The thought of travelling with children, especially on a long trip, is a daunting task for many parents. However, with the right preparation and mindset, it is possible to keep your child engaged, making it a much better experience for all involved.
Whether you’re planning a road trip or flying abroad to a new destination, our seven tips for travelling with a toddler and young children will help make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. From family sing-alongs to playing classic games, we share some simple yet effective tips that are guaranteed to leave you with a relaxing and tantrum-free journey! Let’s dive right in.
1. Get the whole family involved in a sing-along
Getting the whole family involved in a sing-along can be a fun and engaging way to keep toddlers entertained during travel. Not only does singing promote bonding within the family, but it also helps district children from any travel-related stress or restlessness.
No matter if you’re travelling to your staycation destination or to the airport, it’s a great way to pass time and encourage your little ones to join in and sing their favourite song or nursery rhymes. You could also create a playlist full of your child’s favourite sing-along songs so you don’t have to keep searching for each track.
A family sing-along is a great journey starter too and it’s a trick that can be returned to throughout the duration of your trip.
2. Download some child-friendly audiobooks
Having some child-friendly audiobooks on hand can make a journey much more enjoyable for both you and your little one. Audiobooks are a great way to keep toddlers entertained and engaged during long car rides or flights. With a variety of options available online for all ages, downloading a few choices beforehand can be a lifesaver!
Choose stories with fun characters and interactive elements to hold their attention, or why not opt for some educational audiobooks that can help stimulate their young minds while in transit.
3. Play some games
There are a huge range of fun and easy games you could play with your toddler to help pass the time of your journey. Some examples include:
- Eye Spy – an all-time classic car journey game where you guess what the other person has seen based on your surroundings. It’s a game that never fails to disappoint!
- Spot the… – this game can keep the kids easily entertained and can be played by all ages. Simply choose your games master and set the task of spotting your chosen items such as five red cars, or 10 lorries for example. The first to spot the lot, wins!
- The Alphabet Game – this is a very easy game that the whole family can get involved with. The aim of the game is to go through the whole of the alphabet with your chosen category – for example girls names, or food names – and each person takes one letter at a time and thinks of a name to match the letter.
- Educational games – you could play a series of educational games where you make it a competition to test everyone’s knowledge about a particular subject. For example, you could name as many capital cities as possible, or see who can count to 10 in a different language.
These are just some games you could play whilst travelling with children. As mentioned, there are a multitude of games to play so don’t be afraid to get creative and imaginative.
4. Bring a secret bag of toys
Packing a bag full of your child’s favourite toys, books, and activities can be a game-changer as not only will it excite them, but it will keep them entertained and occupied during long journeys. It’s also a great way to maintain a level of behaviour too as you can use their toys as a reward for good behaviour.
Be sure to pack items that are compact, lightweight, and have the potential to hold your child’s interest for an extended period. You might want to consider including some new surprises to capture their attention if they start to get restless.
5. Bring your child’s favourite colouring book
Following on from the previous tip, bringing your child’s favourite colouring book is a great way to keep your child engaged and entertained during long flights or car rides. It allows them to unleash their creativity and focus on a fun activity. Colouring can help calm restless children and provides them with a sense of familiarity in unfamiliar surroundings.
Don’t hesitate to bring a few options too if you have them and be sure to pack a variety of coloured pencils and crayons in their pencil case. This super simple tip can make travelling with children much smoother for both you and your little one.
6. Take regular stops
One of our most crucial tips for travelling with a toddler and young children is to take regular stops if you can. Doing this can make a world of difference for everyone in staying happy and comfortable. Toddlers tend to have lots of energy and short attention spans, so stopping every couple of hours to stretch their legs, have a snack, or play for a bit can help break the monotony of long car journeys.
Try to plan your stops before you set off on your journey so you can include kid-friendly stop-offs with parks or playgrounds where your little ones can burn off some energy. Taking regular stops also gives you time to set up your child’s next activity too.
7. Make use of technology
An easy mistake is made by turning to technology too early on, when in reality this should only be used as a last resort and if all other activities have been exhausted. By bringing a tablet or smartphone, you can download age-appropriate games, films, videos, and even make use of educational apps to help pass the time.
Be sure to download the content before you head off on your journey so you’re nice and prepared. Don’t forget to pack a charging cable or power bank so you don’t run the risk of your phone or tablet running out of charge.
Want more tips for travelling with a toddler?
We hope these tips for travelling with a toddler or young children will no longer leave you dreading a long car journey or catching a flight. These simple tips can completely change long-distance journeys for your family and instead make them a time of bonding, enjoyment, and fun.
When you’re not enjoying a family holiday, allow us to nurture your little ones and help them learn and grow at our day nursery. At Stepping Stones, our nursery is filled with rich lessons and fun games, and allows your child to meet new friends. If you’d like to learn more about our day nursery, contact our friendly team today. Or why not book a visit and come and see our nursery for yourself?