First airplane experience with 7 and 5 year olds.
Expectations and how it went
As we all know traveling takes planning. Specially when you travel with children and you have to be prepared for many things to come.
I have few notes to keep in mind for your trip that stood out for me.
Minimal packing
From my experience overpacking is a nightmare. I suggest planing well and packing only what you absolutely need. Think through your trip plans well.
Our trip was 2 weeks long and we packed 5 outfits each. 2 pairs of shoes each, one jacket each, 2 hoodies each and it was plenty! Of course we did laundry there as we stayed at my moms home and it was convenient.
We left with 1 big check in suitcase, 1 small check in suitcase, 1 carry on and a personal belongings back pack. That was all of our stuff for 4 people. Not bad eh!
Heads up on what to expect to avoid the drama
From my experience talking through with your children what to expect from flying, waiting, being tired, feeling jet lagged, mixing up your routine… and everything that might lead to meltdowns and big dramas. Kids can process their feeling better when it doesn’t come as a chock. Plus they learn to think ahead, plan and be prepared.
Plugged ears while taking off and landing
Bring a little mint candy or a lollipop to help them continuously swallow and adjust their ears. It can feel overwhelming for a child.
Jet Lag
As we know this one is not fun. Even for adults it may feel heavy. To be honest it wasn’t that bad for the kids. First few days they took random naps and they adjusted pretty fast.
Reminding them about the time difference has also helped. Understanding why your body feels different goes a long way.
Everything is exiting
I believe it is our duty as parent to remind them that everything on your trip is an adventure.
New food! Try it! Taste it! Experiment!
No toys… look for cute rocks, pebbles and shells.
Pay attention how the air smells, how trees look, how people talk…
Once again it is about giving them heads up and letting them know that absence of what you are attached to have to be seen and exciting adventure and opportunity to learn something new.
The End
I hope you find something relatable in this post and I wish you the most wonderful trip with your children.
With all my heart
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