Tips for traveling with kids.

Keys to kids not being stressed and acting crazy while traveling? US not being stressed out while traveling.

After 30+ flights with my little nugget I’ve learned and observed a few things (plus there is always room for a little prayer and a little luck).

Set them up for success - to me that looks like:

We don’t use the iPad for a movie until we are on the plane - not in the airport while we are waiting. It’s really not fair to ask them to sit in an airport then sit on a plane - their bodies just are not made for that kind of stillness yet. We call it “getting the wiggles out”.

In the airport go on an “adventure”, hunt for things, our favorites is escalators and we will ride them over and over.

NO SUGAR. I saw a dad and son traveling yesterday - dad was super stressed - kid was watching some high color bounce off the walls show while sucking a lolly pop BEFORE we boarded - thats a recipe for disaster friend.

Have snacks - lots of snacks.

Have “mess free” coloring books - so when the color outside the lines they don’t accidentally mark on the airport chairs or plane. 

Stickers are your best friend - especially puffy ones. Even if they stick them on the folding tray they peel right off.

Chewing gum and juice for their ears is always a great idea - but be mindful that their juice cups get pressure in them and will spray out on the plane (this actually happened yesterday 🤣).

Express the dangers to them. I am not for scaring my little girl but I do tell her the truth to the level she can handle and understand it. I take the time to tell her the importance of staying close and holding hands in the airport, that there can be bad people that hang out in the airport that would want to take her away. I don’t want to throw rules at her - I want her to understand WHY.

Stick  up for them and don’t apologize for the space they take up. If my daughter is walking slower than others then I let them pass her, I don’t pull her to the side, children have as much right to travel as adults do. When we apologize for them being there we are automatically saying that an adults presence is more important than theirs. I encourage her to speak to the flight attendants, to order her own drinks and to ask questions when she wants to. 

What other tips would you add?