Been there, done that: Advice from parents for first-time travellers with kids

Last updated on 6th June, 2024 at 03:34 pm

The thought of travelling with your kids can be daunting, especially the first time. Here is effective advice from parents who have been there and done that to keep your children (and you!) happy and content.

Reading time: 3 minutes

In this article, you’ll learn:

• The challenges of travelling with kids
• How other parents have made it through
• Ways to keep kids entertained on flights or on the road (that don’t include screens)

An upcoming trip can fill any parent, but especially first-time moms and dads, with dread. With the school holidays fast approaching, how do you keep your kids entertained for hours, without just tossing your phone or a tablet their way? Parents with real-life experience share their best-kept secrets for every age group.

The under-twos

Fatiema Bashar, whose children are now nine and 11, does a lot of road trips with her kids to visit their family in another province. This means she has had plenty of time to figure out what works.

Tip 1

“When my kids were under two-years-old, they could be kept pretty occupied by giving them snacks. Fruit or yoghurt pouches or a piece of cheese are good options as they make the least amount of mess.”

Tip 2

“If you’re leaving at a time that your child would normally be asleep, try to keep it that way and stick to their sleep schedule. This makes them less grumpy on the journey and the rest of the trip.”

The young ones

Rochelle Luckhoff has three children who are currently 19, 16 and 12. Not only a family of frequent flyers, they have always gone for regular weekends away. She remembers these tips that helped her handle travelling when her kids were young.

Tip 1

“I found this to be the most restless age group, so make sure that you make regular stops. This is not just for their potty breaks, but for your sanity, as the noise and general chaos can be overwhelming.”

Tip 2

“While playing games that include everyone, such as I Spy, are always a hit, telling stories served the dual purpose of not just keeping them entertained but helping them fall asleep.”

The tweens

Dolores Frans might be approaching retirement, but she still clearly remembers travelling with her two daughters, who are five years apart in age. Tweens occupy the space between childhood and adolescence and don’t want to be babied anymore.

Tip 1

“My kids were very into journaling when they were in the 10 to 12 age group. Suggest to them that they keep a travel diary to document the trip, and to take pictures to go with it.”

Tip 2

“When they are in the mood to engage, word and visual games are a good bet. These could be Hangman or 20 Questions. Books with puzzles for them to complete are also a good distraction.”

The teens

Shirley Ngwenya has adult children and they often travelled by car or long-distance bus when they were growing up. She believes teens are old enough to understand time and distance and are independent enough to be responsible for their own travel entertainment.

Tip 1

“There’s no point trying to pry a phone away from a teenager, but being on the road or in the sky means there’s limited data for doom scrolling. Let them download podcasts or music for the journey before you leave.”

Tip 2

“Nothing beats the real thing! Get them to pack some books – yes, the ones made from paper! – to bring along that will keep them absorbed and help the time to fly by.”