Hints for Traveling with Kids
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Travel with kids takes a slightly different approach. It needs to be about them and their experience. They are not coming along on your trip – you are coming along on theirs. Take a slightly different approach when traveling with kids. Let them paddle when they want to (expect them to get tired!). They will need appropriately sized paddles. Stop often, even just to explore a spot. It’s all new to them.
Make sure each has a pack to carry personal things, even if it’s just a teddy bear and a juice box. Don’t overload them but include them. Let them carry their own snacks. Engage them in planning and map reading. Give them power to make decisions (and plan to live with those decisions). Bring a hammock.
Have fun – hold back on the agenda so that the tense moments are minimal. Engage them in every task. Be flexible with time and goals. Look for crayfish. Bring rainy day activities in the tent – Legos®, cards, etc.
Put on dirty clothes and rain gear and hang out in the rain. Do the puddle things. Do the mud thing. Wear the rain pants after the rain until all the foliage is dry. Don’t go barefoot. Bring sunglasses. Use sunscreen.
Make sure they drink lots of water. They need good clothes, warm, comfortable and dry, more than you do. Swim with shoes or sandals on. Always use barbless hooks when fishing with kids. Don’t be their servant; they can help with dishes too. Head nets and long sleeves are better than bug spray but sometimes you need both.
Read bedtime stories, but not scary ones. Have more adults than kids if the children are very young. Let them get dirty if they want to. Let them pee on the ground – it could get your child to give up diapers. Come at times when bugs are minimal and weather is likely to be warm – July and August are good bets. Most kids can handle an hour of travel time per year of age – that’s total travel time per day. Little kids = short trips.
