Tips for Traveling with Kids

Getting ready to travel with kids? From prepping beforehand to what toys will support your child for travel, this post has it all. Follow these tips for a smooth trip that even feels like a vacation.

Table of Contents:

1. What you should know about traveling with kids
2. Learn about the location together
3. Find the Playgrounds
4. Keep the Routines
5. Buy Books, Bring Toys
6. Travel Parenting Isn’t Home Parenting

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What you should know about traveling with kids

I hate feeling flustered

I think that’s the most uncomfortable emotion for me, if I had to pick one. I hate that overwhelmed, confused, agitated state – and I used to feel it a lot on vacations before I had kids.

Traveling without kids – what a simpler time, right? 

I knew that if traveling alone wasn’t my strong suit… traveling with kids was something I needed to really think about and come at from a different angle.

So I did, and traveling with kids has been something I really enjoy – far more than traveling was before I had them. I’ve found my own footing while helping support theirs, and together, it’s made taking trips as a family memorable and magical – no matter if it’s a quick road trip or a lengthy stay.

I’m sharing some of my favorite tips with you to help support any travel plans you have ahead.

Learn about the location together

Since my kids were toddlers, before we go anywhere, we learn about the location ahead of time. We watch YouTube videos as a family, check out books from the library, and learn as much as we can.

Background knowledge is key in childhood – and it’s especially important in helping kids feel comfortable in a new place and get excited about what’s to come. Learning about a local landmark gives kids buy-in to visit it. Seeing a video about local foods helps kids want to try new things.

Knowing what’s to come doesn’t spoil the excitement for kids – it enhances it in a way that is indescribably important.

Before your next trip: Pause and map it out with your kids. Go to the library and check out some books. Open up YouTube after dinner and watch a few short videos. Learn together. You’ll see first hand just how important this pre-game approach is (for all of you).

Two of my best prep-before-hand trips were to Disneyland and Yellowstone. In each post, I detail exactly how I helped my kids learn about these locations.

Find the Playgrounds

Make exploring for playgrounds part of traveling with kids – no matter if it’s a trip to Switzerland or Grandma’s hometown, the world is full of playgrounds. 

Before you ask kids to walk quietly through a museum, sit through a play, or a take a long car ride: find a playground.

After you’ve asked kids to walk quietly through a museum, sit through a play, or a take a long car ride: find a playground.

Other ways to use playgrounds to your advantage: Consider takeout on vacation and sitting at a playground to eat with your children. Pull off to the side of the road when you see a promising one. Make hunting down playgrounds part of the trip – it’s an easy one for kids to “buy-in” to and keeps things moving.

And once you’re there, find a bench and rest. Trust me, these playground stops are for you as much as them.

The best playgrounds we’ve ever seen were on our trip to the Swiss Alps. That was actually the whole reason for our trip! We found a video that showed a few and we were hooked.

Keep the Routines

If your family schedule is routine and familiar, keep that going as much as you can. Pause for naps. Eat when it’s expected and eat what’s expected (it’s okay if your child skips the quintessential cuisine for favorite safe foods). 

Bring little pieces from home that support routine, like wake-up clocks, sound machines, and favorite water bottles. 

Buy Books, Bring Toys

Once my kids became readers, a family trip tradition is to find a local bookstore and buy each kid a new book as a souvenir. We keep these books in our travel backpack and bring them out at restaurants or in long lines.

Something about a new book from a new city… it gives kids a chance to escape to somewhere else and find quiet peace.

For non-readers and big kids alike, we also have our go to bag of travel toys. These feel like the difference between life and death, not to be too dramatic.

Travel Parenting Isn’t Home Parenting

This is going to slightly contradict my lecture on routines, but it’s okay to have different vacation rules than at home 😉

At home, screen time might be limited. On a travel day, it might be never ending.

At home, nap time might be strictly followed. On vacation, it might need to flex. 

At home, treats throughout the day probably isn’t the norm. On a trip, treats help break up the day and keep morale high (even just sharing one small snack).

Changing things up on vacation will (most likely) not derail your parenting at home because kids are often better with context than we expect. Think of how kids almost instinctively know they can pour water in a bathtub, but not at the kitchen table during dinner – that’s kids having a sense of context.

Keep reminding your kid(s) of “vacation rules” so they hear and know the difference (and the fun) of being away from “home rules.”

Find comfort in keeping routines. Find comfort in bending them.

What are your favorite travel tips for families? Drop them in the comments to help support other parents getting ready to take a trip with kids.

Susie Allison, M. Ed

Susie Allison is a former elementary school teacher with a Master’s in Early Childhood Education. She’s also the creator of Busy Toddler with more than 3 million followers across social media. Susie is the author of the popular Playing Preschool curriculum and recently launched Branches, her elementary-level homeschool program. For more than a decade, Susie has been a trusted voice online in parenting and education.