feel safer and more familiar, and bringing their favourite breakfast cereal or snack can provide familiarity for at least the first few days.
Stick to routines
Part of the fun of holidays is not having to get up at the same time and for longer, laid-back days and evenings. But that doesn’t suit all children. If your children need consistency and routines, wherever possible, stick to the same times for waking, breakfast and bedtime as well as the same bedtime routine. For kids who struggle with change, this consistency is likely to create a calmer environment.
If your budget allows, book accommodation with a separate bedroom or balcony so you have space to go and relax once the kids are in bed. A separate room or an outdoor space gives everyone a place to go if they need time alone to regulate or just a few minutes to themselves.
Managing holiday overwhelm for kids: Keep them occupied
Stock up on their favourite snacks and make sure you have plenty to keep them occupied during the journey, whether that’s in an aeroplane, boat, or car. If they have tablets, make sure they’ve downloaded their favourite cartoons, films, books, and puzzles, if they enjoy those too.
Choose craft activities that create minimal mess, such as stickers, paints that just use water, colouring books or use games that are easy to do on the go, like “Would you Rather?” that everyone can join in.
Tips from a travel specialist
Here are Aled’s top tips for reducing travel stress:
Plan ahead
Plan ahead, especially for long-haul flights. Make sure all devices (iPads, etc.) are fully charged and that chargers are nearby. Include plenty of healthy snacks and keep the children hydrated. Keeping children fed, watered, and entertained, especially on flights, ensures stress-free travel for everyone.
Baggage
Always book checked baggage if booking flights. It is stress-free, so there’s no need to worry about overhead compartment space, and bags are usually out quickly when you arrive. You get more weight so you can pack more.
Remember it’s a holiday for everyone!
If you’re going on holiday, remember that it’s a holiday! Don’t try to include too much sightseeing or pre-book lots of excursions. There is nothing wrong with spending the whole time relaxing at the pool while the kids are playing.
Passports
This tip is not just for when travelling with kids. Always take a photo of each person’s passport picture page and upload it or email it to yourself. You then have easy online access to a copy of everyone’s passport if the worst happens and one gets lost.
Give yourself time
Finally, give yourself plenty of time. Airport security, baggage check-in, parking, whatever it is, will always take longer with kids. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time, just in case something delays you. It’s better to spend time waiting to board a flight than to be stuck in security, panicking that you are not going to make it.
You can learn more about Our Local Tour and the unique travel experiences they offer on their website.
Stay local
If your kids struggle a lot with travel and going somewhere new isn’t an option, think outside the box. Stay in your local area and take day trips or camp in your garden. Book a night in a local hotel that your child sees every day and gradually build up to going further afield, or somewhere you regularly go for day trips. Familiarity is key, as is keeping things simple and building up gradually.
Head to the parenting section for more tips and advice.
