Making memories during your next trip shouldn’t be filled with stress and anxiety. That is why we want to help you with planning a stress free family vacation that you can fully enjoy. Whether you travel by plane or car, you can have fun with the whole family without the drama.
Wanderland Escapes’ owner Rebecca, is a Mom who loves to travel, and also has a teen with a disability. She’s got the experience to help your trip run smoothly and with minimal fuss. Here are some tips for planning a stress free family vacation for all ages.
Plan Ahead for Age-Specific Challenges
There are challenges to every age group that you can prepare for ahead of departure. Whether you have one child or several, or whether they’re close in age or not, these tips can help make traveling with your kiddos a bit easier.
Infants
Infants will be fussy, hungry, bored, uncomfortable, tired, and need diaper changes during their trip. Scheduling times to do this regularly and packing appropriate gear for this challenge will help reduce the stress. When you visit new locations, it’s helpful to find out ahead of time or when you arrive where the bathrooms are, and spaces you can comfortably nurse and change them. Don’t forget to figure in nap times during your day as well. It’s best to try and keep them on their schedule as much as possible to avoid an overstimulated and fussy baby.
Another important factor if you’re traveling by plane, is that your infant may struggle with pressure changes. You’ll want to ensure they can suckle on a pacifier or drink from a bottle during flight and especially during landing to reduce the buildup of pressure in their ears.
Toddlers
With their curious minds and boundary-pushing stage of development, toddlerhood is one of the most challenging ages for travel. With their endless energy, it’s especially challenging when they’re strapped into a car seat or a seat on a plane. Bring fun and travel-friendly activities, like quiet books, coloring pages, and educational games on a child-safe tablet for entertainment over long periods of travel. Also keep in mind that long days at theme parks are not ideal for this age group, so it’s best to go in the morning, take mid day break and return after lunch and a nap. This will help avoid the meltdowns and constant crying that is all too common at places like Disneyland.
Keep a set or three of spare clothes in case your little ball of sass has a potty accident or gets too sweaty during their after-lunch nap. Toddlers thrive on routine, so don’t be upset if there is a bit of regression in potty training or minding established rules. As with infants, be sure to factor in nap time schedules and try to keep them on their regular schedule as much as possible to help avoid complete toddler meltdowns.
Elementary School Ages
This age is where boredom and bickering comes into play. If you’re traveling with multiple children of similar ages, prepare for bickering, because it’s nearly unavoidable. One of the biggest causes of sibling bickering on trips is pent-up energy and no outlet. If you’re on a road trip, stop at a park to play for a bit when you make a pit stop for food or bathroom breaks. For plane rides, if possible, try and book flights with Delta Airlines as they have the seat back entertainment with games for all ages on most of their planes.
This age also has frequent growth spurts and unending appetites during the most inconvenient time. Being prepared ahead of time helps remedy the inconveniences. Add these steps to planning your stress free family vacation:
- Stock up on their favorite snacks
- Get travel games to keep their mind off the boredom
- A drawing pad or coloring books and colored pencils (colored pencils won’t melt like crayons)
- Have something of comfort such as their favorite blanket or stuffed animal to sleep/cuddle with
Middle Schoolers
Moody early teenhood is a tumultuous time, even without the boredom of a long trip. Remind the children in this age group of the fun things they have to look forward to, provide snacks and electronic entertainment for the trip for the lowest stress levels.
Games, books, podcasts, and music helps pass the time. Snacks keep their mood up and their grumpiness at a minimum. Middle school-aged kids may also find some entertainment in being the car DJ during your road trip or helping choose destinations to visit.
Older Teens
The great thing about older kids, especially those who have their license, is sharing the burden of driving for road trips and sharing the responsibility of navigation. Usually, teens can provide an awesome playlist and hold great conversations, but they can also be angsty and distant. No matter what mood your teen is in, when you create fun memories, like random stops to something they might find interesting, you’ll be able to build strong memories that will last a lifetime. Keeping them occupied with activities can also help keep them off their phones and more interested in making memories over making memes.
Don’t Underestimate the Need for R&R
We understand that you’ve got a million things you want to do during your family vacation, but no one is at their best when they’re exhausted. You won’t be wasting your vacation if you choose to return to your lodging to decompress and rest between significant events and attractions.
Being tired can make you moodier than usual, causing you to be irritable with your family or the hospitality staff, and create undue tension in your party. Just a 20-40 minute nap or some lounging by the pool or the beach for a couple hours while the kids play can help restore your energy and patience.
The side effects of exhaustion or overstimulation can also be more intense for those individuals with mental or physical disabilities. They may need longer breaks or more frequent breaks from the bustle of the destination. If you have a child with a disability, be sure to factor in the time needed for frequent breaks when you start planning your trip.
Get a Professional to Help With the Planning
Booking a vacation with a professional travel specialist takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation. They’ve likely heard it all and understand the need to accommodate different family conditions, especially those with disabilities. They’ll be able to lay out an easy-to-follow itinerary and help iron out any hiccups that might come up during your trip.
Travel agents are masters at creating vacation packages for the whole family that are stress free, thoroughly engaging, and rewarding for the entire family. Most agents can find activities for your family to do that pique the interest of each member of the traveling party. Plus, not every family vacation has to be a trip to Disney World. There are so many great options available and your travel agent can help you find what works best for your family.
Start Planning a Stress Free Family Vacation Today
Contact Wanderland Escapes today to start planning a stress free family vacation you’ve been dreaming of. We’re eager to get you closer to incredible new experiences, and a lifetime of cozy memories with your family. We can help you plan unique vacations suited to the interests of you and your family members.
