Holidays can be a time to kick back, relax and enjoy quality time with your loved ones. When you’re travelling with kids, particulary 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 has some tips from independent travel expert Aled Evans, founder of Our Local Tour, as well as ideas shared by other adopters to help with managing holiday overwhelm for kids so your trip is enjoyable for everyone.
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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 for everyone is going to be key here because it’s unlikely you’ll all agree on the same things, but 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, 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 super family-oriented, and it is common for their own families to be out late in the evenings 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 lodge and parks ideal for families.”
Use images and videos
When you’re travelling somewhere new with kids that struggle with change, find images and videos of the location and accommodation you can look at with them. Start looking at these well in advance of your trip so they can get familiar with their location and ask questions you can find the answers to if you don’t have them straight away.
Contact your accommodation and see if they can send you images or a video of the extact room you’ll be staying in so your child can see where they’ll be sleeping and the room layout. This can help with the anxiety of not knowing what to expect. If they can see the bed they’re going to be sleeping in and the bathroom, that may help them feel less anxious and overwhelmed.
Talk through their concerns
If you’re child is anxious about travelling to somewhere new, talk through with them what it is that’s worrying them. You might think it’s a new location or bed that they’re worrying about, whereas it’s actually to do with food and how they’ll get breakfast.
Talk through their worries in an age appropriate way and come up with a plan together to help them feel more at ease. Again, use images and videos as much as you can to show things like eating areas, swimming pool, and other places that 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 likely 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 of as much as possible will hopefully help to ease their concerns.
Take familiar things
Make sure your child has familiar things with them like comforters, snuggle toy, favourite pjs that help them feel safe. Taking their favourite bedding and pillow can help to make their bed feel safer and more familiar, as well as things like their favourite breakfast cereal or snack so there’s familiarity for them at least for the first few days.
Stick to routines
Part of the fun of holidays is not having to get up at the same time and longer, laid back days and evenings. But that doesn’t suit all children. If you’re 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 cost allows, book accommodation with a seperate bedroom or balcony so you have space to go and relax once the kids are in bed. A seperate room or space outside also gives everyone somewhere to go if they need some time alone to regulate or just have a few minutes to themselves.
Managing holiday overwhelm for kids: Keep them occupied
Stock up on their favourite snacks and make sure you have lots of things to keep them occupied for the journey there whether that’s in an aeroplane, boat or car. If they have electronic tablets, make sure you’ve downloaded their favourite cartoons or films, books and puzzles if they enjoy doing those too.
Take craft activities they can do without much mess like stickers, paints that just use water, and 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 everything is fully charged (ipads, etc.) and chargers are close by for all devices. Include plenty of healthy snacks and keep the children hydrated. Keeping the kids fed, watered, and entertained, especially on flights, means stress-free travel for everyone.
Baggage
Always book checked baggage if booking flights. It is stress-free, meaning there is 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 everyone’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 stuck in security panicking that you are not going to make it.
Stay local
If you’re kids struggle a lot with travel and going somewhere new just isn’t an option, think outside the box. Stay in your local area and do day trips, or camping 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.
