Posts Tagged ‘Child’
The thought of air travel can be overwhelming and scary for children. The idea of putting some of their things in suitcases and getting on a huge airplane, leaving their home, pets, and everything that they love behind can invoke terror and insecurity. They wonder what will happen to their things and their friends when they come home. They wonder if they will come home.
Take the time to explain to your child where you will be going and how you will get there. Whatever the reason for your trip, talk to your child about why you are going. If possible, let your child help decide what they would like to do at your destination. Your child will be much more enthusiastic and cooperative while you do the things you have to do if they get to choose things they want to do.
To help relieve fears that something will happen to their home or things while they are gone, play a pretend game with your child. Tell your child the two of you are going to tell a story about all the fun things your home and belongings will do while you are away You start the story by pretending to be a toy and say, “Wow, my little girl (boy) has gone on a trip. We toys are going to have lots of fun.” Talk about some of the fun things they toys will do, then, turn the story over to your child and listen. Take turns telling the story, and make sure it ends with your family coming home safely to find the house and everything in it just as your child left it.
Make sure your child knows who will be caring for any family pets while you’re gone and make arrangements for your child to call the caretaker so they can check up on their beloved Fluffy.
Alleviating your child’s worry and insecurity is the first step to having a fun, relaxing trip with your child
Long rides aboard buses or trains with children can be especially challenging. Even the best behaved children will struggle with the monotony of being trapped in the same rail car or uncomfortable bus seat for hours on end. The simplest solution is to schedule the trip during the night, allowing the children to sleep away the trip; but that’s not always and an option. Parents who think ahead will be better prepared to deal with the situation.
Technology can provide one answer. The price of Portable DVD players has dropped considerably. Mini CD players and hand-held video games will provide at least a few hours of entertainment for the kids (and peace and quiet for the parents). However, for those children too young for the gadgets, and for all children when the gadgets get boring or the batteries die, make sure to have other things on hand.
A stack of books is always welcome on a long trip. Pack a variety of books appropriate to the ages of the children, from picture books for the youngest to magazines or novels for the oldest. An added advantage of books is that one book can occupy more than one child – all of the children can listen while an adult reads aloud, or an older child can read a book to a younger one.
Make sure to bring a collection of toys, too. Younger children can entertain themselves for quite a while with a stuffed toy to cuddle or a doll to chat with. Art supplies are one thing most parents don’t consider, but for a child who loves to draw, washable window markers and cling plastic stickers are the perfect tool to turn their window into a work of art.
Most importantly, don’t neglect the value of “quality time.” Just a pleasant conversation or a rousing chorus of “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Juice on the Wall” might be all that’s needed to turn a boring train ride into a memorable family vacation.