Spring break is coming for many schools and the best way to handle the upcoming travel is to be prepared! To minimize your stress and streamline your parental travel experience consider the following tips from our early childhood learning expert, Emily Andrews, M.S.Ed.

Tip 1: The packing

There are two types of non-luggage, carry-on, entertainment-type bags to consider when traveling with young children. The first is the bag you let them pack themselves. Their own little backpack. 

You give them an outline. “You are going to pack your own bag for the plane. You can put into it:

• One lovey
• One snack
• One water bottle
• One book
• One small toy that will keep you busy. 

Keep them small, please. Nothing else, otherwise it will be too heavy.”  

As long as they pack those items and they opt for light/small enough things, they get to choose. It will help if you choose the backpack and hand it to them ensuring it is a small enough size. This builds their sense of agency, helps them learn about planning, and gives them the sense that they can participate in the exciting work of packing and planning for a trip. 

The second bag is your secret stash bag. Not your purse, we need more space! Instead, use a small zippered tote with long enough handles so you can sling it over your shoulder while running. You put this bag open in your closet, out of reach or sight, a week before you leave on your trip and you begin sticking things in it, as you think of them or come across them. 

These will be things your children rarely get, for example: 

• iPad with new movies downloaded
• New toys they’ve never seen before that allow for extended engagement
• Fidgets
• A new book

The key is that the items are new and awesome. They do not see this bag, maybe ever, you do not tell them you are bringing surprises. These are your top secret bust outs for when things get hard and you need quick and handy resources. 

Tip 2: Screens

As I mentioned in Tip 1, if you choose to bring an iPad, do not make it a default. In other words, do not start with the iPad. It is dysregulating when they have to come off of it for whatever reason and leaves their brain reeling and intolerant of the simple little books and toys that they/you have thoughtfully packed. Save the screens for when they’ve exhausted everything else (book, snack, and walk around the plane, etc). And remember headphones!

Tip 3: Snacks

Small stainless steel containers or ziplocks with individual serving sizes work well so you don’t exhaust all of your snacks at one time. Remember, travel food is basically fried food, processed food, and sugar so counter that by bringing some wholesome and balancing things from home that you know your children actually like: 

• Pomegranate seeds
• Pistachios
• Quesadillas with beans and cheese
• Fruits and berries
• Rolled up turkey slices and cheese
• Carrots and cucumber slices with hummus
• Yogurt pouches
• Raisins
• Hard boiled eggs
• Cheese sticks 
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Using their bento lunch boxes is also helpful as a complete lunch box with lots of choices can buy you some time.

Tip 4: Entertainment

Parents may be wondering: So, what are these toys and playthings that I should be bringing along in my secret bag? 

Here is a list of suggestions by age. (*Of course, things are not always developmental. One must account for individual differences and unique interests. There isn’t one toy that only works for one age. Each child likes what they like, so please take the below guide as a general list of ideas, and look through it with your own child in mind, disregarding age recommendations that don’t apply to your child).

Babies and young toddlers

• Pacifiers and new exciting things attached to pacifiers like wub-a-nubs or a fun new strap so the pacifier doesn’t go on the floor
• New board books with lift the flaps
• Things you endlessly take away from them such as keys, chargers, and remote controls (I can’t emphasize these enough! They come in clutch)
• Snacks
• Things to make napping more possible (baby carrier, sleep sacks, etc
• Handheld light up toys that don’t make a ton of noise for an emergency melt down moment (see your local children’s consignment shop or ask a neighbor if they have one so it's new to your child. Novelty is key.)

Three and four year olds

• Look and Find Books such as My Big Wimmel book
• Yoto Players with headphones
• Reusable stickers to put on plane and car windows
• Wikki Sticks
• Melissa and Doug Water Wow painting books
• A small container with putty or clay
• Some figurines for airplane tray tables
• A lollipop (These last forever! If you are going to give them sugar, let it buy you some time).

Five years and older

• Activity books with mazes, connect the dots, and/or word puzzles
• Washi tape and paper
• Lacing cards
• LEGO bricks in a zipper pouch bag
• Sensory fidgets
• Card games
• Bracelet making materials: string or rainbow looms (not beads)
• Animal chopsticks to stretch that snack time out
• A new book
• Rubik's cube
• Scented colored pencils
• Magnet chess
• Podcasts and audiobooks on the iPad or on the speaker in the car for the whole family to enjoy together.

Try to pace breaking out some of these exciting things. Starting a journey, even in one’s own car, is exciting in and of itself. Allow your child that time to settle into the trip and process their new surroundings before breaking things out. They may have some questions about the trip for you or things that they want to share. Talk to your child, play guessing games, and share memories before breaking out any of the fun surprises above. Last tip: Hand sanitizer and wipes! 

Safe travels and happy spring break!