Surviving Holiday Travel With Kids: Tips From The Experts

The holiday season, while filled with joy and excitement, often comes with the added pressure of traveling with children. From crowded airports to unpredictable winter weather, the experience can quickly become overwhelming. For many parents, holiday travel is notorious for being chaotic. Airports are packed, flights are overbooked, and delays are common, especially with winter storms lurking. Add children to the mix, and the stress can multiply. However, with some expert-backed strategies, you can minimize the stress and make holiday travel with kids much smoother.

1. Don’t compare yourself to other parents. “Some parents may feel well-equipped to do a big trip to Europe, while others may not,” says Elisabeth Crain, PsyD, a licensed psychotherapist who specializing in psychodynamic parenting, anxiety, and modern challenges. Be mindful of what kind of parent you are, and the personality of your kids. A great trip for one family might be a chaotic disaster for another.

2. Prepare for the plane. Air travel is a common point of stress for families, but with a bit of planning, you can keep your children occupied and (hopefully) content during the flight. “In addition to bringing activities, it’s helpful to prepare them emotionally before the trip,” says Elvis Rosales, LCSW, Clinical Director at Align Recovery Centers. “I suggest talking to your kids about what to expect during the flight, such as why they need to stay seated or what turbulence feels like, so they aren’t caught off guard. This can help reduce anxiety.”

3. Consider the pace of the trip. “One of the first things I always recommend to parents is to consider the overall pace of the trip,” says Rosales. Children thrive on routine, so a busy, high-paced schedule could lead to meltdowns. Look for destinations and activities that offer flexibility, such as family-friendly resorts with built-in kid activities or cities where you can easily find a mix of child-friendly and adult-friendly attractions.

4. Balance fun with education. Interactive museums, zoos, and aquariums are always a hit because they provide a learning opportunity in a playful setting. Outdoor activities like nature trails, parks, or even a day at the beach can offer both relaxation and excitement explains Rosales. Kids get the chance to explore, and parents can enjoy a more laid-back day out. Cultural experiences, like cooking classes or craft workshops, can also be a fun way to immerse kids in local traditions. These activities help children feel involved in the trip while giving them a new skill or memory to take home.

5. Know there will be hiccups. “Let’s be real: even the most prepared parent can feel overwhelmed during travel,” says Rosales. Parenting is hard enough at home, and travel adds a layer of unpredictability. If you’re feeling stressed, it’s okay to take a step back, breathe, and reassess your plan.

6. Create a slideshow for the kids to view pre-trip. Kids want to know what to expect. Creating a slideshow with photos of the destinations, pictures of some of the activities you’ll do and foods you’ll eat, is a great way to get the kids excited and also set the expectation of what the trip will be like. It doesn’t have to be big and complicated. Just downloading a few photos to share is often enough.

7. Choose your mode of transportation wisely. “Traveling with early walkers by plane can be especially challenging, and this may be a good age to opt for a car trip if possible, where you can stop as often as you need to give your restless child a break from the car seat,” says Victoria Murray, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with a private psychotherapy practice. Older kids, on the other hand, may love traveling by plane—they get their own seat, watch their own shows/movies and have the feeling of independence that comes with this.

8. Consider the weather. Does the location you’re traveling to have lots of different options even if the weather turns? “Relying heavily on outdoor plans can lead to a bad time for everyone if you are traveling somewhere where the weather is unpredictable,” says Murray.

9. Create “vacation” rules. One parent lets her kids have all the sugary breakfast cereals they want on vacation. They never get it at home, so the kids know this is a “vacation” rule. Even if you are a parent who closely monitors screen time and diet at home, a plane trip is a great time to allow your kids to be occupied with screens and snacks. “It will give them something to look forward to, create a “special” association with those activities and being on vacation, and help keep them occupied so that you can relax,” says Murray.

10. Pick outdoor seating options. Things to avoid when traveling are activities or restaurants that have “adults only” vibes. “While you may be desperate to enjoy a sophisticated dinner with your partner, if your kids are bored, no one will be enjoying themselves,” says Murray. “Instead look for places that seem more family-friendly, or has outdoor seating so you won’t feel self-conscious if your kids are a little more restless or noisy.”

11. Don’t give yourself a hard time about skipping something. “If you are going to be anxious over safety, or the line is too long, or something just feels off, skip it,” says Lynn Zakeri, a therapist in the Chicago area. “Give yourself permission to not do something and tell yourself that you can always come back and do it a different time if it is that important.”

12. Use your words. What should parents do when they are feeling overwhelmed and stress? Verbalize it. “Instead of being cranky and snippy, let the family know that there is a bit of an overload going on and you need a break,” says Zakeri. Sometimes even 20 minutes to reset is all your need.