Spring break, winter holiday, or summer vacation means it’s road trip time! Photo-ready scenery, jam-worthy playlists, and memory-making fun is on the itinerary, but it’s not always smooth sailing. Traveling with littles means lots of prep for anything your kiddos might need, and we’ve got just the ticket for any situation! Whether you’re travelling by car, train, or plane, these tips for traveling with kids will make your travels more pleasant.
1. Pack snack boxes
Say goodbye to hanger and hello to satisfied children with a DIY snack box! Fill a compartmental box with a mix of sweet, salty, and savory snacks that even picky littles will love. This simple prepped food means fewer snack stops and less tummy-rumbling as you travel with kids. Some great snack options include:
- Apple slices
- Mandarin oranges
- Celery sticks
- Crackers
- Grapes
- Sliced cheese/string cheese
- Deli meat
- Dried fruit
- Homemade wolfberry bars
- Popcorn
- Blueberries
- Carrots
- Nuts/seeds
Disclaimer: Be sure to cut and portion out these snacks according to the guidelines for your child’s age to avoid any potential accidents.
2. Bring a designated trash can
Avoid the hassle of picking brown apple cores or other trash out of your car’s cup holders by keeping a small trash bag or container on each row of your vehicle. This way everyone has easy access to throw their garbage away instead of making a mess. A clean environment is a happy environment, especially when traveling with children!
If you’ll be travelling by plane, it’s also a “neat” idea to prep a small trash bag to keep messes at bay in between flight attendant visits. Plus, pack your Thieves® Wipes to clean any messes quickly and easily!
3. Keep kids entertained
Keep family travel screen free with these interactive activities! Simply print out the activity PDFs and bring them with you on your trip. For easy organization, store them in upcycled school folders so your kiddo can keep their papers in one place.
Activities for older children
I Spy Colors: I spy with my little eye something…RED! Practice observation and writing skills by writing down items kiddos see for each category. Download page 1 here and page 2 here.
I Spy ABC: This ABC practice is perfect for older children who are working on their writing and spelling skills. List the things you see that start with each letter of the alphabet. For example, if you see a boat, write it on the line next to the “B.” Download the PDF here.
I Spy Numbers: This activity is great for helping your children work on their counting skills. Count the items in the image and write down how many of each item there is. Download the activity here and the answer key here.
Activities for young children
Looking for activities to occupy your preschool-aged children? Try some of these!
I Spy Colors: Young children, or older ones who prefer expressing themselves more creatively, can do this activity during family travel by drawing one item they see that matches the specific color category. Download page 1 here and page 2 here.
I Spy Numbers: This activity is great for littles working on their counting skills. Let them count the items in the image and fill in the number of circles that matches the number you counted. Download the activity here and the answer key here.
Activities for the family
Get the whole family involved in these exciting activities!
Scavenger hunt: Make family travel a true group activity with this scavenger hunt. Print a copy for each participating person. Work solo or in teams to check off items on the list. Whoever finishes first gets to pick the next activity!
Road trip edition: If you’ll be traveling by car, download this scavenger hunt.
Airplane edition: Traveling by plane? Download this air-friendly scavenger hunt.
Travel tip: If your children enjoy coloring, print out our Young Living coloring pages from this blog post.
4. Cultivate a positive travel environment with essential oils
Bring the power of aromatherapy along as you travel with kids. Whether you want a pop of Peppermint to kick off an early morning drive or a hint of Lavender during back-seat nap time, a travel diffuser is the best travel buddy for the job. Try out these diffuser blends for your trip!
Drop quantities are for our Viya
Diffuser.
Calm Cruise diffuser blend
Cultivate an environment of calm as your littles get ready for a snooze with soothing Lavender, refreshing Orange, and grounding Frankincense.
- 2 drops Lavender
- 1 drop Orange
- 1 drop Frankincense
Travel Ease diffuser blend
Aromatherapy can be great for easing feelings of discomfort, especially when traveling. This blend combines Peppermint, Ginger, Fennel, and Lemon for the perfect travel diffuser combination.
- 1 drop Peppermint
- 1 drop Ginger
- 1 drop Fennel
- 1 drop Lemon
Disclaimer: If you plan to diffuse essential oils around children under 2 years old, we recommend sticking to our Seedlings® Calm essential oil blend.
If you’re taking group transportation such as airplanes, trains, or buses, stick with a personal diffuser bracelet like the one in our One Voice collection, pack an oil roller from our KidScents® Roll-On Collection for the kiddos, or try out Aroma Rings in Lavender or AromaEase scents for children 8 and older. That way you can enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy while respecting public spaces!
5. Create a playlist with your child’s favorite songs
We all know that music can really set the tone in any situation. If you’re traveling with kids, turn your travels into fun bonding time by curating your own playlist of your family’s favorite songs. Say goodbye to traffic jams and hello to jamming out together while building fun memories!
6. Accept that not everything will go as planned
When traveling with children, you’ve got to expect the unexpected. Things aren’t always going to run smoothly, but the most important thing is that you take the time to live in the moment. Take things as they come and enjoy making precious memories with the ones you love.
Looking for more family-friendly ideas? Check out the rainy-day survival guide for more kid-friendly activities or get the inside scoop on essential oils and kids.
What travel tips will you use first?
Tell us in the comments below.
The post Kids’ travel guide: 6 tips to make travelling easier appeared first on Young Living Blog.