Ten Strategies for Happy, Healthy Overseas Travel with Kids
“Aw Mum, how come he gets the window seat?”
“We’ll all take turns with the window seat, Brittney.”
“Oh-oh, I think I’m gonna throw-up…”
“Ryan, we’re not even flying yet!”
Overseas travel with kids is not for the faint-hearted. Flying inside a pressurized cabin and hours spent waiting at airports take their toll on all of us. Kids usually like to let everyone nearby know about it, too. Maybe you think such travel should be left until they can afford to buy their own tickets? Be brave! Here are ten strategies to make your trip overseas a positive experience for the whole family.
Before you go: “Why can’t we stay home with Grandma?”
Organized, practical preparation is the key to successful trips, particularly with kids.
1. With all children, even teenagers, check what they’ve packed. They’ll need comfortable walking shoes/hiking boots, several pairs of socks, a hat and enough comfortable clothing for the duration of your holiday. Encourage them to compile their own checklists for packing/re-packing. This may help avoid the trauma of leaving Teddy or a game machine behind.
2. It’s a great idea to have baby wipes or antibacterial hand-wash in your backpack or handbag. Some public toilets can be horrific even for adults, but the offer of a germ-destroying clean-up can help avoid dramatic scenes and put health fears to rest.
3. You need a small first aid kit. Mine’s a lightweight, water-proof bag containing bandaids, antiseptic, bite/sting reliever, eye drops, tweezers, and tiny sewing kit. For bigger emergencies, I look for a pharmacy.
4. Pack prescription medications for each member of the family who needs them. They should be accompanied by a letter from your family doctor. Remind him to include any non-prescription drugs you plan to travel with such as headache or flu tablets. Customs officials in some countries take exception to ingredients in these preparations.
During the trip: “Are we there yet?”
Packing thoughtful extras improves the quality of your trip.
5. Carry water and packaged snacks in case hunger or thirst strike at inopportune moments. Think of four-hour stopovers when you don’t want to change money. I always pack a little candy to soothe a dry throat.
6. To alleviate boredom during journeys - “Oh no! We saw that in-flight movie last week!”- consider new books, magazines, paper and coloured pencils, electronic games, a pack of cards, a laptop computer with charged-up battery, even a favourite puzzle, toy or board game. A book of paper and pencil games is worth its weight in excess luggage. I offer to play make-believe for an hour and then opt for my old favourite where I’m the sick mother who must rest a lot.
7. During the journey is a great time to discuss your plans with kids. Teenagers may take an interest because there’s nothing better to do. Encourage younger children to draw their version of the coming attractions. These drawings make a great basis for the beginning of a holiday journal. The more your kids are involved in choosing your itinerary, the more likely they are to be happy, willing participants.
When you arrive: “Ergh…yuk…that’s disgusting!”
The journey has only just begun.
8. Locate some eateries with food familiar to your children. Of course you didn’t travel overseas just to go to fast food places, but until everyone adjusts, an occasional visit to McDonalds or Pizza Hut will offer ingredients kids recognize. As my gloomy 16 year old son said in a Pizza Hut in China, “At least I know its dead.” When you’re going to other local restaurants, try to find ones which encourage you to share dishes as this is a great way to offer kids a taste of the local cuisine.
9. Make it a priority to get hold of tourist information about the places you want to see. Visit places of interest to all family members, or at least limit the time you spend at “boring” ones. Family theme parks are knocked by some people as “culture for the masses” but often they’re the very places children will remember from a trip overseas.
10. Get to know other tourists and locals. Be friendly and introduce yourself to parents with kids. This is called “sharing the load” - it can be difficult surviving 24/7 with your loved ones. Younger children enjoy having someone new to play with and even teenagers may grunt sociably together. Share babysitting with another family so you go to the opera without your kids.
Travelling overseas truly can be a wonderful time for the whole family. Put these strategies into place so your junior jetsetters will be jumping for joy before, during and after the journey. If your kids are healthy and happy, chances are you will be, too
Susan Stephenson is an Australian freelance writer, published in print and
online. Both editors and readers applaud her ability to weave factual text
with creativity and humour.
Learning Through Travel
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