How to Successfully Travel with Children
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." - Saint Augustine
My journey into the world of travel began at a young age, courtesy of my parents' adventurous spirits. Selling their business in Israel, they embarked on a voyage around the globe, transforming a boat into our floating home. From Turkey to the Mediterranean, across the Atlantic, and along the East coast of America and the Caribbean, those formative years instilled in me a profound love for exploration. While I haven't sailed away with my own children, I've embraced the tradition of using our summers to introduce them to the wonders of the world.
Our family's travel adventures commenced when our kids were mere months old, and over the years, we've honed a set of invaluable tricks to navigate the joys and challenges of globe-trotting with young ones.
Empower Them to Pack
We've empowered our children, now aged 6 and 8, by letting them pack their own bags. Within the constraints of one carry-on each, they select their essentials, fostering decision-making skills and ensuring plenty space for treasures acquired on our travels. Each child's bag comprises two sections: one for clothing (largely packed by me) and the other entirely theirs to fill.
Strategic Packing
Their packing list includes essentials like Uno, writing materials, Kindles, magnetic tic-tac-toe, and small stuffed animals. They also allocate space for magnets from our destinations and pouches for foreign currency and mementos.
Follow Their Passions
Rather than overwhelming our itinerary with historical sites, we typically limit visits to one per day, allowing ample time for spontaneous exploration. The exposure to culture is found in the day to day interactions, so we try to maximize that. By prioritizing our kids' interests, we've stumbled upon enriching experiences, like the quest for a Luka Modric soccer jersey in Morocco. Modric is from Croatia, so it was not a likely find in the souks of Marrakesh. Our son went from stall to stall requesting the jersey and often making friends along the way as they compared soccer notes.
At the end he made a promise to a particular stall owner that he would be back to purchase something the following day in exchange for the vendor trying his very best to produce the jersey. The stall owner was not able to get his hands on the Modric jersey, but they settled on Hakimi, a legend in Morocco. Our son wore that shirt throughout our time in Morocco and he made endless friends as a result. Strangers would pat him on the back or head and holler "Hakimi" as he passed by. His love of soccer opened a world of interaction with adults and pick-up games with kids.
Prioritize Downtime
Traveling can be exhausting, especially for little ones. That's why we always make time for downtime, particularly when traveling to warm destinations. Whether it's a quiet moment with a book or pretend play with stuffed animals these breaks recharge our kid’s batteries and allow us to fully appreciate the adventure ahead.
Maintain Structure: While summer travel disrupts our daily routines, we strive to maintain some semblance of structure. Adjusting to new time zones and dining customs is facilitated by adhering to consistent bedtime hours (adjusted according to customs), fostering a smoother transition for our children.
Our family adventures aren't always smooth sailing, but they're always filled with laughter, learning, and love. Through travel, we've bonded as a family, gained new perspectives, and created memories that will last a lifetime. And as we continue to explore the world together, I'm grateful for every moment we share and every lesson we learn along the way.
By Mika Street
Read her Motherhood Interview here