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It's a fact: when you love to travel, it's hard not to want to take the kids along. And yet, for fear of seeing them bored, or putting them in danger, or even tiring them out, while we all know and recognise that travelling is educative for young people, the children are all too often left at home with the grandparents.
This despite the fact that, whatever the age group and their interests, hotel management and travel planners now increasingly propose holiday packages that are specially designed with children in mind.
Here then are a few ideas and other useful tips to make sure the travel bug gets a hold of your kids in a good way!
Preparing for take-off...
The flight is often the first stage of a family holiday. It's also a risky one...
The following are some pointers provided by a hostess with Srilankan Airlines specialising in taking care of children:
- Try planning the flight at a good time for the kids, so that, if at all possible, they can maintain their natural nap and meal times while on board. Invest in some new books and colouring pencils, or maybe even a DVD player.
- Get the children to use the more spacious WC facilities on the ground rather than the cramped quarters in the air. Be well stocked with baby wipes, which can come in handy in all sorts of small catastrophes when flying, keeping them within reach and not in your luggage.
- Unless you're travelling with a cot, which will be installed in a crib provided by the airline company, don't sit in the centre seats. The elbow rests don't shift away completely, and a child will have trouble lying down on two seats to sleep.
- Don't count on the airline company to provide snacks and beverages for your child. Sure, they'll have some snacks, but to reduce stress, don't depend on the airline crew. If only their job was limited to taking care of your toddler; remember they have the needs of 400 other passengers to handle! Fruit juice, milk cartons, biscuits… and don't forget a water bottle for take-off and landing, to help your child’s ears unplug by swallowing. Try to avoid flying if your child has a cold, since a stuffy nose can make it difficult to clear away pressure from the eardrums, which causes earache. With older children, you can try using earplugs during take-off and landing.
- Bring along some plastic bags, which you can use to store away any rubbish during the flight. And to prevent a major catastrophe from ruining your trip, bring along a full change of clothing for your child and for yourself as well. You can never really be fully protected from a spilled food tray!
These tips are also valid long trips in a car, bus or train; and remember that while people may be delighted to see children travelling with adults in some countries, in others they are seen as an inconvenience. Think about this too when choosing your travel destination.
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