Toddlers can be seemingly impossible to entertain on a long trip.  They have short attentions spans, cannot sit still, are not able to read and, despite what the advertisers want you to believe, there is no wonder toy that will entertain toddlers for hours.  So what options does a parent have?  Use a well-stocked activity bag to survive the journey.

While no one toy will do the job, several small toys will.  In fact, the right assortment of simple toys, frequently traded out and some imagination are better than even the most elaborate toy.  The goal is a quantity of quiet toys.  Any toy that makes loud or repetitive noises should be left home – it will certainly drive you (and the other passengers) crazy and some airlines even prohibit toys that make noise.

Before the trip, buy or create a toddler activity kit containing a variety of age-appropriate toys.  A good activity kit will include items that engage a child’s imagination, fine motor skills and problem solving abilities.  We always include stacking cups, links, cars, puzzles, finger puppets or small squeeze animals and chunky crayons.  All of these can be used in multiple ways to entertain a toddler if you think outside the box.  For example, the stacking cups can obviously be used for stacking and nesting activities but you can also hide a small toy under a cup and play the shell game or practice pouring items between the cups.  Squeeze toys are always fun in the bathtub but they are also perfect for creating a distraction.  Puff some air in a toddler’s hair or on their arm and you immediately get their attention.  In desperate times you can even fill one with water and watch the giggles start.

Use their short attention span to your advantage by swapping out toys often.  If a toy doesn’t immediately capture your toddler’s attention, stash it back in the bag and pull out the next toy.  As every parent knows, it never works to force a toy on a child – they are sure to hate it.   I always save squeeze animals for last because, for my kids, a quick puff of air in the hair always stopped a melt-down.

Afraid your toy supply isn’t up to the task?  Check out my previous post on entertaining toddlers with everyday items – no toys required.

Happy Travels

toddler travel activities · travel activities

A 15 day trip for eight people (including 4 kids) doesn’t happen overnight; but, after weeks of planning and packing, it is travel time!  All 21 bags are packed and lined up by the door and we are ready to go.  Now… what to do for the next 8 hours until we head to the airport?

We are on an evening flight to Frankfurt so my focus for the day is to wear out the kids so they will sleep on the plane.  Lots of time playing outside followed by 2 hours with our favorite tennis pro should do the trick.

At t-minus 30 until departure I pull out our checklist and we get ready to go!  Out the Door Checklist

The airport time goes smoothly and the flight starts out fine.  It was a night flight so we were expecting a quick meal service and then lights out.  Unfortunately, it was an exceptionally long meal service – to the point that my 6 year old was begging the flight attendants to turn out the lights!  Everyone was tired and fussy when we landed in Frankfurt for our 4 hour layover.

The Frankfurt airport is a mess!  There is construction everywhere and virtually no food to be found.  Luckily there were plenty of empty gates, which meant there was lots of room to run around and also space for the kids to spread out their TravelKiddys and play by themselves for a while.

Finally we land in Prague.  Kudos to Brian for having sufficient transportation waiting for us as we straggle out of the airport desperately needing baths and food.

Finding hotels for the 8 of us had not been an easy task – Brian spent hours on the phone figuring out options and finally settled on the InterContinental Praha.  We booked a family room (an oversized room with 2 king beds) and a one bedroom suite with a cot.  They were spectacular.  Much larger than a typical European hotel room with plenty of space and nice layouts.  The kids were excited to see Praha themed welcome presents, child sized robes & slippers, kid comforters & pillows and even special toiletries.  A quick room service meal later and we were off to bed and ready to begin our adventures in the morning.

europe with kids

As I begin the packing process for our summer European adventure, one of my first tasks is to create my paper essentials list.  Instead of scribbling on a piece of paper that I was sure to lose, I decided to create a master list that I could reuse and share with you.   Keep reading for the list.  I have also  included it in checklist form for easy downloading and printing here: International Packing List

1. At least $100 in local currency.  My husband used to swear this wasn’t necessary until we were stuck in Newark with no US dollars to use for an airport cart.  A painful lesson to learn when traveling with lots of luggage and little kids!
2. Passports.  Be sure to check expiration dates well in advance.  It pays to check the destination country regulations as some require the passport to be valid for one month or more after the trip dates.
3. At least 1 copy of every passport packed separately from other travel documents.  We include copies in a checked bag and then put them in the hotel safe when we arrive.
4. Health insurance cards.  Verify that your health insurance is valid in your destination country and be sure to carry the cards – just in case.
5. Hard copy of important phone numbers (doctors, relatives, etc).   Everyone has this information in cell phones these days but what if you lose your phone, forget the charger or it stops working?
6. Shot records (required for some countries).  Some countries require proof of immunization before entering the country.
7. Notarized health authorization (if traveling with grandchildren).  This doesn’t need to be complex – just a statement naming the adults traveling with your children and giving them authorization to approve health care in an emergency (just like most schools require).
8. Notarized travel permission or custody papers if both parents are not traveling.   It is common for passport control to request this information if a parent is traveling alone with a child.
9. Hard copy of itinerary and lodging phone numbers.  Better to be safe than sorry!
10. Leave behind – copy of itinerary and contact numbers with neighbor or relative.  See our free download here: Travel Plans

What additional items do you like to carry?

european travel · General Travel With Kids

I am often asked about luggage for kids.  There are a myriad of options out there and I have not tested them all but I can share what works for our family.  Hopefully you can chime in with additional brands and/or products that work for you.

