What’s your worst travelling with kids story? I’ve collected some corkers today, plus a great prize to cheer us up!
I’ve been fairly lucky travelling with my kids, apart from being weed on, on a plane to Spain (always carry spare clothes for you and for kids) and the extra 6 hours at Malta airport, (on my husband’s 40th of all days – at least we had the Hard Rock Cafe to hang out in) it has all been pretty manageable.
My husband is great at loading up his tablet with loads of new cartoons they have never seen before, which always keeps them quiet. But a tablet in small hands, while brilliant, is also one more thing you might lose, and leaves us twiddling our thumbs, which is why I love today’s prize!
“On the Movies” is a great new range of kids back packs designed to keep both kids and parents happy on the move!
The adorable animal backpacks contain a high brightness 7in touch screen Tablet PC, allowing you to play movies/games, go online on the move!
A transparent window in the pocket of the backpack lets the kids watch, and use the tablet whilst actually in the bag!
The specially designed kids tablets have a coloured bumper protective case. As well as playing movies, kids can take photos with the integrated camera, and play them on their bag. On the movies tablets come with a high resolution 1024 x800 screen, and 8GB storage allowing you to download photos, games. Apps, Music and Movies.. Additionally, up to 32GB Micro SD is supported, allowing you to add more storage as required.
The high quality Dual core tablet comes with a wide selection of Educational and fun games pre-loaded. USB, and HDMI ports allow connection to other computers or TV to download films or more apps.
What was your worst experience of travelling with kids?
Mine’s a 10 hour overnight flight where GG wanted all 4 seats in order to sleep! Helen, SIYC
Getting to our Wiltshire hotel, after a 3.5 hour drive, and discovering we’d left our child’s suitcase at home! Alison, SIYC
Travelling home from Corfu with a 5 and 18 month old – the plane was delayed by 18 hours and I had to try and entertain bored children in an airport that literally had nothing to do – we didn’t get offered food or drink and Callan ended up stealing people’s Pringles! Kara, Chelsea Mama.
Long haul is always going to be a challenge, but worth it for the rewards..
My first long-haul journey with the girls (8 months and 2.5). I flew to America for my brother’s wedding and my husband flew separately a week later. As I sat in my seat waiting for everyone else to disembark, feeling like a pariah, a woman with a Southern (American) accent rested her hand on my shoulder and said simply “I was praying for you”. Kelly, Domestic Goddesque
Coming home from Florida and the airline sold our seats to people that had been stranded for a week. We had to stay overnight in an awful hotel in Atlanta and were told we’d have to sleep in the airport after that, for up to 2 weeks! A lovely lady took pity on us with 2 kids and a pregnant mum and got us on a business class flight home. We were so grateful we named our baby after her! Marcia is her middle name. It’s kind of cool when people ask how we named our kids. Susanne, GhostwriterMum.com
Some of you are more adventurous about family travel
Driving from Florida to Utah (2500 miles) with two toddlers and two big burly men, being six months pregnant, in a minivan packed with everything important to us. At the height of summer. Littlest got sick and puked all over and the smell was impossible to get rid of for three days. Never again!! Katie
Teaching a 6yo to use a squat toilet in the dark – or, more importantly, how to leap up with your knickers round your ankles when you realise the toilet is infested with cockroaches. Helen
Sometimes it isn’t your own kids who are the challenge…
In 1998, on a three day train journey across India, a boy of about ten years old approached me for a cigarette and then hung around hassling me before I fell asleep, he stole my money and my shoes … Guy
The Giveaway
The lucky winner will be able to choose a fab On the Movies back pack, from available stock at the time. Just follow the rafflecopter instructions! Don’t miss our other giveaway.
Test entry only – not eligible
Oh I love Ghostwriter Mum’s story! What a horror of a trip!
