Children thrive on routine, and travel is a disruption to the regular routine. By preparing our kids and ensuring they know what to expect we can help them feel more secure and less anxious about what's to come.
Below are a few ways you can prepare your child for their upcoming adventure.
Discuss the trip in advance
The very first thing you want to discuss is that the trip is happening. I completely understand wanting to surprise your kids with a fun new experience and it's totally okay to keep some of the details a surprise... but your child should at least be aware that there's going to be a day of travel soon, even if they don't know the final destination.
The second thing you want to discuss is what exactly to expect during the travel day and, depending on your plans, what will happen at your destination as well. This is especially helpful with younger children and children who don't have a lot of travel experience.
If your kid has any questions or is curious about your destination, that's a great thing to discuss as well! You can start to explore some of the food and customs of the location, listen to their music, or point out where it is on a map.
Read books & watch movies
Age-appropriate books and shows/movies are a fantastic way to introduce your child to both travel itself and your travel destination! You can find books about airplanes, trains, road trips, camping, as well as pretty much every country in the world. There are several children's book series that cover each of the United States and Canadian provinces, as well. And don't forget about travel activity books!
It can be a little more difficult to find movies for the younger crowd that take place in a specific destination, but there are many options for kids ages 8 and up. Look for films that don't just take place in the location, but also showcase the country's culture and traditions. Think of films such as Coco (Mexico), Hugo (France), and The Princess and the Frog (New Orleans).
Role Play
Role play is a particularly great way to prepare children for their upcoming travel day(s). It goes a step beyond discussing what to expect by giving them an opportunity to "experience" what's to come by acting out the situation in a comfortable, stress-free environment.
Have a flight coming up? You can role play everything from driving to the airport, dropping off luggage, going through security and customs, finding their seat on the airplane, and more. It's also fun to give them an opportunity to take over other people's roles in the flight process, like the flight attendant or pilot. Be sure to include information they'll need to know, like keeping their seatbelt on when the "fasten seatbelt" light is on.
Beyond airport travel, role play can help prepare your child for how to behave in certain settings (i.e. a quiet museum), how to stay safe in uncertain circumstances (i.e. getting lost at a theme park), and what to expect from new experiences (i.e. their first time surfing). Tailor the role play to your individual travel plans, needs, and experiences.
Get Them Involved
Getting your child involved in your vacation plans helps them take responsibility and feel a sense of ownership over the trip. And after all, planning the trip is half the fun!
Your kid's involvement can take many shapes and forms depending on their age and your individual child. For the youngest children, it can be as simple as giving them a few choices about what clothes to pack or what movie they want to watch on the flight. Even asking them what part of the trip they're most excited about can make them feel more involved.
As they get older you can ask them to help pack their own activity bag or suitcase. Just be sure to check it over when they're done and verify that all the important items made it into their bag (a packing check list can help with this). You don't want to arrive at the airport and discover nothing but stickers as entertainment, or finally reach your destination and find out your child has no underwear for the week!
No matter what age your child is, giving them a say in what you see or do upon arrival is a fantastic way to get them excited about the trip. For younger children who can't do their own research yet, find a few options in advance for them to select from. For older kids, setting some ground rules can help you avoid running into potential conflicts, such as activity age/weight limits or picking something that the rest of the family has no interest in.
You certainly don't need to tackle all of these ideas, but any way you can prepare your child for what's to come will make them feel less anxious, and your family's travels will be more enjoyable.