Tag Archives: travel with children

Tech-Free Family Road Trip

Are we the only family on earth that doesn’t have a built-in DVD player in our vehicle? I almost asked that question out loud during a recent playgroup discussion about family road trips. Most of our friends have young children. Consequently, they tend to drive to their summer vacation destinations, rather than fly. This fact led to the DVD player conversation. Every single mom I spoke to swore that she would never leave the driveway if her vehicle weren’t equipped with a DVD player. Apparently, when traveling with kids, preservation of one’s sanity hinges on having an electronic device that … Continue reading →

Kids’ Car Seats in Taxis

We buckle up our kids in our own vehicles, have them wear lifejackets on boats and make sure they are donning helmets while riding bikes, but what safety precautions do we exercise when traveling with children in taxi cabs? No parent wants to skimp on safety, but there are many of us who don’t plan well enough for family vacations and are left compromising our children’s well-being as a result. For example, the state of Illinois recently unveiled a new safety campaign that reminds parents that taxis are vehicles too, and holding a child on their lap is against the … Continue reading →

The Noisy Airplane Ride – Mike Downs

Are you planning to fly anywhere this upcoming holiday season? If so, “The Noisy Airplane Ride” might be a great way to help prepare your children for the trip so they know what to expect. Written by Mike Downs, an airline pilot, you get the inside scoop on everything that goes on during an airplane ride, complete with illustrations. First we see a boy and his family walking down the Jetway, getting on the plane, and buckling up. They experiment with the vent above their seats that sends cool air down for them to breathe. Then the tug comes along … Continue reading →

Despite the Headaches, Travel is a Good Experience for Kids

A great deal has been written about the headaches of trying to travel and go on vacation with kids. All of the coordination and organization that it takes, as well as the expense and the unpredictability–but despite it all, I do think that travel–even short trips to stay with grandparents for a week–is an incredibly great experience for kids. When I was a child, we never traveled or went on any family vacations–ever. We didn’t go camping or even to stay with relatives overnight. The good thing that came of that upbringing was that I was determined to get out … Continue reading →

Traveling With Young Children: More Dos and Don’ts

My 2-year-old has traveled more than 40,000 miles in her short life. Each trip has been an adventure (to say the least). Naturally, I have learned many lessons along the way and try to apply most on each subsequent trip we take. In my previous blog I listed some of my favorite dos and don’ts to follow when traveling with young children. Here now are more lessons that have served our family well when traveling with young children: DO pack fun food. I’m not talking about a menu of gummy bears and Hershey kisses. Rather, during long trips we always … Continue reading →

Travel Health: Children

Will you be bringing the whole family outside the country for a vacation, extended stay, or even a business trip? Traveling abroad with children can expose your kids to some unique health risks. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, nearly two million children travel abroad each year! What kind of things do you need to be concerned about? Certain travel vaccines that are safe for adults are not recommended for children Certain preventative medications that are safe for adults are not recommended for children Children may not be as careful about what they eat or drink, putting them … Continue reading →

On The Road With Children–“Sanity-Savers”

Featured

My mother is a born craft queen. I am not a loyal subject, but will accept any and all completed projects she sends my way. We are getting ready to take my toddler daughter on a long car trip so my mom has put together some supplies that will hopefully avoid a major backseat meltdown. I agree, regardless of the ages and attention spans of your children, portable DVD players and hand-held video games are sanity-savers on long car trips, but these ideas may come in handy as well. · Books on tape (with a twist). My mom got my … Continue reading →