Oh these make me glad I haven’t had any real disasters (yet) with my daughter – Air France losing my suitcase for five days of a seven-day trip to Madagascar (not the easiest place to restock) probably tops my list, thankfully I didn’t have to worry about her too.
take plenty of books and puzzles and be prepared to do singalongs
Always have enough to keep them entertained 🙂
I tend to travel really early or really late so my four children will sleep for most of the journey!
play eye spy
don’t go very far and have a sick box!!
Being prepared – sounds obvious but thinking outside the box – what if there are delays ? illness? upsets ? I always take spare all sorts and lots of ideas for games in cars and airports to help keep them happy x
take lots of sweets xx
Leave plenty of time.
I’d say no slush drinks the day of travelling my kids had one each got on the bus home from butlins for my son to be sick in his sisters hair then my daughter was sick because of the smell yuck
bring lots of toys to keep her entertained and snacks
Think ahead of travel friendly games to keep them occupied , Children get bored quickly x
Patience and also be prepared!
1- Print eye-spy sheets out and get the kids to cross items off the list when they see them
2- In-car DVD players
3- Tray tables and take play-doh and colouring books.
Colouring books, Games and This backpack! Would love to be considered. Many Thanks
to have a plan of things to do to keep them occupied for the journey
What should have been a four or five hour drive to Butlins Minehead turned out to take eight hours with a 24-month-old boy was a nightmare! At one point my son’s car seat started sliding across the back seat and later on, my son had the biggest wee in history and soaked his entire outfit and carseat! Needless to say he ended up having to sit on some carrier bags until we finally arrived to our destination, which ended up being a nightmare in itself!
Top tip: bring toys, or a portable video player … anything to keep the kids distracted.
Regular stops to burn off some dinner 🙂
plenty of fun things to do to stop the boredom
Easy – don’t travel when they are awake. It’s busy here on the roads in the daytime, escape from Cornwall UK at night is the best time to travel. Kids will sleep through.
Music – we love singing songs and making songs up 🙂
little snacks, drinks, potty to hand, wipes, sick bowl and lots of car games to keep boredom and bickering at bay…for a while anyway;)
car bingo works great with the kids
take a tablet
Talking story tapes
Take plenty of things along to keep them entertained
Take snacks and easy things to do to keep them entertained – & yourself sane!
I would aim to have a Responsible Adult who can occupy the children with games etc during travelling. I find that children need to be provided with a variety of toys, snacks etc, and frequent breaks /stops where they can exercise, get to the toilet etc.
Take plenty of books and games but also carry bags encase your kid decides to be sick.
Take plenty of small bitesize snacks like fruit, ricecakes etc. Also have a huge supply of wet wipes on hand.
Take lots of new activities like puzzle books or games to play. And take lots of patience too 🙂
Take plenty of books and puzzles and plenty of sweets.
Planning and preparation! Cover all eventualities and you should be fine!
take something to keep them entertained and nibbles 🙂
take lots of games, books and audio stories .
Lots of food, drink, travel sickness pills and an ipad!
Depends on their age and personality. My daughter loved travel and was a delight to take anywhere. All she needded was a window to look out of. Make sure they can see outside and take their favoutite toys and snuggle-up comforter.
I always try and travel whilst they are napping so they sleep in the car, also I make sure we leave with plenty of spare time just in case there are any extras stops or other incidents
Always make sure you have something to keep them entertained, even simple things like a colouring book and pencils!
bring some kind of entertainment!
playing silly games with them, involving cars etc finding animals…usually if its a long journey the car rocks then to sleep 🙂 xx
Treat the journey like an adventure, not a chore. Break down your journey and leave lots of time for delays and scheduled stops. Don’t rush the trip as it only stresses you and the kids…plan it out. Lots of music the kids can sing along to passes a lot of the time. x
Pack plenty of treats, games,dvds and route out where the best stops are for kids to get out and have a play or toilet break
Snacks, baby wipes and spotting Eddie Stobbart lorries
Entertainment. Movies, songs and activities. x
Always have a goody bag of new toys and treats and iPads
travel in separate vehicles (offload the kids into aunty, uncle or grandparents car)
Pack a bag for each child with food, games and books in it. We always play i spy and the shopping game
If your flying, make sure you bring plenty of things to keep them entertained, also try not to fly too far while they are young as they will more than likely get very impatient (and you can’t blame them!)
many new things introduced periodically throughout the journey
plenty of things to entertain….and frequent bathroom breaks!
