Parenting Pointers: Traveling with Kids

The economy today has affected the vacation plans of numerous families. It is very expensive to go to one of the popular amusement parks and allow the kids to play for a few days. When you add in the cost of plane tickets, motel rooms, souvenirs, meals and of course the cost of theme park tickets, taking a vacation might become impossible.

It might be time to think about the vacations that people used to like many years ago. In the past people would load up the car, head to a state or national park and pitch their coleman tents for a few days. This type of vacation is not nearly as costly and when you do it the right way, it can be more fun for the kids than the theme parks with their long lines. What follows are some tips for travelling with kids on a cheaper vacation.

One of the first things involves the way the camping trips are described above. It says take the kids and pitch tents, not a tent. It is always a good idea to have separate tents for the kids and the adults. This allows the kids to stay up as late as they want and allows the parents a little privacy. It is amazing how much better a trip will be when everyone has their own space to sleep and their own privacy, even if it’s just while sleeping. The next thing is to plan your trip carefully. Not only should you make sure that you have enough food and the other basic necessities for your trip, but make sure to think about things that will entertain everyone and that will be fun. Plan on a way of using the fire at night to roast a few marshmallows or bring along some glow sticks for the kids to run around the campsite at night.

It is also a good idea to do some research about the park that you plan to stay in. Find out where the hiking trails are or where there are other outdoor activities for kids that will help wear them out. The more tired the kids are, the faster they will go to sleep every night. Do not forget to plan activities for the car ride to the park. Think about games that will keep their minds active such as I Spy or one of the many license plate games. The Internet is the perfect resource for figuring out your entertainment options. A camping trip with the kids is both a lot of fun and very affordable. A campsite at a national park is cheap, especially when compared to hotel rooms. Hot dogs roasted over an open fire only cost a few pennies compared to dinners in a restaurant. When you go on this type of trip with a sense of adventure, the kids will enjoy the fun and will forget about the need for a roller-coaster. Camping is a fun and affordable way to take the family on a great vacation.