“Are we there yet?” – A guide to traveling with your preschooler

Date : Wednesday, May 20 2009
Source: Guadalupe Lore

Traveling with children is no longer unusual. Yet you still see people rolling their eyes when a child cries in an airplane--and parents still fear the long hours. This article will help you prepare for the trip, so you and your little ones will enjoy your travels.

Planning:
It is important that you involve your child in the planning of the trip. While there are many resources for parents, there isn’t much available about getting your child ready for travel. Preschoolers are old enough to contribute some ideas and suggestions for the actual trip and the destination, and to help with some of the packing.

• Sit down with your child ahead of time and talk about where you are going and what you will do there – a family reunion, vacation… Also talk about how you will get there -- plane, car, train… If possible have a map or globe and show your child where you are and where you are going. Also showing her pictures of sights that you may be visiting will help to get her excited -- and willing to help!
• There are numerous websites that give you lists of things to do in every city in the world. Your child might help you to choose a restaurant or an activity for the destination.
• Talk about the weather, especially if it is different where you are going, and give her some options to help you choose what is packed. You can give her certain rules (“pack three shirts, three pair of pants, five pairs of socks and a swimming suit”). Ultimately give her the freedom to select what she is putting in the suitcase (“you decide if you want a raincoat or a sweater”), and whenever possible, honor her choices!
• If it is a very long trip, let her pack her own little “travel bag” for few things to play with: books, a notebook and crayons, a couple of dolls or cars… Make sure that there are not many small pieces or they could end up lost under the seats. Remember, “a long trip” has different meaning to you as a parent than it does to your child.
• Get her a few surprises that you won’t get out until it is needed. A dollar store toy could be a great way to deal with boredom when it is unexpected.
• Pack a “break toy”, like a ball or a Frisbee if it is possible for you to stop the car and stretch your legs at a park on the way.

Traveling:

• If you are traveling by car, try to leave early in the morning when your child can still sleep for some time while you drive.
• Make sure your child (and you) wear comfortable clothes for the trip. Sweat pants will be easier to pull down in a potty emergency and are more comfortable than jeans.
• Have an extra set of clothes. In the event of a spill, a sick stomach or not making it to the restroom on time, your child will be more comfortable and much happier if she can change clothes right away.
• Some preschoolers will be delighted if they can bring a favorite item (like a blanket or a teddy bear) for comfort. Also it will come in handy if you are spending nights away from home.
• Some parents choose to bring a portable DVD player in the car and have the child watch movies. In this case bring something they have never watched before, it will keep them interested longer.
• Interact with your child. There are a lot of games you can  play while travelling by car. “Twenty questions” is an old favorite during our trips. Singing songs (with or without a CD) can also keep children entertained for a long time. One of my children loves to look at clouds and try to figure out what they look like (we all think about it and see if we got the same answer). Tin foil modeling is also something that everyone (except the driver, of course) can participate in, it is inexpensive and distracting. Each person gets a piece of tin foil and models it into anything they want: a crown, a car, a ball... Reuse your piece over and over!

If you are traveling by plane there will be a few extra things you will need to remember:

• Your luggage will be checked, so make sure you and your child have backpacks with things you will need handy during the trip: gum or snacks to relieve the ear pressure during take-off and landing, a blanket or favorite cuddly toy for comfort, baby wipes (life savers in airplanes), extra set of clothes and a few toys.
• Remember that you will have to take off shoes to go through security, so make sure your child wears shoes that are easy to take off and put back on.
• Talk to your child about the X-ray machine. Some preschoolers are very intimidated by it, so explain that she will put her things there but she will get them back on the other side.
• Most airlines give you a choice to board early if you have children. If there are two adults with the children I would recommend one goes in first with all the “stuff” while the other stays at the gate until everyone else is aboard. This will give you and your children some extra time to stretch and move around before being seated for a long flight. And the adult who takes the hand luggage onto the plane will have it already in place for the parent who stays with the children.
• Remember you can’t bring fluids on board if you had them before the security point. But keeping hydrated is important, so if you can, get water at the airport so your child can drink anytime she wants without waiting.
• If your preschooler chooses to bring an electronic toy (handheld videogame or mp3 player) remember to tell her about turning it off when the pilot says. If she knows about this ahead of time and has practiced, it will be easier for her to turn it off when asked.
• Do NOT worry if people give you weird looks when you get in the plane with children--you will probably never see them again! But your child will always remember this trip and the fun parts of it. Focus on making this a pleasant trip for her and it will be pleasant for you too.