Always be prepared – pack plenty of food and activities!
things to keep them entertained,nowadays tablets are ideal,if on long car journeys we used to travel overnight and more often my girls would sleep most of the way,so a pillow and blanket to keep them comfy but safe.
drinks and snacks and regular stops so they can stretch their (And your legs) in the day
plenty of drinks and a special new book
Always be prepared for the worst! Carry spare clothes and lots of tissues and wet wipes
My husband and I haven’t taken our children on an overseas holiday yet (that’s coming next year), but we have done some long distance car journeys. I’d recommend planning your driving route beforehand and making sure there are plenty of opportunities to stop along the way. We’ve also found that toys like magnetic scribblers are a good way to keep our children entertained.
Involve them in map reading and finding out about the places they are travelling through.
take crudites – selecting and nibbling fills time, and they don’t get sick or sticky as they would with sweets
We travel really early so my son sleeps most of the way. Then we make sure the ipad had plenty of charge
Play games and take books.
Book flights at times that are as close to normal daytime hours as possible
Books, songs and favourite toys 🙂
make sure you have lots with you to entertain them
plenty of snacks and something to keep them entertained
Make a list, take few activity things and give them one at the time
Stay calm! oh and a full charge on your movie back pack!
give them loads to do, always bring food and drink and make sure they go to the loo before setting off!!
Keep counting them!
Travel at night while they sleep
Pack plenty of snacks!
Make sure they have enough to keep them occupied and travel in old comfortable clothes you can always change when you reach the other end of the journey and chill out they get fed up the same as we do remember keep talking to them
Snacks, games and a backpack like this!
I think the best tip of all is filling a bag with little surprises, and bringing them out at opportune times, when the children get really restless or upset!
Try to travel when they’ll need a sleep. Have lots of snacks and activities at the ready.
Books, games and eye spy.
Top Tip … get a babysitter and leave them at home 🙂
Neah, just bring plenty of things to occupy them … travel games like variations of eye-spy work well too
travel at night so they sleep through it
Time as much of the traveling for while they sleep 🙂
Have a little bag of small trick and treats to keep them entertained, coulouring, top trump cards, pack of raisins and a few sweets, oh and have lots of baby wipes close!!
colouring books or eye spy are quite good
Colouring books and a kids CD for the car!
If flying long haul, choose overnight flights to aid sleep.
Their own little backpack of snacks and toys. if it’s a long trip i usually pack some new items such as colouring /sticker books and craft things from Poundstore.
In our family its don’t sit my 12 year old sister next to my 4 year old brother. They argue as if they are the same age
Toys, reading book and colouring in books
Having lots of activitys planned for the journey, and spare changes of clothing andfood and drink
Have plenty of coloured pencils and drawing paper at the ready
Plan it for nap times and take lots of treats and things to do
Plenty of activities to keep them occupied
Car Bingo!
PLENTY OF BOOKS & MUSIC
Memory games and if on train colouring books
Pack travel games!!
lots of stops ,play games ie i spy ,count caravans buses talk about things we see out the window
Plenty of Sweets!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Snacks and some entertainment
time your travel around their sleep time
Pack lots of different things to do and our family favourite are audio books, we can all listen to and enjoy.
Snacks and singing 🙂
We take a lot of trips to London, so buying a friends and family card saves me lots of money.I buy our tickets a few weeks in advance, purchasing a travelcard.This enables us to travel up 5 zones within London on the tube and buses.
