Minutes to Memories: On the Road to Family Fun
With three little ones, getting on a plane and managing the mayhem has become something of a science in our house. Over the last seven years (and multiple family trips) I have learned how to minimize meltdowns and make getting there actually fun! Here are some of the ideas that we use when we travel:
Block and Tackle
I believe the key to making family travel enjoyable is crafting a travel plan that weaves in fun experiences every 15-30 minutes. Our family does this by asking a few key questions before every trip: What time to we need to get up? How long in the airport before we leave? How long in the air? Train? Car? What time is it when we arrive? What about snacks and naps along the way? Then, we block the trip out into 15-30 minute segments, making it easier to tackle by identifying what the event, activity and keys to success are for each.
For example:
- Event - Flight leaves at 7:45.
- Activity - Get checked in, kids have an hour in the airport.
- Keys to Success - Print out boarding passes before leaving the house, then at the airport, find a quiet corner where the kids can run to get their jollies out before getting on the plane.
Share the Plan
Imagine stepping off of what you think is your last flight only to find you have another plane ride and a 30-minute drive before you get to the real fun. That feeling is the same one our kids get if we don't set expectations clearly and let them in on the master plan. My kids now measure flights in the number of DVDs they can watch rather than hours it takes. So, we explain there will be time for one movie on this flight and a chance to have a nap, then we will play and read. We also talk to them about the transitions (i.e., changing planes, getting the rental car) so they'll know what to expect along the way.
Delight and Surprise
A little surprise can be a great thing during long chunks of travel on the plane or in the car. We like to combine activities with two to four little gifts or surprises. Taking the time to wrap crayons and a drawing book, a little puzzle or a soft toy can turn a long trip into something peppered with delight.
Some of my favorite things to wrap are:
- Small handheld puzzles, labyrinths, twist-and-solve mind teasers
- Crayons and coloring or sketch books
- Madlibs
- Tubes of little animals or figurines like road repair or airport crew -- so we can play zoo or veterinarian, or tell stories and act them out
- A new movie, and perhaps a coloring or story book from the movie
It can also be fun to wrap a favorite toy or book they might have had to leave behind and bring that.
Some sure-fire winners to pass the time are:
- 20Q by Radica, just a fantastic interactive guessing game for at least 20-30 minutes of fun
Etch a Sketch, a classic
- Rubik's cube
- Books you love to read to them, and also some favorites they can read to themselves or to you
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