They say that getting there is half of the fun, but as anyone knows who has travelled with multiple children on a really long plane flight this is not always the case. Family stuff doesn’t have to be simply a matter of babysitting on long journeys, however. You can find ways to entertain and amuse each other, during a long road trip or overnight flight. Be sure to pack carry-on bags with adequate entertainment, especially because the glory days of extensive in-flight entertainment are now long gone.
At the very least, on international flights there will be some sort of family stuff to keep children entertained for awhile. Most airlines will have children’s movies or family-friendly music and television to watch. You can hope that you child will be able to stay amused by this for a while and go to sleep afterwards, but that is not always the case. This is then to turn to amusements that you brought along with you. Bringing some familiar toys from home can help a small child feel more comfortable in the unfamiliar surroundings of an aircraft cabin, and even help them sleep.
Airplane food is notoriously bad anyways, and many children are picky eaters. Along with the rest of your family stuff that you are packing, you will probably want to bring along some portable snacks. Be aware that airline regulations don’t allow liquids, and this includes items like pudding or yogurt, even if it is in a sealed container. Trail mix, granola bars, or sandwiches from home are all fair game, as long as you go easy on the condiments so it doesn’t end up too liquid in consistency. These can be great for silencing complaints of hunger or boredom, and are usually a healthier option than what the airline has.
Road trips can be even longer than flights, and will require a more diverse field of family stuff to keep kids entertained. Coloring books and puzzles can be good for backseat occupation, and you could play classic road games as a family such as pointing out interesting signs or the alphabet game. Conducting an internet search for more specific ideas or print-offs of puzzles can be a good idea to get started with this whole process. Once families get used to the idea of traveling together, chances are they will find that they want to do it again, and you can all learn from trial and error.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lin Shah. Lin Shah said: I just posted a blog: Keeping Kids Entertained on Long Trips ( http://www.justestuff.com/keeping-kids-entertained-on-long-trips/ ) [...]
[...] the other hand, make sure that if you do choose to get a dog to add to your family stuff, that it will be cared for. If you live in a small apartment in the city, for instance, this [...]
[...] the other hand, make sure that if you do choose to get a dog to add to your family stuff, that it will be cared for. If you live in a small apartment in the city, for instance, this [...]