At Fit 2 Trip we want to share with you some useful tips when traveling with kids:
Before the trip:
- Lose the fear. Traveling with kids is possible, it just takes a little patience and the desire to have fun. Kids are more adaptable than we think so trust them and let them surprise you.
- Choose your destination considering the age of the kids and depending on it, consider variables such as the climate (neither very cold nor very hot), distance (avoid very long distances with very young children), risks (political stability, safety and health), and activities available.
- Get the children involved in the trip planning. Tell them what you are going to see, consult together maps of the chosen destination, learn about their customs and culture. You can read books or watch a movie or a documentary about the destination. Motivation and stimulation of their curiosity are essential.
- Prepare all the necessary documentation in advance: ID or passports, visas, family book, large family card, etc.
- Make a list of what you want to pack and do it in advance to avoid forgetting important things or, on the contrary, end up carrying more than you need. If the kids are little, you can prepare the suitcase together, so they can take responsibility and feel part of the trip.
- If travelling by car, it’s essential to make regular stops and advisable to plan the route before leaving so that there is no unforeseen events. Work out the service areas and intermediate places to visit (if the trip is very long, you can spend the night somewhere in between). Music and movies are good allies to keep the kids entertained during the trip.
- Take a first aid kit with the usual medications for children, as well as bandaids, and some ointment for bumps and wounds.
During the trip
- Remember that kids have a slower pace than adults so it’s better to take the trip easy. The key is to be flexible. It’s fine to establish routes and activities, but with a margin of maneuver if you want to avoid getting frustrated.
- Get them involved in the activity planning. This doesn’t mean that you have to do everything the kids want. Each member of the family can express their preferences and select an activity. It’s interesting that kids learn to live together in a group and respect others. The aim is a trip for everyone, in which there is a balance between activities.
- Get the kids identified to find them easily in case they get lost. There are silicone, waterproof, non-allergy bracelets where you can get your contact details engraved.
- Immerse yourselves in the culture and traditions of the place, so that the kids understand and accept cultural differences. You can go to educational centers, or stay with a local family. It’s also interesting that they try new foods and flavors.
- Educate while traveling. A trip is a learning opportunity. Take advantage to consolidate mathematical concepts and practice languages with them; teach them bits of geography, orientation, biology, geology, history and art.
- It’s important that they stay in contact with nature and have fun without any technological devices. You can build cabins together with wood sticks, pick up different types of leaves and make a herbarium, or organise stick-boat races along the river.
- Take advantage of the kids’ sleeping hours to travel long distances
- It’s good that since they’re little they have responsibilities. You can give them the small tasks, such as asking them to transport a map or a small bottle of water, or to take photos of the details they like.
After the trip:
- Select the best photos of the trip, print them and make a photo album together. You can writing down the name of the places visited and even anecdotes that may have happened.
At Fit 2 Trip we recommend that you insure all the members of your family with a travel insurance which adapts to your needs. Fit 2 Trip offers different levels of coverage: basic, standard and premium, and our policies are available for single or multiple trips.
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