Tips for Traveling with Your Grandchildren
One important decision to make before suggesting that your grandchild travels with you is their age. It will be your final decision on if your grandchild is ready to travel; however, most people recommend that you wait until the child is at least eight years of age. If you decide to travel with younger children, it is advised that you try and make sure that they are already potty trained, making your trip a lot less stressful. It is also recommended that the children are able to walk and climb in and out of cars on their own. Some grandparents may be unable to lift the child up if needed.
Before you arrange a vacation with your grandchild, you also need to make sure that you are up for the task. Although many grandparents are quite capable of taking care of their grandchildren, you need to remember that they might have a lot more energy than you do. When planning a possible vacation, you should keep in mind activities that your grandchild would want to do and make sure that you would be able to do it. For example, your grandchild may want to go skiing or hiking; but that does not mean that you are able to do it. If you grandchild wants to do an activity that you are unable to participate in make sure you that you tell them. There is no need for someone to get hurt by trying to accomplish something that they probably should not be doing anyways.
If this is the first vacation that your grandchildren will be attending with you, you may wish to schedule overnight visits prior to leaving. The more time that you have spent with your grandchild before traveling, the better. Spending quality time together beforehand will allow your grandchild to feel more comfortable around you, making for a better vacation. Although you may have spent time together, it is still common for children to become homesick and miss their parents. If this occurs, you should allow them to call home at least one a day. It may also be a nice idea to let the children send home letters and/or postcards to their parents. Even if you are on a small trip and plan on being home before the items will arrive, it will make your grandchild feel better.
Once you have decided that you and your grandchild are capable and would enjoy taking a vacation together, you should begin planning. If you are only taking one or two children, you might wish to let them help you plan the trip. If you have already selected the destination, you could allow them to help and choose stops like parks, museums, or other places. Allowing the child to help plan the vacation will also help to prevent boredom. Before you purchase any tickets or pay in advance, you should do some research. There are travel companies and companies designed for seniors (AARP) that will sometimes offer discounts on certain destinations.
It is advised that if you are staying in a hotel, that you try and have the hotel close to all of the activities on your list. That way if you need a nap or just a rest, you could easily return to the hotel for a break. If you are traveling in the summertime, you may want to think about staying at a location that has a swimming pool. Many children love to swim and it is a good way for them to use some of their energy. When planning other activities, you should also keep in mind the age of your grandchildren. If you are traveling with children who are interested in cartoons you could see an ice show or watch a children’s play. If your grandchild is interested in dinosaurs or science, you can try and find a nearby museum.
Whether you are traveling alone or with children, you should always carry a first aid kit. If you are traveling with one than one child, you should add extra items into the first aid kit. If your grandchild is on any medication, make sure that you have enough medication on hand (and possibly a few extra) and make sure that you have detailed instructions for giving the medication.
One important precaution that most parents and grandparents tend to forget, is written permission from parents for medical treatment. Many hospitals across the country will not treat minors without the consent of their parents. Often times parents can give consent over the phone; however, having a written note could possibly save a child’s life in a dire emergency. This note should state the child’s, parent’s, and grandparent’s names, age, address, and contact number for the parents. You will want to state that you give permission for the grandparents to give the hospital permission to do anything necessary to help you child, should they become ill or injured. You may also want to include any medications that your child is taking or may be allergic to.
Before you leave, you should discuss the travel plans with the child’s parents. Be sure that they know which hotels you plan to stay at. Once you arrive, you should call them and give them the room number. For long drives, be sure to pack plenty of snacks, books, games, and possibly a CD player with headphones. Finally, another tip to remember when taking your grandchild on a trip is to have fun! Give your grandchildren memories that will stay with them forever, take them on a vacation.
