Preschool Centers During the Summer Vacation
Now that preschool centers are closed and summer is in full swing, you and your family will want to enjoy a lovely vacation – but this isn’t always easy with a rowdy toddler in tow. Here are a few tips to help you make vacationing with your little rascal a breeze.
Where to Go
- Hit the beach, resort, or water park – There are many beaches, resorts, and water parks that are family-orientated and offer a lot of great opportunities for you to relax and catch a tan while your little one explores the rock pools, slips and slides around, builds sand castles, plays popular beach games or sports, and frolics in the gently lapping tide.
- A cruise holiday – A family friendly cruise ship is a great experience (and cost-effective) option for families with kids of all ages! The myriad of activities available on-board will provide endless hours of fun and entertainment. The great thing about going on a cruise is that you can rest easy knowing that your child is safe and in the hands of qualified and experienced professionals.
- Theme park fun – Any child’s dream come true, visiting a theme park can be a lot of fun for parents and kids alike. With hundreds of rides and experiences for you to choose from, you can be sure that there is something for everyone to enjoy and you will revel in your child’s delight as they get to meet their favorite characters or pretend to be an astronaut or race-car driver.
- The great outdoors – Most kids these days spend their time indoors (at school, watching TV, playing with toys, etc.) and not enough time exploring and learning about the outside world. Visiting a lake, a farm or ranch, or one of our beautiful national parks is the perfect way to unwind and spend some time bonding with your child. Go fishing, swim in a lake, feed and pet some farm animals, and explore the wonders of the great outdoors.
What to Do
Once you have decided where to go, you need to start planning and booking the different aspects of your vacation:
- Look for hotels that advertise family specials and have child-friendly services and facilities.
- Book flights in advance and let the airline know that you will be travelling with a toddler – this way you can make sure that you get a seat with enough space to accommodate your needs as well as an appreciative staff who will be more willing to help you.
- Decide what theme parks/experiences/rides you and your family will want to do. Make sure that they allow and accommodate for toddlers. Booking tickets for theme parks in advance will also mean that you spend less time in queues and more time having fun.
- Research local babysitters or baby-sitting services so that you and your partner can have at least one child-free, adult-only evening.
- Stock up on iPad/smartphone apps, new toys, and coloring pages (as well as crayons) to keep your child entertained during travelling times or rainy days.
Packing
Some of the most important things to consider when packing for a family holiday with your toddler include:
- Appropriate clothing (enough for each day + extra if you do not plan on washing clothes as you go)
- Sunglasses, sunhats, sunscreen, swimsuits and cover-ups, swimming diapers, towels/picnic blankets, pool/bath/beach toys, and extras such as water wings, goggles, and flippers for days spent outdoors, on the beach or by the lake – don’t forget a bag to carry it all!
- Feeding utensils, food (snacks for traveling and formula for every day), sippy cups and lots of juice/water to keep your little one well-hydrated, cloths and bibs, and bottle cleaning kit.
- The usual toiletries you use (keep some decanted into FDA-approved travel bottles in your hand luggage in case of an emergency), diapers and all associated paraphernalia (such as diaper cream, powder, disposable changing pads, and diaper bag), lots of baby wipes, hand sanitizer, medication (including prescriptions and immunization certificates), and a first aid kit.
- Car seat, stroller, travel cot, high chair, pack and play, baby monitor, baby carrier/back pack, toys for travel times, travel potty, blanket, lovey, and pacifiers.
- Travel documents such as passports/ID, driver’s licenses, birth certificate (if flying with your child on your lap), letter from other parent if travelling alone, and tickets. It is a good idea to scan important documents and emergency details (including prescriptions) and keep them on an easy-access secure file-sharing app, such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
- Cellphone, iPad, camera, video camera, extra batteries, and chargers (with adaptors if needed).
This is just a basic packing guide, however there are more comprehensive toddler packing lists if you need.