So you are thinking about taking your kids
on a family vacation for the first time. Wonderful thoughts of spending carefree
days building sandcastles and swimming in the ocean fill your head until you
realize, wait, I have to take the children on an airplane! At first thought this may seem like an
overwhelming prospect of how to keep the children entertained on a plane filled
with other people watching your every single parenting move but it doesn’t have
to be. After numerous flights with my
kids starting when they were 6 months old, I have learned a few lessons along
the way:
1.
Snack, Snacks and more Snacks – My kids
never want to eat airplane meals so I rely on my own snacks and easy to pack
meals. I often scour the grocery store
prior to a plane trip to find those new and different snacks that I wouldn’t
dare feed them on a regular basis but know they will enjoy eating on a plane.
When you think you have enough snacks for your 4, 5 or 6 hour plane flight,
pack double to account for possible delays.
And always remember to pack just as much in your luggage so you have
something for the flight home.
2.
Bring new things to play with – Do not
rely on the goodie bags that some airlines provide you. All kids love new toys so a stop at the
dollar store prior to leaving will do the trick. Good options are small items that don’t take
up too much space and those that can be played on airline tray tables. Think crayons and colouring/activity books,
small figurines, crossword puzzles and stickers. Please leave the play-doh at home.
3.
Try to follow some home time routines – If you are taking an overnight flight you want your children to be as
comfortable as possible. Make sure their
travel clothing is easy enough to cuddle in, bring their favourite blanket and
if your little ones drink milk before bed don’t be shy about asking the
attendants for some assistance in warming it up. This will help your child be
at ease and hopefully give you some reprieve while they drift into slumber.
4.
Load up the tablet – Before tablets were
invented we used to travel with a portable DVD player and cases full of DVD’s –
who remembers those?? The best
investment we ever made was buying 1 portable device for each child as sharing when you are sitting a few rows away is not
going to make you popular amongst the other travellers. I always allow my children to load up 1 brand
new movie they have never seen onto the tablet so I know it will hold their
attention for a few hours. Remember to
also load some apps that do not require wi-fi for hours of entertainment.
5.
Relax – Kids will feed off of you and
your energy. If you are well prepared
and have a good attitude about the whole flying process, your children will
follow suit.
So if you are thinking about that trip frolicking
on the beach or sightseeing in Europe – go for it. I promise it will be better than you thought.
Clara Power is a Personal Travel Advisor
and owns her own travel company based out of Vaughan, Ontario. As a family travel specialist she enjoys planning
the perfect family holiday for her clients. She uses her extensive travel
experience to over 27 countries to match her clients’ needs to the best
possible vacation and helps to create seamless holidays that everyone can
enjoy. For more travel tips follow her at
www.facebook.com/ClaraPowerTPI.

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