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Traveling with kids can be a lot of fun. If you don’t believe me take a trip to Disney World with a six-year-old. The way their face lights up at every turn will make every mile traveled worth it. But struggles along the way can make taking a vacation with kids seem like a prison sentence.
Kids’ patience can wear thin when they’re stuck in the car or on an airplane and just want to start enjoying the vacation. If they don’t have things to keep them busy boredom will set in followed by cries of “are we there yet?”
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in this scenario. Packing the right supplies for the trip can keep boredom at bay so everyone stays happy.
A Steady Power Supply
Today, most kids can be entertained for hours with electronics. It’s actually amazing how quiet a car or plane ride can be when kids are engrossed in a game on a device. But then the battery icon turns the dreaded red. Right when they’re at the best part of the movie or about to beat their top score the power finally gives out.
Packing a powerbank in your bag (or even two) can help you keep electronics charged when there’s no electric outlet in sight. Powerbanks store power and have ports so that devices can be plugged directly into them. This isn’t just a matter of having endless entertainment. Being able to charge cell phones and navigation systems on the go make them well worth the cost.
Relax With Reading Material
Even if you have an ample power supply there are times when electronics can’t be used, like during the first 20-30 minutes of a flight. Kids and teens that aren’t used to being without their devices will need another distraction. This is the perfect opportunity to get them to pick up some old-fashioned entertainment – books.
Reading is one of the best sources of relaxation because it’s a great distraction. The best part is research has shown any type of reading material has relaxing benefits. It can be a comic book, a young adult novel or an insect identification guide.
It could be fun to get your kids books and maps on the place that you plan to visit. While they read they can start planning what they want to do while you’re there. You can also get each kid a journal so they can write their own story and chronicle the events of the trip.
Coloring Books for Adults and Kids
Another fun pastime that’s popular right now is detailed coloring books. Kids will definitely enjoy them, but they’re designed for teens and adults as well. The coloring books have beautiful, intricate patterns that help relax the mind and spark creativity. Coloring just one page can easily keep you entertained for an hour or more.
These types of coloring books work best with coloring pencils. That means you’ll need to pack a pencil sharpener as well, or you may run out of the color you need before you’re done.
Cameras to Capture the Trip
Kids innately know how to use electronic devices these days. Even small children are fascinated with them, including cameras. Usually parents are the ones trying to capture their kids on camera, but what if the shoe was on the other foot? A super fun way to keep your kids entertained is to give them their own camera for the trip.
It can be an old one you haven’t used since you got a smart phone or a cheap disposable camera. It really won’t make much of a difference to your kid once they start snapping away. At the end of the trip you can take the pictures and video clips they captured and create a slide show for the family.
Stock Up on Classic Games
Some games are considered to be classics because they are still just as fun today as they were decades ago. Car bingo is one classic that was made for travel. A deck of cards is all you need for dozens of games that the whole family can play together. Legos are another way to stop boredom before it happens. You can even upcycle an old lunchbox to create a portable Lego kit.
Vacations are a great way for families to bond and break free of daily stressors. Just make sure you pack extra entertainment so boredom doesn’t derail the trip.
I love the idea of coloring books for all and classic games. These are always fun and relaxing ideas for some down time. My family enjoys card games too.
A steady power supply is so needed when traveling with my kids. They will get so bored if they do not have the ability to play games while traveling. Games are always fun to take and have on the plane.