Are you planning on going away with your kids for the summer? Perhaps you already have a location lined up or you could be in the process of choosing a place to visit. It’s worth noting that right now holiday destinations are doing their best to attract families after a long drought in terms of demand. As such, it does make sense to explore the different options that might be available for you and the kids.
However, you also need to be prepared for some of the challenges that you can face with the kids when you take them on a trip. Here are the key possibilities that you should be aware of.
Boredom
First, let’s think about the issue of boredom. It’s incredibly easy for kids to get bored on a trip away. This can be frustrating for parents who might have spent a fortune and a lot of time planning out the perfect trip for them to enjoy.
One of the ways that you can deal with this is by thinking about what you need to keep the kids entertained. Remember, the weather may not play ball every day of the holiday. You may need to manage at least a few rainy days. The best way to deal with this is to make sure that there are activities that your kids can enjoy in the hotel room. For instance, you could pack some board games. Or, alternatively, you may want to encourage them to choose a book that they can read over the summer.
If you are staying in a hotel, it could also be worth choosing one with a few indoor activities for kids. Some hotels will have indoor play areas and an indoor pool that they can explore when the weather isn’t great outside.
Of course, tech can also be your friend if you want to ensure that the kids don’t get too bored when they are away on a trip. You don’t want them constantly staring at a screen. So, it’s important to ensure that this only comes out on days when it’s raining or when they can’t go outside to the pool.
If you are taking tech, make sure that you check and double check that you have all the right chargers. You should also ensure that the tech is charged for the waits and the airport and other downtimes that kids often have to deal with before they reach the final destination. Finally, you may want to get some adaptors too depending on the location that you are visiting.
Injuries And Illnesses
You might also need to deal with the issue of injuries and illness with your kids on holiday. It is possible that your child does get injured while they are on a trip. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you have the right travel insurance plan in place. Without travel insurance, the cost of an injury could become totally unmanageable and might leave you with a nasty headache when you get home. Some banks automatically provide travel insurance. So, it’s worth checking out whether this option is available to you.
You should also think about what happens if your child gets ill while on vacation. Again, travel insurance can cover the cost for the treatment that you need. However, you can also take steps to guarantee that your child doesn’t get ill. If you are going to a tropical destination one of the biggest concerns should always be sun stroke. This can occur if your child doesn’t drink enough throughout the day. Not all children like water so you might want to think about investing in some dry flavour packets that you can add to the water to make it taste better. Sun lotion is also a must to avoid a nasty burn. You might also want to think about packing or investing in after sun while you are away.
Another common health issue for kids on vacation is an ear infection. This often occurs when they dive under the water frequently and it can be quite painful. As such, you should explore waterproof ear protectors if you are concerned about this.
Crowds
Crowds can also be a problem for kids due to a variety of reasons. For instance, some children will struggle with sensory issues in a crowd. They might find it’s too loud or noisy and this can cause them to be irritated or they may even develop headaches. That’s why you should think carefully about whether your child needs extra support in environments like this.
You also need to make sure that you don’t lose your child in a big crowd. Disney World claims that you can’t lose a child in the theme park as no child could be lost at the happiest place on earth. However, this won’t provide much reassurance for a parent whose child has vanished. A theme park isn’t the only place this can happen. You could lose sight of your child at a shopping centre or on a crowded beach. That’s why it’s important to take steps to prevent this. If you do have children, you should also have a meeting place that they can head to if they can’t find you.
Cost
There’s no doubt that going on vacation with children is always going to be more expensive than other options. The reason for this is that they have more needs and you need to factor in more activities to keep them entertained. Kids will often demand things like souvenirs because the trip itself is never going to be enough. That’s why you need to make sure that you are thinking about the cost of your vacation carefully. It’s important to set a budget that you can stick to.
When you are planning your budget, make sure that you consider the various costs including:
- Meals
- Entertainment
- Activities
- Snacks
- Toys
If you are heading to a popular destination for children and families, then it can be worth checking out a guide online. Families who have braved a location before you will often have lots of advice on the best ways to save money and ensure that your spending does not grow out of control.
You might also want to take different sources of money with you too. For instance, you can take some cash as well as a currency card. Getting a few currency cards is a great way to ensure that your children can manage spending for their own treats on the trip.
Diet
It’s also worth thinking about your diet and your children’s diet if you are planning a trip away with them in tow. There are a few reasons why this is a smart choice. First you need to ensure that you are giving your kids food filled with enough energy to get them through what can be a jam packed holiday schedule. You also need to avoid them relying on junk for two weeks while away on a trip. This is the type of bad routine that you want to avoid, even while you’re visiting a new location. Again, the best way to avoid this is to make sure that you do think about checking out different places to eat before you travel. You can explore the menus with your kids and ensure that they have some great options which they’ll be able to sample.
Summer Education Drought
You may be concerned about the summer education drought. This is a common concern for people who are planning an extended trip with their kids through the summer and are worried they will return to school as a blank slate. However, there are lots of ways to ensure that your child’s mind remains active. For instance, you might want to think about encouraging them to keep a diary about all the different summer activities. You can also get high school worksheets which are another way to fill the time on rainy days. Though, it is important to still give your kids a break while on a trip away.
Activities
Finally, you might want to think about the different activities that you can explore with your kids while on vacation. There are lots of options that could be worth considering. For instance, you might want to take them to a theme park. If you do this, make sure that you check there are plenty of rides suitable for their age and their height.
A similar option would be a water park. However, if you visit somewhere like this make sure that you are regularly reapplying sun lotion. If they are jumping in and out of water pools for several hours, then there’s a good possibility that the lotion will wash off and they will get burned.
We hope this helps you understand some of the common trials and tribulations that you can face with kids while you are away on holiday. The good news is by taking the right steps, you can avoid some of the more common headaches and have a wonderful time with your family.
