The other day I was in a matatu when a lady with 3 children all below 10 boarded the matatu. She was in it for about 10 minutes and it was hell on earth. Her children kept screaming, she couldn’t hold on to them as well as her bags. I felt sorry for her and offered to help (something I normally wouldn’t do). It got me thinking about what people with children go through when travelling. Her journey was short but some help was clearly needed.
After consulting with my friends and family who have children, here are some tips to help you out.
Take your time
One thing kids hate is being rushed, especially when something has caught their eye. When travelling, allocate enough time for you to idle around as they look at things to their satisfaction. A grumpy child who was rushed along is not going to be a great travelling companion.
Dress them appropriately
Always ensure the outfits they have on are good for travelling as well as the day’s weather. They should be comfortable enough and not get too cold or hot during the journey. Don’t put them in too many layers that they sweat up a storm. If it is muddy, keep away the bright colours and go for outfits that won’t show dirt in case anything happens.
Pack some food and water
Sometimes the journey might be long, hunger is not an option. Pack some sandwiches, biscuits and water for your child. Hunger will make them restless and fussy. Giving them food will also keep them quiet for a while. Chances are after they eat they might even fall asleep which makes the journey easier as they will not cause disruptions.
Invest in wet wipes
Children to have their hands in all sorts of places. They will touch anything and smudge their faces and hands making them sticky. You can easily fix this with wet wipes on hand. Clean them up and you’re good. It will also make it hygienic for when they need to eat as their hands will need cleaning and water might not be available.
Pack a change of clothes
Have you ever traveled with a child and at the end of your day, their clothes were full of all sorts of things? This is one complaint many parents had. They stressed that a spare change of clothes is necessary especially for the younger kids. It will allow them to have fun on the journey as you don’t have to force them to be still so they can be clean.
There you go. These few tips should make your travels much easier. If you have any other tips to share, let us know in the comments section.