Traveling With Kids, Remember to Pack These Items

Traveling with kids is the highlight of our summer. We always pre-plan our summer travel for at least a year in advance. That means the kids are aware of where we are going and they are counting down the days until our family travel adventure. Traveling with kids can be a bit overwhelming if you are not prepared, so just imagine traveling with the grandkids and you are a bit older and [a bit slower]. 

“To Travel is to Live” – Hans Christian Andersen

You know we love to travel. Travel is a way for us to escape reality and submerge ourselves in the environment of the city/country we are visiting. It is easy for us to throw something in the suitcase and hop in the car and hit the road. Sometimes we wake up and decide to go somewhere and don’t worry about what to pack. We can just wing it. 

Oh…..but it’s not that easy when you are traveling with kids. 

Why It’s Important to Travel With Your Kids

Travel is a way to explore areas that are not familiar to you. Travel with kids allows you to open their eyes and hearts to new opportunities and plant seeds of exploration in them. If you have not traveled with your kids and are just planning your first trip or if this is your hundred trip as a family, here are 5 reasons family travel is important:

1. To create long-lasting family memories. 
2. Learn history without being confined to a classroom.
3. Traveling can expose your kids to new places, people, cultures, and things.
4. Impacting and planting the seed of helping your kids envision their future.
5. FUN…it’s just plain ole fun.

One of the most overlooked reasons for traveling as a family is: building an awesome communication style. 

When on vacation and visiting new places, the opportunities to talk more about what you are experiencing allows you as parents to learn more about your kids and your kids can learn from you. 

But, you plan an amazing family vacation and you get to your destination only to find out you don’t have half the stuff you need.  

 Has this ever happened to you? 

Family Packing List for Vacation

Have you ever forgotten a toothbrush, underwear, or even a whole suitcase? Don’t you dare laugh, we have experienced all of that. 

Planning a family vacation is the easy part. Packing for a family of 3 or more is the task that causes most headaches. When it comes to packing for a family vacation, make sure you schedule/allocated enough time to:

1. Write out a list of items to pack for each member of the family. Yes, make each person their own list. 
2. Allow each person the option to add to their list. 
3. Shop for missing items.

Now, here’s the tricky thing: we know the basic travel essentials: clothes, toothbrush/paste, and underwear but sometimes we forget that our kids live in an electronic age. If you are traveling anywhere that is 5 minutes from home, you want to make sure you have their electronics charged, the charging port, batteries, and any other items to keep them happy with their electronics.      

However, right now, in 2020, we aren’t traveling as much as we would due to the pandemic; however, there are still ways for you to travel with your kids and stay safe. Keep in mind that some states are still under mandatory quarantine, so proceed with caution. 

If you do plan to travel this year with your family, please make sure you include PPE and/or masks and hand sanitizer to your packing list. 

Family Travel Precautions During the Pandemic

I know we are all itching to get outside and enjoy the scenery and many of you are taking your family on short weekend getaways. If you are traveling by car, keep these tips in mind to keep you and your family safe:

1. Limit your stops.
2. Wipe down any door handles and gas pump handles before touching them. 
3. Take small hand soap with you to use instead of the soap in gas station bathrooms. 
4. Pick up your food from restaurants. Do not dine in. 
5. Visit places that have enough space for your family to practice social distancing. 

Travel this year is a bit different for all of us. If you are planning to travel with your kids, make sure you have checked your packing list a couple of times to make sure you have everything you need. 

Download my Family Travel Packing list to help you plan and pack for your family vacation with the kids. 

Comment below and let me know if you and your family are traveling this summer? Better yet, tweet me (@datingmyspouse) your answer.