Family Air Travel

Taking a holiday vacation can be the best thing that has ever happened to your child – and at the same time, it can turn out to be the worst nightmare. 

Below is a little advice on how to make that holiday a success.

1. Plan carefully and thoroughly – you should include all your family in choosing and settling for a destination especially if you have teenagers. If you have young kids, its better to choose a self catering holiday cottage which you can enjoy your quality and leisure time together as a family as compared to hotels which are more hassle than they are worth.
2. Interest your kids with the new destination by giving them a brief literature of the destination – telling them of the interesting stuff they are going to find i.e.  African safaris, historic sites, the ocean – beaches, zoos, animals, parks etc.  
3. Pack their favorite belongings – help them pack dolls, video games, mazes, Sudoku, iPod, clothing.
4. Counter-check all the stuff you need – advice on having a list and checking them as you finish them. This helps do avoid last minute rush of packing or probably forgetting something very important.
5. Checking in and Security – De brief them on what to expect at the airport and how to behave. Be a role model to them by acting all calm and excited even if you are under pressure.
6. Waiting time – this is the best time to rush to restrooms, change diapers, enter a cafeteria – eat some snacks, walk around the airport  visit the shops in the airport to help the kids be calm and also to wear them out so that they can sleep during the flight.
7. Boarding – stay somewhere you will hear the agent announce pre-boarding. It is usually good to board early and get yourself organized before everybody else. After landing, it is easier to wait for other passengers to alight so that you can gather your belongings and children. The best part of all this, is that you can give your children a chance to peek in the cockpit.
8. In Flight and Landing – most people experience pressure in their ears during takeoff and landing (if they are awake), so you need to ask the flight attendant for milk, water or juice.
9. Telling them to keep journals of each and every trip they have ever been. This will help the parent a lot not to repeat the mistakes that happened previously.

• The journal helps the kid keep track of interesting things that happen to them. Nothing beats reading old journals on a family get together.