Family holidays are a great way to create happy memories that will last for a lifetime – but they can also, at times, feel like a painful ordeal. When children are settled into a healthy routine, wrenching them out of that routine can often be disruptive and tantrum-inducing.
Keeping your children happy is not only a good thing in and of itself; it’s also a way to preserve your own sanity, and ensure that you get maximum rest and relaxation from your break.
Fortunately, there are a few tried-and-tested hacks that will allow you to get on top of the problem.
The ‘Magic Bag’ Technique
Taking along a big bag of toys can be a way to deal with boredom – but only for a few hours. You can make better use of the toys you take by simply keeping them a secret, and only pulling one out during critical, high-boredom chapters in your journey, like a spell on a plane, or a long car journey. The sense that anything might be pulled from the bag can help to keep kids engaged and excited – but when they know what’s in there, they can take it for granted.
Simplified Dining Logistics
If you need to find child-friendly restaurants regularly, then you’ll constantly be feeling stressed about the prospect of not being able to find one. Of course, there’s also the possibility that you actually won’t find one, and that you’ll need to compromise on dining.
You can pack your own lunches to cut costs, and avoid the need to constantly seek out a new place to eat. Or, you can book all-inclusive holidays, and thereby ensure that you always have access to the snacks you need.
Respecting Sleep Windows
When children are overtired, they’ll become grouchy – and if the sleep routine is disrupted, you’ll often suffer knock-on effects that will last into the following day. Return to your accommodation sooner rather than later, and try to focus on what you’ll be doing in the daytime, rather than what’s going on in the evening.
One Major Activity Per Day
As an adult, you might be able to rush from one major attraction or activity to the next. But this can get exhausting quite quickly – and for children, it might be a major, avoidable source of stress. Try to book just one major activity in the morning, and leave your afternoons free for unstructured play time. This will help you to avoid the extra stress that comes with rushing a toddler into getting their shoes on.
Visual Countdowns
Children can become anxious when they don’t understand what’s coming, and when it’s coming. This can be a big deal when you’re trying to prepare them for the experience of going away. Try to use visual aids, like real-life calendars with days that you can cross out, to demystify things.