Holiday Travel Tips

Holiday Travel Tips

The holidays can be the most exciting time of the year, but also the most stressful for so many reasons. Each family has different dynamics and supporting children through the holiday hustle and bustle can be difficult when excitement abounds and routines are changed. Traveling, unpredictable schedules, and too many holiday festivities can be very hard for some children to handle. Your child might benefit from a family calendar of holiday events. Try to stick to it. When traveling, keep big adventures to a minimum, allow for extra down time, and try to be flexible when possible. I hope the following tips can help support your family in creating a memorable (and manageable) holiday session for everyone. 

Traveling:

Prepare, prepare, prepare. If you are traveling this season, the more information you can share with your child before the trip the better. Discuss where you will be going. How will you get there? With whom will they be sleeping? If possible, travel with comforting items, noise canceling headphones, and familiar snacks or small preferred toys that can be pulled out at any moment. 

Holiday Festivities: 

Avoid crowded stores and chaotic events whenever possible. If you will be visiting loud, busier spaces, teach children about staying close and what to do if they get separated from their family. Holiday meals are not the right time to push a child to try new foods. Don’t insist (or let anyone else insist) that your child eat a food they aren’t comfortable with at the holiday dinner table. If there will be a lot of gifts to open, consider spreading out the gift-opening and not making it a chaotic race. Less can be best. Be sure to schedule some quiet time for naps or relaxation to prevent overtiredness and meltdowns (for children and adults alike!)

Bedtime:

Bringing along a favorite pillow or blanket from home could go a long way to making staying overnight in a new place more comfortable. Other strategies that might help your young traveler sleep better include a white noise machine, a familiar nighttime water cup, or other comforting bedtime necessities. Try and maintain a normal sleep schedule as much as possible.  

I hope that some of these strategies, combined with a positive attitude and flexibility, can make your holiday season more manageable and enjoyable for the whole family! Happy Holidays!