Tips And Tricks For A Tear-Free School Holiday Adventure

School’s out all over Australia, and with travel finally on the cards after 2 long years of COVID-19 related restrictions, thousands of parents have their sights set on an upcoming holiday retreat with the family. However, if you’re a parent who has travelled with a bunch of tantrum-prone kids in the past, you’ll know just how stressful it can sometimes be to achieve a tear-free school holiday adventure. 

Thankfully, there are many solutions that exist to take the stress out of travelling with kids this school holiday, 5 of which we will explore in today’s article. Whether you’re planning a road trip to Grandma’s house or a flight across time zones, our top tips are guaranteed to keep your precious family safe, sound, and sane. Read on to find out more! 

1. Stay Organised From The Get Go

If there is only one piece of advice we have to offer parents travelling with a bunch of (sometimes) unruly kids, it is to ensure you stay organised from the get-go. Keeping close track of your flight details, hotel booking, rest stops and other itinerary-related information is key to preventing any delays, disruptions or disasters on your much-awaited trip. Some handy tips include always taking care of travel-related paperwork at home, checking in for your flight as early as you can, packing a change of clothes for the flight and of course, keeping lots and lots of snacks on hand. Remembering all this as a busy parent can often be a challenge, but thankfully, keeping on top of things is made easy by simply purchasing a 2023 diary. A diary will allow you to pen everything down well in advance, ensuring that you don’t forget anything at the last minute. We promise that this one tip will make all the difference in guaranteeing that your trip is as stress (and tear) free as possible! 

2. Travel To A Home Away From Home

When it comes to accommodation, parents are always advised to choose wisely. Children are often incredibly sensitive to change, and while there is absolutely nothing wrong with booking a hotel room for your trip, we always recommend that parents opt for Airbnb accommodations or serviced apartments whenever possible. Short stay home rentals allow parents the luxury of having a fully equipped kitchen, multiple bedrooms, laundry facilities (a godsend for parents) and other amenities that are guaranteed to keep the kids happy, and most importantly, comfortable. Additionally, many “homes away from homes” often end up cheaper for families and are located near pharmacies, supermarkets and other destinations that are certain to make the trip a lot more enjoyable for both parents and children. 

Find out more about the pros and cons of Airbnb for family travel here. 

3. Keep Them Entertained At All Costs

Whether you’re embarking on a short 2 hour drive to the next town or a day long airport extravaganza that crosses time zones, keeping your children entertained at all costs is key. Kids of all ages often act out when they are hungry, tired, stressed, or simply want attention. All this can be further magnified when on vacation, so it is always a good idea to prioritise keeping the kids well entertained. At the end of the day, there’s no better (or more effective) way to curb a tantrum than distraction. Depending on your child’s age, you may want to consider packing an extra bag of toys, downloading some of their favourite films and/or TV shows into your tablet or ensuring that you’ve stocked up on arts and crafts materials to keep everyone in high spirits. 

Check out this article to explore a number of genius ways to keep your kids busy on road trips and vacations this school holiday. 

4. Beat Jet Lag Like A Pro

Most of us are no stranger to jetlag – a temporary sleep problem that can affect anyone who quickly travels across multiple time zones. Already challenging enough for adults to deal with, jet lag can, unsurprisingly, make crankiness reach peak levels for kids. This is all because jet lag disrupts your body’s circadian rhythm, which may lead to feelings of crankiness, irritability, lethargy and disorientation. Thankfully, there are many tips and tricks you can take onboard to ensure that you reduce the chances of jet lag as much as possible. Whenever possible, we always advise parents to opt for late afternoon or evening flights as opposed to early morning adventures. That way, you can land at your destination, grab a quick meal and head to bed immediately, instead of trying to keep both your eyes and your childrens’ eyes open on a tour or pushing miserably through a museum.

Some other tips for beating jet lag include ensuring that the little ones get as much sleep on the flight as possible, synchronising your meal routine with local times and limiting your activities on your first day abroad. Prioritising rest and rejuvenation is the best way to prevent screaming tantrums and tears on your much awaited holiday, so be sure to stock up on those zzz’s.  Head to this article to find out more tips about helping children with jet lag. 

5. Pack Your Patience

The truth is, travelling with children can be an exhausting affair. No matter how much planning you do, a trip with the little ones will always come with its fair share of stresses and frustrations. At the end of the day, your kids are out of their routine and familiar surroundings.  Time changes ruin sleep and eating schedules. This is why packing a hefty dose of patience is absolutely vital for parents who are looking to avoid feeling overwhelmed or stressed out on your trip. If you remind yourself ahead of time that these things are bound to happen, you will respond with more grace. Don’t take it all too seriously, enjoy the precious time spent with your little ones, and remind yourself that these are the memories you will fondly look back on in the near to distant future. When you put things into perspective, even that uncontrollable tantrum becomes a lot easier to handle. 

And there you have it — 5 tried and tested tips and tricks for a tear free school holiday adventure with your little ones. So relax, try not to stress and enjoy the adventure and memories made on your fun-filled family holiday. Safe travels and godspeed! 

Do you have some of your own tips for stress-free travelling with kids? Be sure to share them in the comments section below!