A fully charged tablet or portable. DVD player
Be prepared. Change of clothes, snacks, drinks can all make a journey survivable instead of disastrous.
always make sure you take some activities to do in the car like drawing colouring etc to keep kids entained while on a journey x
Play eye spy or my childrens favourite first to spot keeps them entertained for hours
Be organised. Have plenty to keep them amused. plan lots of regular breaks. stay relaxed lol
make sure someone else with you to help, lots of toys and games, songs on standby, if all else fails, I have found bribery by biscuits works very well lol xx
Take plastic bags, tissues and wipes, ideal for dealing with that holiday bug when you are flying home.
take lots of everything snacks drinks yoys books and wipes!
Story CDs are great for chicren on journeys.
CAR GAMES
Be organised with drinks, snacks and activities
make sure you take calpol you never know when you need it x
To keep journeys peaceful,
we travel early in the morning,
while the kids are still sleepy
and me and hubby are still yawning!
We pack up the pillows,
and plenty of toys,
just to try and keep down
some of the moaning and noise!
We make sure we pack water
and snacks that are tasty,
so we can get to our destination,
a little more hasty!
The main point I think,
to have a wonderful trip,
is be ready for any
of those child-caused blips!
Like puking on the journey,
make sure you’ve clean clothes,
and maybe some clothes-pegs
to keep on your nose!
Clean undies and a potty
for those last second stops,
and baby-wipes by the thousand for
cleaning their chops!
But aside everything else,
the main for me,
is making it fun
and enjoy it all you see,
for the kids soon grow up,
and have cars of their own,
and then you’re back to longing,
for just one more back-seat moan!!! 🙂
Pack plents of snacks and drinks and some card games are good fun aswell
Make a list of things for them to look for on the journey .
Be prepared! Take things to do – games, pens, snacks, and let them carry something- they like to be involved.
Take games with you
Take something to keep them occupied and plenty of snacks.
Take colouring books and make sure they have plenty to do x
We split a long journey with a night in a travelodge.
lots of snacks, a tablet or phone with peppa pig paint app!
Lots of baby wipes, always make time for plenty of stops and a DVD player helps!
I give my grandchildren I-Spy books to keep them busy looking out for things.
games you can all play, some travelling sweets, flexible breaks and wipes if ill.
Keep them entertained.
Duct tape and staples
travelling at evening if possible so they may sleep
Hand held games and a puzzle book
Lots of travel games
I recommend lots of small toys and artistic activities to entertain them.
travel late at night or early morning when they are likely to sleep
Make sure there is a bottle of some squash or water to drink in the car
Always carry food & drink with you.. you WILL need it!
@smeethsaysfashn on twitter
be prepared for sickness plenty of wipes and stuff to clean them up
Take colouring books and crayons
Pack a small bag for each child with everything they could possibly need. It saves digging through a huge bag looking for things when they are needed.
We pack the girls a back pack with some fruit and games and include things they enjoy like colouring books 🙂
Take lots of things to do and keep them busy
books & toys to keep them occupied
I think the best advice would be prepared for anything with toys, food and drinks i think we have definitely learned from our share of bad experiences x
Make sure you have everything you might need close to hand! Drinks, toys, snacks, blanket etc
Entertainment lots and LOTS of entertainment x
Make sure they have their own little bag with lots of their familiar favourites and a couple of surprises- not too many small bits tho’ 🙂
Be prepared and, if the child is old enough, involve them with packing a travel bag. I usually buy a couple of new toys/games and a new book or magazine to complement existing favourites and also make sure I have a few snacks and a change of clothes ready for the unexpected!!
Travel at night and let them sleep
Take drinks and snacks with you, a catchy sing-a-long CD and play “first one to see” type games
Involve them in packing a little bag of their own, to include some activity books and some snacks. Let them choose a comic or magazine on the journey where possible.
take plenty of snacks and drinks to keep the kids happy and give them something to do
Take a bag filled with lots of activities, crayons, paper, books, sticker books, childrens tablet, fruit, juice
Id love to say duct tape hehe but i would only be joking, however we have a book of journey games and they do help pass the time
favourite toy (small one) snacks and wipes
Reading these stories makes me feel lucky that I haven’t had a bad trip yet!