If you have ever looked for kid’s luggage, you will find that it runs the gamut from ridiculously cheap to outrageously expensive.  I avoid either end of the  pricing spectrum.   Cheap luggage tends to fall apart at the worst times and expensive luggage is, well, expensive.  Follow these tips to find the perfect bag:

• Look for good quality – double stitched seams, industrial zippers and solid wheels are a must.
• Check the stability.  For some reason, there are a large number of kids’ bags that simply don’t roll well.  Take the time to pull it around and make sure it doesn’t tip over, it can handle corners and doesn’t drag.
• Pick the right size.  Kids of all ages can pull a decent sized carry-on.  Don’t go with the tiny one that doesn’t hold enough – this is just adding an extra bag for you to keep track of!
• Find a timeless, kid-friendly style.  Don’t spend a fortune on a branded bag that the kids will hate in a few months.  Do go with a fun print or color that your kids like – otherwise there is no way they will pull it!
• Check the handle length.  Despite all efforts, you will be pulling this bag at some point so make sure the handle is long enough AND it has a top handle that can be used to pick up the bag and carry it.

Everyone is always curious about brands.  We use Sammies by Samsonite because they are very cute, sized right and extremely durable.  My girls love the animal designs (we have a giraffe, turtle, penguin and tiger) and they are perfectly sized for them to pull.   Unfortunately they are not available in the US (we purchased ours while living overseas).  As we have expanded our luggage to other pieces, we have found that Pottery Barn Kids carries a nice line of fun, durable bags that hold up to our testing.  And our real life testing is rigorous.  These bags are pulled through airports, thrown in backseats, wheeled through the streets on the mile long walk to Mim’s house and more.  If it can stand up to that, it can withstand anything.  In fact, our Sammies and PBK bags have lasted longer than our adult carry-on bags!

As I said, my kids love their suitcases and, from the age of 18 months, have pulled them through the airport by themselves.  Here are some tips to stave off carrying the kids bags as long as possible:

• Buy a fun suitcase that is easy to manipulate.
• Load it with surprises that the kids have only when they make it to the plane.
• Make it a game – we have obstacle courses through the airport and generally have fun pulling the bags.
• Practice before hand – those walking trips to Mim’s house and suitcase races around the living room are all in preparation for the airport.
• When all else fails, threaten to leave it behind if they don’t pull it!

What works for you?

General Travel With Kids · luggage

With spring travel upon us, unruly kids on airplanes has become a frequent topic in the media and blogging world.  “Who is to blame?” has been a popular headline this year – with heated commentary on both sides.    I  think that unprepared parents are to blame for most unruly kids on planes (and in restaurants).

Let me start by defining “unruly”.   The most appropriate word to describe these kids is turbulent.  They are the ones screaming at the top of their lungs, kicking the seats, refusing to buckle, and running up and down the aisles while mom and/or dad do nothing.   The majority of kids on flights are well behaved but it is the unruly ones that get the media attention.

I fly frequently with my four children and can assure you that no flight is perfect.   At least one person cries at least once during the trip.  We play with the tray table or make more noise than an adult passenger but we also have more fun.    I see many parents actively engaged with their children on planes – playing with them, walking the aisles, or consoling hurting ears.  Unfortunately, it takes only one or two unruly kids to ruin a flight.  And these kids all have one thing in common – BOREDOM!  Their parents either brought nothing for them to do or are unwilling to join them in an activity.

If you are reading this, chances are you are not one of these parents.  So, what do you do when the kids around you are misbehaving, which, inevitably, has a negative impact on your kids?

1. Pack a few extra items.  My daughters have gone so far as to share their things with bored kids on long flights so now I pack an extra coloring/activity book, four pack of crayons and small toy.  It gets shared with someone on almost every trip we take.
2. Continually remind your kids of expected behavior and reward them verbally (and with treats) for their good behavior.
3. Distract, distract, distract!  Play word games, sing songs, play with finger puppets, color pictures together.
4. Relax.  Your kids will feed off of your mood and stress level.  If you stay calm, they are more likely to as well.

Happy Travels.

Flying with Kids · traveling with kids