Summertime is travel time for many of us. If you’ll be traveling with children this summer, you may be a little nervous, which probably isn’t the way you want to feel when taking a vacation. Parents can help themselves feel less stressed about traveling safely with children, however, by learning about the three P’s: Plan, Prepare, and Practice. Keeping family safety in mind with all phases of summer vacation travel ensures a relaxing and fun experience for all – including parents!
Here’s what parents should know about using the three P’s for traveling safely with children
Plan
1. Kids of all ages appreciate being part of the planning process. Talk about the trip, your destination, and some possible activities. This helps keep kids engaged and feeling a little less like ’baggage’ on a boring trip to see relatives. Listen to their ideas, and show you’re interested in them by doing some of the things they suggest.
2. Regardless of the transportation mode, plan for travel to commence early in the day and complete before dinnertime. That way everyone has a chance to be settled in and relaxed so they can all have proper rest for the fun ahead.
3. Plan for rest and activity time while en route. If traveling by car, don’t be like parents of the 60s and drive from 4 AM until 9 PM. Instead, make frequent stops for bathroom breaks, stretch breaks for the driver(s), and play breaks for the kids. Plan ahead to make the trip as interesting and exciting as the destination.
Prepare
1. Pack with two things in mind: the trip and the destination. On the trip, have everything you will need handy, including books, toys, electronics, and snacks. Snacks make the trip! They make a mess too, but it’s worth it. Pack easily accessible overnight bags if you’re traveling long distances with overnight hotel stays. Don’t forget the bathing suits! Nothing eases the stress and anxiety of a long day on the road like a dip in the hotel pool.
2. Review your health plan and make sure that you’re prepared for any medical emergencies that might arise on your trip or at your destination. Make sure all of the adults on the trip have possession of or access to health insurance cards and prescription cards. Also, make sure that you’re properly covered if you’re renting vehicles either for your trip or at your destination.
3. Be sure to pack all prescription and over the counter meds you’re going to need, but don’t fret if you forget something! The world is full of CVS stores, Walgreens, and Rite Aids! If you don’t already have a tracking mechanism for your prescriptions, make sure you bring a complete list along.
4. Have plenty of antiseptic wipes and/or hand sanitizer handy. Kids touch everything, and places like airports and airplanes are, well, great places to pick up germs. Have a change of clothes handy for the kids and diapers for very young children. You’ll be glad for the extras if they get into something, experience motion sickness, and so on.
Practice
1. Keep your child’s safety and comfort in mind on the road just as you do at home. Many kids suffer from motion sickness, for example. If you’re planning to give them any type of medication to prevent it, be sure to follow product directions for proper administration before boarding planes or beginning long car trips. On planes, have kids sit between adults, or at least away from the aisle where they can be at risk of any potential hazards. In hotels and at your destination(s), keep adult prescription medications out of the reach of your kids. Be especially vigilant when young kids are playing around the pool and in the hotel room, especially around balconies, stairs, and elevators.
2. Traveling and eating are fun, but it’s best to be ready for common travel illnesses, such as diarrhea and dehydration. Eating exotic food sounds kind of fun until it makes somebody sick. If traveling to exotic locales, remember: don’t drink the water, and be wary of ice too. You may not be able to easily haul water with you, but it’s safest to buy bottled water and avoid water from local sources.
3. Traveling abroad means ensuring that children have all the necessary travel vaccinations. Your health care provider can help, and so can a simple internet search. Be aware of risks at your destination such as mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects.
4. On top of rest stops while traveling, make sure everyone is getting proper overnight rest, including adults! Your body needs the rejuvenating, recuperative power of sleep. Everything will be so much more fun when everyone is well rested.
Traveling should be fun, but first and foremost, it must be safe. Of course, we can’t anticipate every little (or big) thing. But by planning and preparing for life’s little things, we don’t have to fret over the small stuff. Traveling with safety at the forefront frees our minds to enjoy the excitement and fun of our travel adventures along with our kiddos!
If you have any questions at all, please give us a call at 912-871-HUGS (4847).
Related Resources:
ParentsⓇ 12 Strategies for Stress-Free Air Travel with Children
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travelling with Children