Don’t 😀
Organisation and crayons!
be prepared and try and have games to play and songs to sing
Research & preparation. If travelling by car make sure you know where the services stations are roughly so you can alert the children to see if they need to make a toilet stop. Fun activity preparation is a must make sure you provide games, books etc any entertainment that will keep them happy & busy until they tire.
Just take plenty of things to occupy them- in the car story cds are good
plenty of baby wipes!
We take story cds that we have borrowed from the library 🙂
Always travel at night if you can so the little ones (And you, if possible,) can sleep
Take lots of games and travel sickness pills
Sing Songs All the way
Try to avoid sugary drinks and sweets _ save these treats for later, or your kids will be a bit hyper_active during the journey.
I think a tablet will keep most kids amused, especially if they have a film to watch.
If you’re kids will take it, weak camomile tea is a great soother for over excitement or travel sickness.
And, bananas are a great tummy soother, too.
Try and make sure they are asleep before you set off
Plenty of reading material, portable dvd player , Food and drinks
Keep them occupied with their favourite toys and games, make sure you have plenty of healthy snacks so that you don’t end up buying rubbish on the way.
An Audiobook is always a good idea
Have plenty of games ready and books to pass the time!
Allow extra time for toilet stops/nappy changes.
take plenty of books and the grandparents!
Have plenty of different things and have them to hand – a case full of audiobook CDs is ideal.
Take some nik naks in your bag, I find toy cars, books and little dolly’s are good. Play lots of game like how many red cars can you see and I spy. Take some snacks and drinks and make sure you take a break.
Keep them occupied with little games and puzzles
We have a portable DVD player – unfortunatly my son will watch one film and then want to do something else!
Make sure you take some couluring books and pens with you.
we have 4 kids so we try to travel through the night so they will sleep and bring electronic games, books and pens and paper for when they are awake.
Lots of snacks!!
Try and keep them occupied, and not be selfish as remember its a family holiday not a top up the tan holiday and they had too come along
lots of puzzles, games and books to keep them occupied
Take lots of things for them to do to keep them busy.
always make sure to have plenty of supplies of food hungry little mouths on a long journey is not fun!!
Lots of little distractions need to be planned whether a lolly, book, toy. Don’t forget the power of bribery if you children are a little older.
take plenty of things to keep them entertained. pens, paper, books, films – you name it.
keep them well and truely occupied, with books and games and fed and watered plenty of wipes and plenty of toilet stops
Include a new toy or activity in your childs bag for long journeys as it will keep them entertained for longer
I always pack a bag with pen, paper, a book and a snack and drink to occupy them.
Take plenty to keep them entertained and don’t overfeed them and make them sick
Make sure they have enough things to occupy them and enough food and drink to stop them moaning!
Prepare a surprise box full of little treats for the journey
Plan it well… think of what you will see on the way and make a “treasure hunt” list of things to spot.. i.e. red car, weathervane etc…
take some children’s c.d;s so you can have a singalong etc
Take snacks, colouring books and reading books
Take plenty of things to entertain and lots of food!
Always bring refreshments, baby wipes, tissues and entertainment 🙂 x
we went away in the summer and it involved a four hour drive both ways. We looked ahead to see where we could have pit stops to freshen up, eat and stretch our legs. We also let Tia pack her own little case with whatever toys/games etc she wanted. She loved getting involved! I made sure I had tons of snacks in the car and water, the jorney was easy.
Snacks, snacks and more snacks! Nothing entertains my kids better than food lol x
Monitor their drinking if they are young- stopping for too many toilet breaks is a test of patience!
definitely snacks and drinks 🙂 xx