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Eating When Traveling with Your Kids on Family Vacations

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Eating When Traveling with Your Kids on Family Vacations 

 

I have to admit that one of my favorite things about travel is that it’s the only time when I really indulge in fast food.

 

� But, I also know from experience that the highs and lows of “road food” aren’t very good for either the body or the state of mind when traveling.

 

� So, when traveling with kids, I make extra sure that we’re all eating right.

 

� By making healthy eating selections, we all have a happier time traveling together.

 

� And by making smart eating decisions while traveling, we avoid spending an abundance of money that is better spent on other fun travel things.

� It’s tempting to go for the fast food when you’re traveling because it’s all around and it’s easy to access. � However, the energy that comes from eating high-sugar, high-carb foods can wear off quickly. � This can create a lot of spikes and lows in the travel experience for families which tends to make for some bad times during travel. � Instead of going this route, I’ve learned to pack the right snacks and choose the right restaurants so that we have a healthy energy level throughout the day. � We might still grab some fast food at the end of the day as a bit of a treat but the bulk of travel finds us eating well and feeling right. � The main thing that we do to eat healthy when traveling with kids is to bring a lot of our own food along. � We have snacks and mini-meals throughout the day. � This allows us to eat relatively healthy without spending money, effectively killing two birds with one stone. � However, for this to work right, we have to have a good breakfast and a good dinner to balance out the throughout-the-day snacking that we’re enjoying. � We do a combination of in-hotel breakfasts (such as oatmeal and healthy cereals) and restaurant breakfasts to keep costs down while still getting in good, healthy meals. � Then we eat our snacks throughout the day and enjoy a sit-down meal again at night. � If we’re going to eat fast food, dinner is the time that we do it. � Of course, sometimes we do eat meals throughout the day. � It’s too tempting to be out among all of a travel destination’s restaurants and to be hungry and then not eat there. � But we choose our restaurants wisely and we always share lunch meals to reduce the cost. � This allows us to try the foods at different locations without spending a lot of money on our meals. � We also make use of the grocery stores when we travel. � By having some easy meals that we can eat on the road (sandwiches and such), we further reduce our costs and don’t cut as much into travel time as we would if we stopped for a sit-down meal. � Picnics at rest areas make an excellent break in road travel and get everyone fed and feeling happy. � By coming up with creative approaches to the meals we enjoy our travels, we can make sure that our kids get the nutrients they need at a cost that doesn’t compromise the travel plans. � We all like to indulge sometimes and there’s a place for “road food” on every trip, but if we sprinkle it in with some wise decisions, we can have our cake and eat it too.

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Posted in Airplane Travel with Kids, Car Travel with Kids, Family Travel Organization & Packing, Traveling with Kids, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Why You Should Have Suitcases For Kids

Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Why You Should Have Suitcases For Kids

When you travel, do you pack everything in one or two suitcases which a parent carries throughout the trip?

 

� If so, you could be missing out on teaching your kids important travel techniques; not to mention that you could be making travel harder on yourself!

 

� Consider having a suitcase for each of your kids from the time that they are old enough to walk on their own so that they can learn travel skills and ease the burden of travel.

 

� Having their own suitcases will make the kids feel like an important part of the travel process and will help create that family travel experience which is so important to making a memorable trip.

� Having their own suitcases to take on each trip helps kids learn important travel tips which they will use throughout their lives. � Through the experience of packing the suitcase, carrying it along on the trip and using the items it contains, your kids will learn about how to appropriately pack only what they need. � Of course, you’ll be overseeing the packing of the suitcases but the fact that kids are directly involved and responsible for some of their items will help them to gain the skills they will use on their own travels one day. � Letting kids have suitcases of their own will also ease some of the travel burden for you as a parent. � You’re probably already going to be carrying a lot of items with you; purses and your own bags and shopping items and all of the other necessary trip things are going to fill up your arms. � If your kids can carry important items like their own snacks, you’ll have your hands freed up a bit and they’ll be able to easily access what they need without having to dig through all of your stuff. � Keep in mind, though, that kids do get tired while traveling and you may need to hang on to their suitcases so never allow them to bring more than what you’ll be able to carry if you need to. � And make sure that you have extra needed items (such as diapers) in your own suitcase in case your child accidentally loses his or her suitcase. � By having their own suitcases and being able to access what they need from them, kids feel more involved in the trip. � Taking care of their suitcases gives them a focused activity to keep travel more relaxed and being part of the family travel process helps them to feel more involved in the trip. � Some families get matching suitcases or all decorate their suitcases together to enhance this shared trip feeling. � Imagine the excitement that your kids will feel when trying to find your personally-decorated suitcases together at baggage claim. � It is this feeling that will stick with your family when the trip is over. � Before you know it, you’re going to be standing at the gate waving to your grown child as he or she embarks on solo travel. � You’ll be more comfortable if you know that you’ve given your child the travel skills that he or she needs to travel safely. � That starts with knowing how to pack for the trip which you will have taught them by giving them their own suitcases as kids. � Just imagine, one day, you’ll be standing at baggage claim with them and their kids, looking for those personalized suitcases that your family knows and loves!

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How To Keep Kids Happy During Plane Travel

Thursday, March 13th, 2008
How To Keep Kids Happy During Plane Travel

Airplane travel with your kids can be a stressful experience.

� Getting through security, making your connecting flights, dealing with unexpected delays and worrying about the physical effects of travel on your kids can make you feel entirely overwhelmed.

