Preparing for Vacation with Your Young Child
It’s time to get out of the house. Vacation is a great time to just take a moment together with the family and explore somewhere new.
But what does that mean for your young child? How are they affected by the trip?
What can you do to lessen the impact of time away from home and outside of the normal routine?
Preparation
The answer to every question about how to help your child for an upcoming event is prepare.
We need to plan ahead. We pack a bag to make sure we have everything we need but we also need to prepare the child emotionally for big changes. With information, your child will have the chance to get ready for a change.
We, the caregivers, must also prepare so we can give our children what they need in the moment and still keep our calm vacation vibes.
Things to Consider When Choosing Accommodations
Sensory needs of your child: Is a hotel by the airport too loud for your child to sleep? Would a home with a sandy beach in the backyard be uncomfortable for your child to walk on?
Sleep needs: Does your child sleep in complete darkness? Do they need their own bed or can they sleep on a blow-up bed in your room?
Your needs: Do you need your own room? Would a full kitchen be more comfortable for making meals and eating?
Location: Will the location of your housing mean that everyone would walk a lot? Is that something your child is capable of doing?
Things to Consider When Packing
As you make your list for things to pack, make sure you provide the things your child will need to continue independence. This will allow for your child to feel confident and in control, which should lead to fewer meltdowns.
Consider things like a step stool to reach the sink, a potty chair, their own pillow, and a booster seat for dining. Check out my Amazon storefront for more ideas. #afflink
2 Weeks Before Travel
Tell your child you will be going on a vacation.
Tell them how many more days before you leave.
Tell them where.
Give a few examples of what you will do there.
Provide photos.
Show them where they will sleep.
Show them the bathroom.
Show them anything interesting about the space.
Give a timeline.
Tell them when you will leave.
Tell them how many days you will stay.
Tell them if you will travel to more than one accommodation.
Limit details so as to not overwhelm.
Tell them you will answer questions as they come up and you will be available to answer those questions in the coming days.
Make a paper chain to help keep a visual countdown so they understand how many days are left before you leave. Each night, remove one link and count the remaining days.
1 Week Before Travel
Talk to your child about how you will prepare/pack.
Include your child in packing their items. Tell them how many shirts to bring and let them choose and place in the bag. For an older child you can have them read the list and for a younger you can verbally tell them.
Ask an older child what kinds of things they want to bring (give parameters: “We can choose three toys with large parts”).
Talk about how you will get there (car, plane, train, etc.).
Purchase some new items for the travel time to keep the child’s interest while in the car/plane.
Plan to take items you need to make things accessible for your child at your accommodation.
Take time for meditation or deep breathing, as things can become stressful before you leave.
1 Day Before Travel
Tell your child how the next day will go. Use limited language, like, “We will wake up, eat breakfast, get ready for the day, then get in the car to go to our vacation.”
Make time for questions and be present with no distractions as you answer each one.
Prepare yourself to be calm as you pack and build in time to regulate yourself throughout.
Let your child know what you are doing as you go along so they are not anxious about the bustle of packing things.
Day of Travel
Set the tone for confident excitement.
Check in emotionally with your child and make the time to listen and give them love as they need.
Do what you need to stay present with your child as you pack the car and get started.
Continue to update your child on what is coming next so they know what to expect.
When you arrive at your accommodations make sure to do a tour with your child so they know where everything is.
Practice the walk from their space to the bathroom so they know the path. Consider bringing some nightlights.
Get their room/sleeping space set up first.
When it is dark, get into bed with them before bedtime and turn off the lights so they can explore the dark with you around.
At bedtime keep the routine as it is at home.
Let your child know where you will be while they sleep. Walk that path with them, too, if they need you in the night.
During the Vacation
Set expectations before an activity and hold the boundary: “When we get to the zoo you need to stay where you can see me. If I say ‘freeze,’ you stop where you are and wait for me to catch up.”
Try to keep the routine normal as best you can by eating around the same time each day. For the first night at least, keep bedtime the same time as normal.
Keep talking to your child about what will happen each day.
Expect that your child will melt down more than normal and prepare yourself to receive that and comfort them.
Build in time to recharge so you can continue to have patience with your child.
These tips are great for 3- to 6-year-olds. If you have a younger child, limit the amount you tell them and tell them closer to the departure day. Even a baby would benefit from preparation. Talk about what you are doing and how you are preparing and packing. This process of talking aloud with your baby may help you to calm some of your anxieties of taking the trip, too.
Time away from home is a great way to experience new things and bond with your child. With preparation, so much fun can be had and great memories can be made.