Travelling with Children – 3 Top Tips

Apr 22
09:36

2015

Lisa Jeeves

Lisa Jeeves

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Even with the peace of mind of single trip holiday insurance, you need to have some tricks up your sleeves if you’re travelling with children!

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If you’re travelling with very young children,Travelling with Children – 3 Top Tips Articles even the most meticulous plans can go awry. But there are certain things you can do to manage tantrum-prone toddlers. If you ensure you’re covered with a good single trip holiday insurance policy you'll be able to travel with peace of mind, but the following tips will also go a long way to helping you have a safe and happy holiday.

Plan your Journey

Breaking your journey into, say, 15-minute slots will enable you to micro-manage and foresee even the worst outcomes possible. Of course you don’t really have to stick with 15 minutes, you can make your plan according to what’s comfortable for you, which might be 30-minute time units, for example. The point is, dividing travel time into smaller units (even if it's in your own head) enables you to see the entire task as more manageable. Take, for example, a three-hour journey on a plane: with a toddler’s short attention span, three hours could seem like aeons, and that could be a fertile breeding ground for meltdowns or tantrums. By dividing your journey time and planning for contingencies for every 15 or 30 minutes, you’ll be able to plan even the smallest detail: the toys you can present, the snacks, or their favourite colouring book are good ways to keep them pleasantly distracted.

You'll also need to factor in the possibilities of delays while travelling. While your single trip holiday insurance will take care of the financial aspects, you must prepare for a certain amount of downtime in airports, train stations and hotel lobbies.

Use the Power of Rewards

Rewards work well even in a social or corporate setting, so why not within the span of time you’re on the road or plane with your tantrum-prone kids? Moreover, it has been proven (by dog training experts, but that’s another matter) that rewards work better than punishments. Simply put, you can entice your kids with presents or little gifts throughout the trip. For example (for younger children), wrap up small toys or goodies before your journey and keep their existence a secret. Once you’re on the road or on the plane and the child starts showing signs of boredom, you can do the big reveal. You can present your gifts as a reward for good behaviour every half hour and you don’t have to use expensive toys or knick-knacks - small soft animals (they’re safe to play with) or little wind-up toys are ideal for the purpose.

Use Technology

If you're travelling with slightly older children, technology is always a good idea. If you have a smartphone, tablet or laptop they are bottomless pits of entertainment in the eyes of a modern youngster – or even teenager. Before your trip, download and install apps designed to keep children occupied for hours – and the good news is, many of these apps are free. However, you'll need to ensure that any expensive digital equipment is covered by your single trip holiday insurance policy.

Above all, keep a cool head and remember: the journey is just a means to an end, and the real rewards lie in the delight your children will find in new destinations and experiences.