Travelling with children by road in a personal car or using public means needs careful planning if the trip is to be enjoyable for everyone. In Kenya, the majority of families have a minimum of two children or more, with most of them travelling over the holidays to their rural home or vacation spot. For parents, planning in advance is important while considering the needs of each family member on the trip.
Fortunately, there are a number of guidelines that you can adopt to make your holiday travel much better and they include:
• Involve your children in planning
Parents that have children old enough to offer suggestions on upcoming holiday trips, should encourage them to do so. Most times, their participation gives them a chance to get excited about travelling and willing to engage in any activities related to the trip.
• Carry favourite toys and snacks
When travelling children can get easily noisy when bored, requiring that they are calmed down. In such situations, giving them their favourite toys to hold and play with is the best solution. Avoid giving toys that they have to share because it will likely lead to fighting in the car or bus. In addition, carry snacks that they love to keep them busy apart from the food to be offered at an agreed stopover, especially when travelling long distances.
• Plan for stops
When planning for a trip with more than one child, plan for stopovers along the way to give them a chance to stretch their legs and enjoy the different scenery. If travelling by bus, ensure that your children have something to eat and relieve themselves so that they enjoy the rest of the journey.
