Family Vacation Tips
Car trips:
l Bring healthful snacks for the children to munch on.
l Build in plenty of rest/play stops. If the weather’s bad, stop at one of the fast-food restaurants with indoor playlands.
l Use the time to teach them all the state capitals and the presidents in chronological order.
l Many popular board games are available in travel size with magnetic pieces.
l Have the children practice their oral reading skills. Some favorite books for the whole family include the Chronicles of Narnia, the Boxcar Children series, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
l If motion sickness is a problem, rent, buy or borrow books on tape.
Plane trips:
l Frontier Airlines now has Direct TV on some of their flights, and for $5, your child can watch any of 20 or so channels, including Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Boomerang.
l For children with inner ear problems, have them chew gum, suck on candy or drink a bottle. Buy Ear plugs, pressure control ear valves, or give your child some decongestant right before take-off.
l Use pre-flight time to let your children get rid of excess energy. Many airports now have play areas. Or let your children walk the moving walkways.
l Take children to the bathroom before boarding and landing.