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10 Quick Tips to Make Airline Travel with Kids
Fun
By
Dakota D
Many people do not enjoy the actual �traveling� part of
travel. They like the being there, but not the getting there. This is
particularly true of most people with children, especially younger ones. I
actually like traveling, even with my kids. Wait, let me correct that. I enjoy
flying. I might enjoy trains. I do not enjoy driving.
It's all a matter of perspective, and the more you can get
into a kids way of thinking, the easier to keep them, and yourself,
entertained. Airports are a great adventure! They are filled with sights and
sound that are not a part of most kids� daily experience. Take advantage of this
opportunity to explore together.
Here are 10 quick tips for enjoying your experience at the
airport and flying with kids:
1) Arrive early so you aren't rushing. If you are stressed
out, the kids will pick up on that and no one enjoy themselves.
2) If you have the opportunity or need to take a parking
shuttle, do it. Kids tend to enjoy the small buses, and it will save you the
frustration and expense of parking at the airport.
3) If there is a train, subway, moving walkway, or similar
people-mover in the airport, use it. Kids don't see these often, and to them,
its a ride.
4) Watch the airplanes together. Talk about the various sizes,
how they fly, watch as they are being refueled and meals or luggage is being
loaded. There is a lot to observe � and again, its all new and exciting to
children.
5) Pack a small bag with surprises in a carry-on bag � small
toys, paper and crayons, stickers, a book or two. This will be good to bring out
mid-flight when boredom really starts to kick in.
6) Pack a few snacks and bottled water in your carry-on bag or
purse. Even if your flight has a meal, or snacks, it may not be something your
child will enjoy. Taking along some favorites will also be comforting if your
child is feeling overwhelmed by all the new sights and sounds.
7) If you can, take along a portable DVD player or laptop
computer and a few favorite movies. This will not only be useful for in-flight
entertainment and layovers, but will probably come in handy wherever you are
staying during your trip.
8) Make some special games for the trip, such as bingo cards
with pictures of things you are likely to see in the airport, on the airplane,
and at your destination.
9) Start and help your child keep a journal of the trip. Buy a
special notebook for this purpose and during each phase of your trip, encourage
(or help, depending on age) your child to write and draw pictures of what your
family is doing. You can even take pictures to be added into the notebook later.
10) Brush up on a few games that require no materials, such as
�I Spy,� various alphabet games, such as where one person names an animal that
starts with A, then the next person has to name an animal that starts with B and
so on, and guessing games, such as �I am thinking of X� (animal, song, tv shows.) and the other family members have to guess based on answers to
�yes/no� questions.
The biggest thing is to remember to have fun. Chances are, if
you are traveling with your children, you are on vacation, and FUN is the whole
point! In fact, that is our family's first rule of vacation: Have Fun!
Dakota is a wife, lesbian, mother, writer, law student,
Disneyland freak, and more! Visit her at:
http://www.disneylandfamilyvacation.blogspot.com/
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