Travelling with children can seem like a tall order. Their travel needs are different from ours, they can get tired easily and may even get fussy. Adults may end up spending most of their time keeping the kids entertained or behaved during the holiday. But travelling with kids can be an enjoyable experience for adults too. Here are some tips on how you can have a fun and memorable holiday with the children.
Plan activities ahead
Research your destination and the activities that you can do there. Also take note of how much time it would take for a particular activity and the weather condition suitable for it. Have a list of both outdoor and indoor activities that your family can do.
If you and your family enjoy the outdoors, hiking or canoeing are some activities you can plan. If you want to give your children a cultural experience, you can check out local museums or art galleries. To sample fresh and local cuisines, visit the specialty restaurants or food stores in the area. Having a list of outdoor and indoor activities can give you some flexibility especially when there are unexpected weather changes.
Avoid over-packing your day with activities
Consider that children need to rest, so take it slow. Be realistic on what you can cover in one day with the children. If you can only do one or two activities per day, then that’s fine. Don’t pressure yourself and your family members into doing more. Going on a much slower pace allows you to enjoy your time more with the kids.
Get your children involved in planning
Encourage them to look at maps, study the geography or read up on the local animal or plant life prior to the trip, to build their anticipation. Ask them what type of activities they want to do and try to accommodate their requests in the itinerary.
Check that your accommodation offers a family suite
Booking a family suite ensures that your entire family gets the space and facilities you need for a comfortable stay. If you’re travelling with babies or young toddlers, you may need to ensure that your suite is child-proof. Ask your accommodation if the family suite is safe for young children. If not, try to request if installing safety latches, outlet protectors or safety caps is possible.
Ensure a safe travel for your kids
Family travels often involve long trips by car, plane, bus or train. With proper planning, you can make the trip comfortable and safe for your children.
If travelling by car, have everything you need such as water, snacks, feeding bottles, and wipes within your reach. Take regular stops so that everyone can get out of the car and have a stretch. You can also have sun visors on your windows to protect your children from the heat of the sun. And most importantly, make sure everyone is buckled up safely.
If travelling by plane, try to pre-select seats that are by the aisle so that you can easily accompany your children if they need to go to the bathroom. If you are on a long flight, have everything you need in your hand-carry. If this is the first time that your children are riding the airplane, advise them beforehand of what to expect in terms of security checks, change in air pressure (that may cause a popping sensation in their ears) or length of the flight. In this way, they can feel at ease travelling by plane.
Allot some time on your own
If you’re travelling with more than one adult, you can split up from time to time. One adult can take the children while the other can do something on their own. In this way, you have some time to yourself to see a store you want to check out or an attraction you’re interested in. Travelling with children can get tiring, so having some time to yourself can help you relax for a bit.
Collect souvenirs
Travelling can create rich and lifelong memories. Help your children remember your trips together by collecting souvenirs from that place such as magnets, paperweights, small stuffed toys, or badges. You can also buy a postcard and ask them to write or draw their favourite memory alongside the date and their age.
Another idea is to help them start a journal wherein they can draw or write about the different sights and activities they enjoyed. They can paste any memorabilia from the trip such as tickets, photos or local stamps. This is not only a fun bonding activity, but also helps create wonderful memories for them.
Planning a trip for the family?
You don’t have to go far to get a holiday that the entire family will enjoy. Just a short 2.5 hours from Melbourne, Riverside Cabin Park offers close access to a wide range of kid-friendly attractions including:
- SPC Ardmona KidsTown – An adventure playground that has giant slides, a maze, a miniature train, and lots of spaces for the little ones to explore and play in.
- Aquamoves – Keep the kids entertained for hours with outdoor and indoor pool facilities that feature water slides and swings. Plus, you can enjoy these fun water activities regardless of the weather outside.
- Giggle and Wriggle – Giggle and Wriggle is an indoor playground that little and big kids alike will enjoy. It’s a perfect way to keep your kids happy for when the weather outside is too wet or too hot for any outdoor activity.
- Shepparton Skateparks – Do you have bigger kids who are a bit daring? Then they will surely enjoy the skate parks. The S-CAPE Skate Park and X-abition Skate Park are popular attractions for the youth.
- Parks and playgrounds – Have hours of playtime fun with the kids when you visit the different parks and playgrounds throughout Shepparton.
At Riverside Cabin Park, there are also a host of outdoor activities you can do within the proximity of the park such as fishing, walking, cycling, golf and canoeing at the Victoria Lake Park. Plus, we offer family villas for a truly comfortable, enjoyable and safe accommodation for the entire family.
Book with Riverside Cabin Park for a fun-filled trip with the family!
Resources:
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/travel_with_children.html
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/jan/20/8
http://www.weekendnotes.com/keep-kids-entertained-shepparton/