{This is part of a sponsored campaign with Being Latino and Honey Maid. However, all opinions expressed are my own.}
How do you do it? a friend of mine asked, as we talked about my active, on-the-go lifestyle where we find ourselves on a weekend staycation in Tuscon or spending an impromptu afternoon with the mouse once school lets out. We are a very active family…one that enjoys camping, road trips, and a day at the beach. We love the outdoors, and because we live in a place with the best weather in the country, we spend much of that time exploring the surrounding parks, lakes, beaches and outdoor spaces in our community. Admittedly, traveling (both near and far) has become easier as my kids get older. We’ve also had plenty of opportunities to practice and my kids are well accustomed to being out and about. But along the way, we’ve had our share of mishaps. So how do we deal with illness, injuries, messes, meltdowns, and everything in between?
Here are my 5 best tips for families on the go!
1. Safety first. Whether it’s a day at the zoo or a 5-hour road-trip, kids can appear healthy only to have a sudden onset of illness symptoms. I never leave the house without a small bag filled with bandages and some basic supplies to handle scrapes and cuts, an over-the-counter fever/pain reducer, a thermometer, an antibiotic ointment, an instant cold compress, and antiseptic wipes. If you don’t have the phone numbers of your Pediatrician, your local hospital, and your local poison control saved to your phone contacts, also include this information in your first aid kit. You might also consider keeping one of these kits inside the trunk of your car and a second kit that you can bring with you in your handbag or diaper bag.
*Tip* Consider downloading an emergency app like ICE (In Case of Emergency) to store names/numbers of people to call in the event of ane emergency, insurance information, physicians names/numbers, current medications, medical conditions, and allergies.
2. Anticipate Messes. If you head out on an outing assuming your child will get messy, dirty, wet or all of the above, you won’t be surprised or unprepared when it happens. The reality is that children are constantly exploring the world around them, and getting messy is part of their sensory learning experiences. Carry a change of clothes, antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer and some plastic bags to contain these messes and you won’t blink an eye when your 7 year old crawls through mud at the park (speaking from experience).
3. Plan for potty breaks. Admittedly, I found it slightly easier to take day trips and road trips when my children were in diapers. Babies and toddlers are very adaptive and as long as I had a space, a clean diaper, some wipes, and hand sanitizer, I didn’t stress over diaper changes. Perhaps the most difficult time to go out and about is when kids are potty training. Even they aren’t quite sure when they’ll need to use the restroom which makes planning difficult. My best recommendation is to carry a travel potty chair and some toilet paper or wipes with you and stop often.
*Tip* Download a bathroom locator app like SitOrSquat to help you find the nearest local public restroom.
4. Feed them! When my kids begin to get cranky or melt down, the very first thing I consider is whether or not they are hungry. My day-out bag always includes my kids’ favorite snacks and drinks which makes it easy to tide them over until we reach our mealtime destination. Snacks like grapes, squeezable fruit pouches, carrot sticks, peanut or almond butter, crackers, bags of cereal, and string cheese are portable, easy-to-pack, and well-loved by many kids. Honey Maid, a brand I grew up with, is introducing their new GoBites which are packed with protein and whole grains and come in chocolate and vanilla varieties. My kids can’t wait to try these filled crackers and I am excited about a new snack that I can feel good about giving them!
5. Plan for downtime. After my kids have been fed, the only other reason (apart from illness) their mood can shift from playful and content to frustrated and irritable is fatigue. Whether it’s sitting down on a bench at Disneyland for a rest, or creating a quiet place for my children to nap during a road trip, rest is essential for a successful day or weekend trip. Try to resist the urge to see and do it all so your kids are not pushed to their physical or emotional limits. Instead, make a short, reasonable list of sights to see and things to do and include kids in the planning process. Make more regular trips to your local museum or amusement park by purchasing an annual pass and see different parts of each venue on different outings. Slowing down and fully immersing your family in these experiences will create lasting, meaningful memories.
What tips do you have for making memories with your kids while on-the-go? I’d love to share them with our community in the comments section below.
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
Leave a Reply