Many people use vacations to see more of the world. Unfortunately, the further afield your destination, the longer you have to travel. That can be a bit of a nightmare if you have kids that may find the prospect of a long-haul flight incredibly boring. Thankfully, there are things you can do to prepare your little ones for such a journey.
Rotate through things for them to do
The best way to keep your kids from getting bored is to provide them with something fun to do. That might be a tablet for playing games or watching movies on, a book to read, or something else. It’s good to have a collection of this stuff in your hand luggage so that there’s plenty to keep the little ones occupied. However, don’t rush to get all this stuff out at once. If you do this, there’s the potential for them to get bored much quicker. Instead, rotate things in and out during the flight.
Make sure they’re comfortable
Long-haul flights can be boring and uncomfortable for everyone. Of course, adults tend to have greater self-control, so they don’t lash out and scream when they get fed up. An excellent way to ensure your children don’t do this is to make them as comfortable as possible. You can do this by giving them pillows to rest their heads on and packing some pajamas for them to change into. As long as you can fit it all into your hand luggage, you shouldn’t have to worry about the kids getting uncomfortable.
Choose a child-friendly airline
The notion that all airlines are the same simply isn’t true. Some carriers are definitely better than others, particularly when it comes to keeping families happy. You’ll want to have that in mind when traveling on a long-haul flight because choosing the right airline could make a significant difference to your journey. Generally speaking, international carriers do the job better than US ones, with Etihad, EVA, and Lufthansa particularly well-suited for those with children. It’s worth seeing which airlines can take you to your destination then researching which ones are best for kids before booking your flights.
Fly at night if possible
A great way to pass the time on a long-haul flight is to sleep. Unfortunately, that’s sometimes easier said than done, especially if you’re a nervous flier or a child full of energy. Thankfully, you can try to combat this by traveling at night. The lack of sunlight, combined with the fact you’ve been up all day, should make it easier to drift off. You may have to shop around to find a flight that meets your needs. However, if you can get one that’s mostly done overnight, it could make things a lot easier for your kids and, therefore, you.
Taking your kids to destinations across the world is an excellent way to show them that there’s more to life than just the country they live in. However, if you’re going to do so much traveling, you’ll need these tips to keep you prepared.
