Traveling With Kids: Make the Journey Part of the Fun

Traveling with kids can be one of the most rewarding ways to make family memories. It can also feel a little overwhelming if you’re trying to think of everything at once. The secret is preparation without overplanning. Give yourself a little extra time, expect the unexpected and remember that the goal isn’t a perfect trip. It’s a great family experience.

Start preparing early

A few weeks before your trip, start making a simple list of everything your family will need. Think about passports, travel documents, medications, favourite comfort items, clothing, snacks and anything your children would be upset to leave behind.

For international travel, check destination specific health advice and vaccination recommendations well ahead of departure. The CDC recommends speaking with a healthcare professional or travel medicine specialist several weeks before international travel when possible.

Let the kids be part of the planning

Children often enjoy a trip more when they feel like they’re part of it.

Let them help choose an activity, pick a special snack for the flight or decide what small toy they’d like to bring. Older children can even help look at the destination and choose something they’d like to see.

It gives them something to look forward to and makes the vacation feel like their adventure too.

Pack a small entertainment bag

Instead of putting everything into one large carry-on, give each child a small travel bag.

Add a few favourite things such as headphones, colouring supplies, a small book, cards, a tablet or favourite toy.

Here’s the fun part: don’t give them everything at once. Having a few things tucked away for later can make a long journey feel much shorter.

Pack snacks you know they’ll eat

Airport and airplane food isn’t always what a child is hoping for.

Bring familiar snacks that are appropriate for your journey and destination. Having something they recognize can be especially helpful when they’re tired or simply decide they don’t like the meal that’s being offered.

For international travel, check the food and customs rules for the destination before packing anything.

Give yourself more time

One of the best pieces of family travel advice is simple: don’t rush.

Children need extra time for bathrooms, snacks, shoes, security, boarding and all those little things that somehow take longer when you're traveling.

Arriving with enough time to walk through the airport calmly is much better than starting the vacation feeling stressed.

Make the airport part of the adventure

Instead of saying, “We have to wait,” turn waiting into something fun.

Look for airplanes together. Count how many different airlines you can spot. Let the kids watch the baggage belts or make a little airport scavenger hunt.

Sometimes the simplest things become the memories they talk about later.

Bring one comfort item from home

A favourite stuffed animal, small blanket or familiar toy can make a big difference, especially for younger children.

New surroundings, different beds and unfamiliar routines can be a lot for little ones. Something familiar can help make a hotel room or airplane feel a little more like home.

Don’t schedule every minute

It’s tempting to want to see everything when you’re on vacation.

With children, though, some of the best days are the ones where you leave room to slow down.

Plan one or two important activities and leave some free time for swimming, playing, exploring or simply relaxing together.

Have a plan for tired moments

Even the happiest child can become a very different child when they’re hungry, tired or overwhelmed.

Build in quiet time when possible. Let younger children nap if they need to. Don’t be afraid to skip an activity if everyone needs a break.

A vacation doesn’t have to be busy to be memorable.

Give older kids a little responsibility

Older children can carry their own small backpack, keep track of their headphones or help check that everyone has their belongings before leaving a hotel room.

You can even give them a small vacation job, such as being the official photographer or helping read the day's itinerary.

It gives them a sense of independence while still keeping everyone involved.

Think about the little things at your destination

Before you leave, find out where the closest pharmacy, grocery store and medical facility are located.

If your child takes medication, bring enough for the trip plus extra in case of delays. Keep important medications accessible rather than packed somewhere you can't easily reach. The CDC also recommends having a plan for accessing healthcare while traveling.

Water and sun safety matter

Family vacations often mean pools, beaches and lots of time outdoors.

Keep a close eye on children around water and use appropriate life jackets when needed. Pack sunscreen, hats and comfortable clothing for sunny destinations.

Remember that a beautiful beach day can still be exhausting for little ones.

Make the trip itself a memory

Take pictures, but don't feel like you have to photograph everything.

Let the kids collect memories in their own way. Maybe it's a postcard, a shell, a drawing, a funny story from the airplane or a little travel journal.

Years later, those small things can mean just as much as the big attractions.

And remember...

Things probably won't go according to plan.

Someone may spill something. Someone may get tired. A flight may be delayed. Someone may suddenly decide they don't like the restaurant you carefully chose. But that's family travel.

Take a breath, adjust the plan and keep going. The best vacations aren't always the ones where everything goes perfectly. They're the ones where everyone comes home with stories to tell.

A simple family travel checklist

Before you leave home, make sure you have:

Passports and required travel documents
Travel insurance information
Medications and a small first aid kit
Comfort items for younger children
Snacks and refillable water bottles where appropriate
Headphones and entertainment
Weather appropriate clothing
Swimsuits and sun protection
Any required car seats or booster seats
Emergency contact information
A little extra time built into your schedule

Leave a little room for fun because sometimes the best part of traveling with kids isn't what you planned to do. It's what happens along the way.