� To reduce that stress, you want to keep your kids as happy as possible on the plane ride so that you can relax enough to deal with any problems that come up.

� You want them comfortable, entertained and feeling safe so that the plane ride goes as smoothly as possible despite the inherent difficulties of airplane travel with kids.



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The first thing that you want to remember when traveling via plane with your kids is that they’re going to be happier if you’re happy.

� You should try to have as relaxed a trip as possible, giving yourself plenty of time to check-in so that you aren’t feeling rushed and upset during the flight.

� Problems will come up during plane travel, so just expect to deal with them.

� Having a happy parent present goes a long way towards making your kids feel comfortable on the plane.



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Kids should also feel physically comfortable during the plane ride so that they are happy.

� This includes wearing appropriate clothing (light but with layers or blankets available in case they get cold), being fed (bring snacks on the plane for your kids to enjoy) and being well-rested.

� Try to schedule your plane travel with regard to your child’s sleeping patterns.� If you want your child to sleep on the flight, schedule it during his normal nap time, but take into consideration the fact that your child may be tired and cranky if he can’t sleep on the plane.

� You know your kids, so plan for what works for them.



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Once your child is physically comfortable, he or she will need to be entertained because boredom is the thing second to physical discomfort that will make your kids unhappy on the plane.

� There are three things that you should have at your ready to keep kids entertained on the plane.

� One is media - headphones, video players, game boys - whatever suits your child.

� The next is toys or books; bring something small that your child can enjoy for awhile, whether that’s an action figure or a pre-teen novel.

� Magazines, puzzle books, and stuffed animals are other items that fall into this category.

� Finally, bring your imagination.

� If the flight is taking a long time and your child is no longer entertained by media and toys, you can engage him or her in conversation and no-toys-necessary games to pass the time.



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Finally, you should remember that plane travel may frighten your child so you should make sure that he or she feels safe.

� Discuss the flight in advance and make it seem exciting and fun to allay any fears that your child may have about being on the plane.

� Bring an airplane-safe car seat for children under forty pounds and make sure to strap older children into their seat belts so that they feel secure.

� And remember to pay attention to your child’s concerns and feelings throughout the flight despite all of the other travel things that are trying to get your attention.

� If you have a happy, entertained, comfortable child on the plane with you, the rest going right is really just icing on the travel cake.

Posted in Airplane Travel with Kids, Entertaining Kids During Travel, Traveling with Kids, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Hawaii with your Kids

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007
Ideas for Family Travel to Hawaii

Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Hawaii with your Kids

� Many families think that it is unrealistic for them to plan a summer vacation to Hawaii. Perhaps Hawaii seems like a romantic destination that you should’ve gone to for your honeymoon, not a place to take your young kids. Or maybe the idea of flying to an island, kids in tow, seems a little bit overwhelming. Or perhaps what concerns many families is that travel to Hawaii seems like it must be expensive and so it’s probably not something that you and your kids can do on a budget. But just a little bit of research will prove all of these fears to be wrong. Hawaii is a terrific family destination which can be reached by a relatively quick flight and experienced on a budget by the wise traveler.



You don’t really want to have to wait until your kids are all grown up and you’re on your second honeymoon to experience the magic of Hawaii, do you? Of course not. And just think what a great experience this kind of trip will be for your kids to remember in the years to come. You certainly won’t ever hear them whining that you never took them anywhere! Whether you want to stick to The Big Island or explore throughout the area, the Hawaiian Islands offer the perfect combination of activity and relaxation for your family.

The Big Island

Many families choose to spend their time on “the big island”. The “top five family activities” here, according to the official tourism website of the state are:

“� Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii - If one of your kids is a budding astronomer, the planetarium and science center here will appeal to your family. “� Kilauea Visitor Center - Your family can go here together to safely explore an active volcano. “� Kohala Coast - The beauty and serenity of Spencer Beach Park is perfect for relaxing while your kids play by the waterside. “� Mauna Kea - Another spot where your family can explore the stars, but this one is via telescopes instead of just exhibits. “� Parker Ranch - You may not think of Hawaii as a destination for learning about cowboys and taking old-fashioned wagon rides, but there were cowboys here and your kids will love learning about them.

The Other Islands

Rather than sticking to “the big island” some families enjoy the exploration of the other Hawaiian islands. Travel between the islands is relatively inexpensive if you plan ahead and look for bargains. Each of the following islands offers something for families:

“� Kauai - Beautiful lush botanical gardens, working vanilla and cocoa farms, and the option to experience a traditional luau are all part of the family travel experience at Kauai. “� Lanai - Horseback riding, tide pool exploration and going golfing with your older kids can all be done at laidback Lanai. “� Maui - The Maui Ocean Center, the Paper Airplane Museum, and the Hawaii Nature Center are just a few of the indoor places you go enjoy with your family on the island of Maui. That doesn’t even get into the beauty of the outdoors here! “� Molokai - If you want to take your family to a part of Hawaii not as often seen by the average traveler, consider this island. It’s considered to be “Old Hawaii”. “� Oahu - Known for being the home of the capital of Honolulu, Oahu offers much in the way of urban tourist activities. The beaches are family-friendly and allow for dolphin watching, the sloping mountains are great for easy hikes that the kids can enjoy with you, and the history of the area includes Pearl Harbor as well as various museums.

� Here are more ideas for Family Vacations in Hawaii!

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