Are you traveling with kids this vacation?
Here are some tips that can help you make your vacation holidays a memorable one.
All Preschools, Nurseries, Schools and other educational institutions in the UAE are closed for two complete months July and August. You must have already planned your 2018 vacation. Escape from the heat for a month is a good thing.
However, vacations with children, disrupted schedules, long days, late nights, extended walks can result in burn out. Below are some tips to help you manage vacation while traveling with kids.
- Kids need to know in advance about the travel…
To ensure they are not concerned about the unknown. It is always good for the parents to inform the kids about where they would be going for the vacation. A picture book could help. If it is meeting friends and relatives, good to let the kids know in advance who they would be visiting – grandparents, uncles and that it would be fun. I would go online and show my child some pictures of the visits we would do. This will help relate and build conversations with your children and educate them when you are physically on the spot.
- Do’s and don’t’ during vacation – positive communication
Traveling to different places means staying in hotels, resorts or with relatives. Your children need to know how to behave with others and even handle hotel properties during your stay at hotels or resorts.
Give it a practical approach. Teach your child how to wish elderly people when you meet friends or relatives… do not force it on them…
Explain to them that they do not run around in hotel lobbies or pull out any decorative in the hotel premise.
- Flying with kids:
Flying with kids can be a time or trial for the parents.
Reach the airport early. Carry enough diapers and changes if you are with infants. Take along with you something for your child to suck. A pacifier, a lollipop to adjust with the air pressure so you do not get complaints of ear pain while in the aircraft or after you land.
For your older child who would be studying in a preschool, nursery or kindergarten, get them some picture reading or drawing books, or let them watch some good videos. Short duration flights or budget flights might not give you enough space or videos to watch. In such circumstances a good picture book, drawing book will help. Preschools or Nurseries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah usually provide children with some good educational and books on general knowledge
- Take care of your child’s expectations
During your leisure time or dinner with your friends or relatives, children need to be occupied if they have no one to play with. Good to carry with you a book or get them to watch something to keep them busy. In other cases, It is always good to feed your child early and put them to bed so them you can spend more quality time for yourself or with your people.
Show your children as much love, snuggle with them. It is good for your kids to sleep longer considering you have had a long and tiring day. Talk to them about the plans for the day and where you would be taking them. Take your kids to the pool, playgrounds and ensure they are immersed in physical activity and adventure
- Watch what they eat
Especially when the kids are bored or need attention, asking for food is part of the tantrums they could be playing. Carry with you snacks, biscuits, water, ready-made food in case of your child is in need. Keep a watch on what they eat outdoors or at planned dinners. You would not want an unwell kid when on vacation.
- Vacation a good time for bonding:
You are on leave and you have all the time to spend with your child during vacation. A very good time to connect, understand, find out more about your child. It will be easier to get to know the likes and dislikes of your child especially when site seeing and other activities. More than anything you will build a good bonding which will help you further
- Preschools and nurseries can play a role
Teachers at preschools, kindergartens, and nurseries be it in any of the Emirates, be it Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah need to teach their children just before heading for summer holidays on how to take care of themselves during summer time and vacations, ask for water or other essentials whenever or wherever, how to behave when they are with people etc. Practical examples will always help.
