Vacation- How to Engage Kids while Traveling


Even though vacations can be a life changing experience, sometimes going with kids can be very much stressful and can cause a terrible headache and it can be boring for them as well, that's why they are kids anyways. Sometimes even adults give a headache as well. When the journey seems too long impatience can set in as everyone gradually gets tired, bored and starts murmuring and complaining.



Here are few ways to keep the kids in check so they don't add to the troubles of being in the fore front of the whole vacation plans as the adult which you obviously have to deal with. It doesn’t matter whether you have to go by air, land or sea, these will surely come handy.

Travel Journal

Another ways to keep them engaged write individual travel journal, they should as well try writing a story on the journey. This depends on the age of your kids though. Younger kids can tell their own stories with pictures and before you know it they will be very serious with the assignment when they hear there is a price involved. Even adults will do anything when a price is involved with something so leverage this point to have the peace of mind as you proceed and plan ahead for the journey.

Game Consoles

A lot of parents disapprove the use of game consoles at home by kids because of how the abuse it and it ends up being a bad idea to have bought it for them at all but for a long distance trip this can save you so much trouble from the kids. This will work out just fine especially if you initially seized it from them for a long time before now, then this will be a good time to give it back temporarily as it will help keep them busy for as long as the trip lasts. Time limits should be set though so the child can have a few minutes or hours of rest to eat and sleep.

Music and Movie Player

Get prepared before going on a journey with kids. Instead of renting headphones for gadgets from airlines you can get yours from home or purchase one before getting to the airport. A music or video device along with headphones solves it all in this case, I mean… who doesn't want to watch or listen to a favorite movies or songs which could actually play on for hours, but you should take note of headphones precaution to have the device volume at a moderate level because of the child tear ears. This could be with the use of a Tab or Mobile but the screens should be big enough and place in stationery position so it doesn’t stress the child after a long time. Ensure to have loaded age appropriate songs or videos.

Digital Camera

You can hand the child a digital camera if possible and give the child an assignment to click a photo of every interest thing he see's on the way but make him understand that it’s bad to click a photo of strangers at a close range to avoid trouble. Make sure the batteries are fully charged or plugged while doing that and if the camera uses disposable batteries then make sure you have enough extras to last the whole journey. It's not a good idea if the camera should go off, else you will be back to square one of "kids trouble".

Creative Supplies

This can vary with the age of your kids anyways but basically you should have them come along with stuffs like their story books, crayons, pen, jotter and any other stuff you feel will engage them for the journey. Children tend to love their stuffs more when they are new so buying a new crayon park or marker will add a little spicing here, except the one’s they have aren’t old. You can as simple as give the child a simple but interesting as well as engaging assignment to write down, take inventory or draw out events of people or things of their interest which they noticed on while on the journey. This is something they should do when the journey begins and end and not when packing, rushing into the car or plane or unpacking at destination. You can promise a special gift to the child which depends on how much interesting things the child is able to take record of, this should get some seriousness in the child.

Interactive Games

Keeping the little one’s busy with games is another way to keep them calm. This could be physical games among themselves to challenge their intellects. A few suggestions could be asking the child practicing a better hand writing, a memory games where they gets asked either by you or among themselves different questions about school or the journey, making case study sentences with situations they noticed, plus a few others you can add to this.

Pack Eatables

This is a must for children if you want peace to reign, lol... It is good to make sure you get fruits, beverages, snacks and food as much as possible with you. Even you the adult might need to eat something at some point especially if it's a very long journey. After eating encourage them to sleep for some time and they could resume with their engagement when they wake up, this ways everything gets balanced i.e. play and rest, after all it’s a vacation trip. Always pack food with the preference of the kids in consideration else they won’t eat it and if you force them they won’t eat it with joy. You want them to be happy about the journey so this should be highly considered.

Traveling can be fun or boring depends on how you have prepared for it. Always put a priority to your kid’s excitement about the journey and you will never have to bang the sterling wheel or scream in the aircraft. You can always make the journey exciting for everyone as well as the vacation.

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