Vacation Prep 101

Preparing for a family vacation shouldn’t just be about managing the stress of planning and packing. It's the perfect opportunity to build excitement, set expectations, and turn the preparation into part of the adventure!

When our kids were 10, 7, 6, and 2, we planned a family trip to Disney World. Sounds like a recipe for chaos, right? It certainly was hectic at times, and we all had our share of meltdowns (Mommy and Daddy included). But we also did a lot of things right.

We knew that surprising our kids on the morning of the trip wasn’t for us. Our kids (like most kids) thrive on predictability, so before our trip, we introduced a seven-day vacation countdown. We hung a simple chart on the wall to help our kids visualize the passage of time and build their anticipation. As we crossed off each day, we engaged in small, Disney-themed activities. We watched Frozen, made Mickey pancakes (inspired by our 10-year-old), and experienced different rides thanks to various YouTube videos — some fantastic, others not so much. By involving everyone in the process, we actually started creating memories before we even left home.  

There are countless ways to prepare kids for vacation, but here are three strategies that have never let us down. 

Team up with your kids

Depending on their age, involve your kids in as much of the planning process as possible. You can let them choose activities, places to visit, and assist with meal planning. By involving your kids in the process early on, you show them that their opinions are important, which in turn makes them more excited and invested in the upcoming trip. Once you decide on a destination, consider visiting your local library to check out books about the location. Whether it’s through reading books or watching videos online, these experiences open the door to chats about what to expect during travel. Will you be flying or taking a long car ride? Will they have to wait in lines? Can they try new cultural treats? For picky eaters, this is a great time to introduce the idea of different foods, while reassuring them that you’ll have plenty of their familiar foods available too. These steps help set the stage for a smoother travel experience for everyone.

Pack together

Before you say, “heck no, that sounds like a nightmare,” hear me out! Did you know that packing can be a collaborative activity that not only strengthens the parent-child bond, but also builds skills? Trust us! You’ll get quality time together while helping your kids develop responsibility and learn about planning, organizing, and prioritizing. (For instance, it was a great opportunity to teach our girls that they didn’t need to bring 10 dolls each to Disney World.) Packing together satisfies something kids deeply crave: autonomy and choice. You can start with a list and guide them on what needs to be packed, but allow them to make decisions, like choosing a special outfit for a night out or selecting which toys or books to bring. By packing together, you can also rest assured that you have your child’s comfort items. Validating our kids' emotional needs by including their comfort items helps them feel secure and settled even in unfamiliar environments. When we talk to our kids about what to pack and why, we’re helping them understand what to expect and how to prepare, which helps to reduce anxiety (which means less challenging behaviors — yay!), making the journey more enjoyable for everyone.

Create a countdown

Here we are again, discussing the importance of creating a countdown — and  for good reason. Countdowns build excitement and provide a fun way to prepare everyone for the upcoming trip. For our younger kids, a seven-day countdown seems to be just enough time to keep them engaged, without being too long that they lose interest or become overwhelmed. Make sure to have some type of visual like a calendar or wall chart and mark off the days to your big trip as they pass. This makes the passage of time tangible, especially for our littlest ones. For older kids, you might consider a longer countdown, which gives them more time to research the destination and help plan activities. Remember to include a small, related activity each day to further build the anticipation while also giving your kids a bit of a preview of what to expect.

We love traveling with our four kids, but it can be extremely stressful, especially if we always expect them to go with the flow. Imagine being suddenly put in a car and driven to the airport without really knowing where you’re going and why. You’d be a nervous wreck! Our kids are no different. These simple strategies will not only give them a sense of control and validate their needs, but also help them become truly invested in what’s sure to be an amazing family getaway!