Whether by plane, train or automobile, traveling with a preschooler can be a daunting task. It can also be a lot of fun and an enriching experience for both you and your child. When my son was 4 years old, we went on a cross-country road trip from Charleston, South Carolina to San Francisco, California. It was quite a learning experiences. If only I knew then what I know now. I am excited to partner with Scholastic and Disney Parks to share some tips for traveling with a preschool age child, along with some incredible resources and a chance to win a family vacation to the Walt Disney World® Resort.
Smart Family Travel – The Ultimate Preschool Travel Resource
Looking for the best travel apps, toys and games for preschoolers? How about the secret to stress free travel with your kids? Scholastic and Disney have teamed up to provide the ultimate resource of travel-related content for parents with preschool aged children.
Smart Family Travel has a large collection articles written by family travel experts that are chock full of ideas, tips and tricks for parents who are traveling or planning to travel with young kids. Get inspiration for your next family vacation, along with tips on what to pack for your trip, and so much more.
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Does your family dream of a Disney vacation? Enter the Tiny Travelers Sweepstakes for a chance to win a 4-day, 5-night vacation to the Walt Disney World® Resort for 4 from Scholastic. Plus the first 2,500 entrants get a free Scholastic book! The Tiny Travelers Sweepstakes runs through April, 28, 2016, so don’t miss your chance to win!
My Tips for Traveling with a Preschooler:
I have learned that preparation is the key to a successful vacation with kids, especially younger children. I’m not talking about planning out every minute of your vacation kind of preparation. It’s great to leave some room in your itinerary for spontaneous adventure. Rather, bringing along some things to help your child stay occupied, happy and comfortable.
Keep kids busy. When packing for a flight or road trip, be sure to pack some items to keep your preschooler busy. I recommend a mix of both old and new toys, crayons and coloring books, and other activities.
Before boarding the plane or getting in the car, let your child burn off some energy before you go. In case your preschooler gets sleepy, be sure to bring a travel pillow and a small blanket from home.
Pack plenty of snacks. I don’t know what it is about a road trip that makes kids so hungry. We would barely be out of town, before my son was crying “I’m hungry” from the back seat – every single road trip. Pulling into the McDonald’s drive through in every town is not an option. I learned to be prepared and pack plenty of drinks and snacks when we traveled. If you are flying, don’t count on the airline to keep your child supplied with snacks. So many flights these days do not offer meal service.
Bring along an assortment of healthy snacks and a special treat or two – something your child doesn’t get to eat on a regular basis. Should you get desperate, this treat can serve as bribery. Trust me. It works. And halfway through your trip with a fussy child you’ll be willing to try anything, including bribery. Pack some bottled water and juice. It’s important to stay hydrated while traveling, especially when flying. Shelf safe milk is another good option. Don’t forget to bring along some hand sanitizer and wet wipes too!
Traveling with younger kids is really fun. They are so wide-eyed and ready for adventure, with few, if any preconceptions. Before planning your next trip, be sure to check out Smart Family Travel for inspiration, resources and tips. Also, don’t miss out on your chance to win a Disney World vacation with the Tiny Travelers Sweepstakes. How fun would that be?!
I would love to hear some of your family travel tips!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Disney. The opinions and text are all mine.
