Jessica Lutz

Traveling with small children this holiday? Whether you’re taking off from Redmond Airport or driving through Santiam Pass and beyond with your family, don’t stress the trip. Two decades of international travel experience with children under 5 has taught me that there is no replacement for preparation. Prevent big meltdowns with three little tricks for improving travel behavior.

Have food ready

Hungry means unhappy when it comes to tiny bellies. Assemble kid-sized snacks that are familiar to your child and hand them out throughout your trip. Pre-cut their favorite fruits and raw veggies, pack granola bars, crackers, goldfish, or pretzels, bring along a few pouches and cheese sticks, maybe try dried fruit, trail mix, or raisins too. Ziplock and reusable baggies work great; but if you want to up your snack container game, we love this list by Baby Can Travel:

https://www.babycantravel.com/toddler-snack-cups-travel/

Surprise!

Before your trip, head to the Dollar Tree or one of Redmond’s unique thrift stores to purchase small, inexpensive toys, activities, books and sensory play items. If you’re driving, don’t forget to pick up a small tray or mini baking sheet for them to have a place to play. But, don’t tell the kids (yet). Surprise them with a gift intermittently (every 30 minutes to an hour) throughout the flight or drive. Accompany each gift with verbal praise to further encourage the good behavior you expect. Wrapped or unwrapped, each new surprise offers time for exploration and play, taking up precious minutes getting you ever closer to your family’s destination. Rewarding good behavior with simple, engaging manipulatives helps children adjust more easily to restrictive travel and leaves them excited for what’s next on your journey. I highly recommend using surprise toys, Playdoh or calming clay, stickers, gel window clings, party favors (like mini slinkies and mazes), Water Wow! and activity books to occupy your children’s time (and save your sanity) during this holiday’s adventure.

Give them a break

Being strapped in or told to remain in a tight space isn’t fun for anyone, especially young kids. Remember that your child has zero control over your travel plans, they are literally just along for the ride. Plus, a child’s brain doesn’t quite grasp time the same as an adult. You can make your trip more successful by giving kids clear expectations of what’s to come. “First, then” sentences work wonders, for example: “First we fly on the airplane, then grandpa will drive us to nana’s house in his green car.” or “First it will get dark outside, then we will stop the car for dinner. “First the flight attendants will push the cart down the aisle, then we can have three turns walking to the back.” Emotions will still waiver, tears may still fall, but take a deep breath, prep before you go, and you’ve got this holiday travel wrapped up!