Christmas is just around the corner, and this means lots of travel with your toddler in tow. In order to make your visits with friends and family as fun as possible for you and your toddler, keep the following tips in mind. These are things that I learned over the past couple of years with Dylan, and I am going to rely on these strategies again this year as I head out of town with Dylan and Blake for a couple of days.
One very helpful tip is to keep your activities as close as possible to your toddler’s schedule. If you are planning festivities to take place at your house, that might be fairly easy to do. Family outings may pose a bit of a challenge, but with a little advance planning you can make it work. For example, if a meal is going to be taking place later than your toddler normally eats or during a time when he or she usually naps, feed your toddler at home at the usual time or bring a hearty snack that he can eat in the car, or at your relative’s house if he gets hungry before the appointed meal time. Also, carry along a favorite blanket or stuffed toy so that your toddler can cozy up for a nap (or sleep, if it is an evening visit) in the car or in a quiet spot at the home of your friend or relative.
Another tip, closely related to the first one, is to know your toddler. More specifically, know what he likes and does not like about traveling and visiting people. Some kids don’t like to be tickled. Others are apprehensive of hugs. Some do not care for dogs (or are not used to them), and others are uncomfortable around large groups of people. Knowing what kinds of things are likely to spark a meltdown can help you to prepare your toddler ahead of time as well as respond to his needs in the moment. You can tell your toddler that there will be a dog there, or that there will be lots of people, and then talk about how he feels about it. It is possible that simply knowing that you care how he feels will help him be more comfortable. You can also figure out solutions together such as deciding on a quiet place he can retreat to if he becomes overwhelmed by the crowd, or reassuring him that he can sit on your lap if the dog gets too close.
The third tip is to keep your expectations reasonable and age appropriate, and encourage others to do the same. The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be overwhelming for adults. Just think of what it might be like for your toddler. For example, expecting him to sit at the dinner table for what seems like him to be an eternity while there is a pile of gifts waiting to be opened is a recipe for disaster. You and your toddler can work together to find a solution that will work for him, such as bringing along a toy or book that he can stay busy with close to the table after he eats his fill. It is important that you remain an ally to your toddler, and help others to understand that his feelings and behavior are age appropriate as you work with them to reconcile their wishes with what he needs.