It’s hard enough to make sure the kids are ready to go on a vacation, let alone ensure that you’re ready yourself. It’s important to be prepared before you leave the house, though — especially if you’re going away on a big trip that is longer than a week. Here are some tips for how to prepare ahead of time:
Prepare the kids
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- Prepare the kids. It’s important to let your children know what to expect from the trip and remind them about your expectations of their behavior. Tell them about what they will be doing at the destination, including any activities or events that are planned.
- Practice good hygiene habits. Make sure you have enough toothbrushes and toothpaste for everyone in the family, as well as soap and shampoo (if necessary). Having these items on hand will help prevent headaches later on in case something goes wrong with your toiletry kit.
- Remember how old they are when it comes to driving laws: If possible, get a car seat that fits into whatever vehicle you’re taking—but make sure to check state laws beforehand so there aren’t any surprises if local authorities pull over your car during travel time!
Practice first aid training
The basic first aid kit should include bandages, gauze pads, tapes, scissors, antiseptic wipes or liquid soap solution, a thermometer (digital is preferred), tweezers or forceps for removing foreign objects from the wound area (like splinters), cotton swabs for cleaning wounds and ears/nose/mouths of small children in case of choking; washcloths for general cleaning; adhesive bandages in various sizes; triangular bandages (e.g., SAM splints) to stabilize broken bones; cold packs for sprains and strains; safety pins; elastic wraps such as ace bandage; sterile pads if there is heavy bleeding from eyes/mouth/wounds, etc.; alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel packets (these are very important in summer vacation visits where there might be lots of kids touching everything).
To get first first aid training in Geelong or any other area, you can contact your local Red Cross chapter or community college. Training courses are usually offered in both classroom settings and online.
Bring battle ropes
Battle ropes are a great way to allow you to workout your kids everyday on a long trip with kids. Battle ropes come in many different sizes and weights, but the most common ones have handles that allow you to hold them like dumbbells. The rope is thick and heavy-duty so it won’t stretch out while you’re using it. You can use battle ropes as part of your warm-up routine or take a few minutes every day before bedtime to get in some extra cardio training. Battle rope in Australia isn’t hard to find at all. You can buy it online, and keep them in your purse.
Get pain relief equipment ready
When you’re traveling with kids, you never know what kinds of emergencies your family might encounter. Before heading out on a road trip or airplane ride, prepare yourself with pain relief equipment in case an injury happens.
The most important item to bring along is a first aid kit. Make sure it contains items like bandages and gauze pads; these can come in handy for small scrapes and cuts that often happen during travel. You should also make sure the first aid kit has plenty of antiseptic wipes and antibiotic cream—these are useful for treating minor burns, rashes, and other injuries that may occur when traveling with kids (especially if there’s lots of food involved!).
If any member of your family suffers from chronic pain or has special needs related to health issues such as diabetes or asthma, consider bringing along some pain relief medication as well as medical ID bracelets or necklaces so that others know what their medical conditions are in case they have an emergency while on vacation (you should also be sure everyone wears appropriate clothing that identifies them as having special needs). Finally, bring along a magnetic pain bracelet which is designed to regulate pain that can strike anyone at any time without warning!
Make sure you have all your travel documents
Before you make the journey, it’s important to keep track of your travel documents. These include:
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- Passport
- Visa
- Boarding pass (if flying)
- Travel insurance information and number for easy access in case of an emergency or injury on the road. In addition to having a copy of your insurance card handy, it is also recommended that you have a copy saved electronically on your phone or tablet so that if either device gets lost or stolen while traveling abroad with children, you’ll still have access to this important information.
Check on travel insurance and medical documents
You need to make sure that you, your family, and all of your belongings are covered by travel insurance. If something were to happen while on the road and you didn’t have it, it could be devastating.
It may seem like a lot of work, but checking on your coverage before traveling is essential for peace of mind (and knowing if you should cancel in case of an emergency).
Keep electronics charged
Dealing with a long trip is hard enough. You don’t want to add unnecessary stress by worrying about your devices being constantly drained. As a parent, you already have enough on your plate.
Keep your electronics charged by using a power bank or portable charger. This will allow you to use them while they’re charging so that even if one device runs out of battery, another can be used immediately after it’s done charging!
To save space in the car, I recommend getting an adapter with multiple outlets so that more than one person can charge their phone at once without taking up any additional outlets.
Arrange for childcare where you are going
If you’re traveling with kids, it’s essential to arrange for childcare before your trip. Here are some ideas:
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- Talk to the hotel about their babysitting services. If there aren’t any, ask if they can recommend someone who can help.
- Search online for daycare centers near your destination and make an appointment ahead of time so that they know when you will be arriving at their doorstep.
- Ask friends and family if they can take care of your kids while you go explore a new city or participate in outdoor activities like hiking or visiting museums. If possible, have them pick up and deliver the kids on certain days so that they don’t miss school or other activities back home during the week (but remember not all parents are comfortable doing this!).
- Hire a nanny or au pair who speaks both languages fluently so they can keep track of everything while also providing quality time with each parent individually (if desired).
Stash essentials in your carry-ons
As you’re packing, keep a list of essentials on hand. Pack them in your carry-on and don’t forget to check that they are in your carry-ons before you leave. This way, if you ever have any issues with the luggage getting lost or delayed (or if it simply isn’t there when you arrive), at least some of these things will be accessible for you to use immediately. The following items should be on this list:
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- First aid kit
- Women’s hygiene products
- Snacks for kids
- Water bottles
- Medications for everyone
Take advantage of available services at the airport
If you’re traveling with kids, there are a few things you can do before getting to the airport that will save you time and energy. For example, if your destination is one of the airports with family services, take advantage of them! The following are just some of what’s available:
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- Play areas for kids
- Family restrooms
- Family lounges with comfy chairs and relaxing areas for adults
- Family boarding lines where there’s less hustle and bustle than the regular lines (you may even get special seating)
- Security checkpoints where agents are trained to work with parents who have small children in tow (or who might be nervous about going through security)
Additionally, if your flight takes off from a smaller regional airport instead of a major hub like Chicago O’Hare or JFK International Airport in New York City, then think about parking at an offsite lot close by. This will cut down on travel time as well as a cost since many offsite lots charge less than airport parking lots do (especially if they offer early bird specials).
Set expectations before leaving home
You need to set expectations for your kids before leaving home. Explain what the trip will be like, how long it will last, and what they can expect to see along the way. Allow them to ask questions so that they feel comfortable with what lies ahead and know what is expected of them during the trip.
If your child is under the age of five, it’s best not to use too many superlatives when talking about a long car ride or plane flight. Instead of saying “It’ll be exciting!” say something like “You may get bored sometimes but we can keep ourselves occupied by looking out the window at all of these interesting things going on around us.” This way your child won’t get his or her hopes up only then have them dashed in an unforeseen way (think: traffic jams). If possible, try bringing along some small toys or books that are familiar and enjoyable for traveling time—this will help ease any potential discomfort caused by boredom-induced whining!
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you some helpful tips for your next trip with the kids. Traveling with children doesn’t have to be stressful—we’ve found that the more you prepare, the less anxious everyone will feel. And remember, if all else fails, there’s always ice cream!
