8 Tips For Single Parents Traveling With Kids

Posted on Nov 17, 2016 | 0 comments

Just because I am newly divorced does not mean that I will be slowing our family travel schedule down at all.

Quite the opposite really! For what better way to raise my children than by having as many epic adventures together as possible?!

In light of that, I thought I would share 8 tips for single parents traveling with kids – because it really is much easier than you think, and totally worth it!

8 Tips For Single Parents Traveling With Kids

Get the kids involved. Depending on their age, find some way to involve them in the planning, the packing and the journey itself. Whether it is discussing where you will go, or teaching them how to put together a trip that fits into your budget, or handing them a list of things they need to find and pack, there is so much for them to learn by getting the kids involved.
Put your itinerary down in writing. Time flies when you are having fun. An itinerary will help keep you all on track to do everything you had wanted to do and will make life a lot easier for you in the moment with kids.
Keep all important information handy. Like passport or birth certificate info, doctors numbers, travel confirmation numbers, hotel and activity addresses and phone numbers. I like to keep these things on my phone and handwritten on a piece of paper. Keeping them in two places will ensure that they will not be lost and you can access them should the unthinkable happen.
Make a medical bag. You will want to include all of the basics – Band-Aids, Neosporin, cold medicine, ear drops, eye drops, tweezers, nose spray and then some! Keep in mind where you are going and if there are any local threats disease or animal wise as well.
Have a back-up plan. Plan B is just as important as Plan A, especially when traveling on your own with kids. I always hope for everything to go as planned, but in the event that it does not… I will be ready for it!
Take turns being the leader and encourage them to navigate you around. Meaning, let them figure out where the airline gate is, let them read the road map and try to figure out where to go or ask them to find out about the local bus or train schedules.
Bring snacks… lots of snacks!! I never go anywhere without food and traveling is no different! Snacks can calm a situation, make everyone feel better and will always bring a smile!
Enjoy it! Sometimes we can get ourselves all worked up over virtually nothing. There are always going to be bumps in the road, that is part of the fun with traveling. So do your best to relax, take it as it comes and just enjoy!