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Less is More When Traveling With Children

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 As the weather has warmed up and the school year comes to a close, I know many of us are turning our thoughts to our summer travel plans.  Well, this past weekend, my family got a head start and did more than just think about travelâ-we packed up and headed to Colorado. 

 On Saturday morning, as we drove to the Kansas City airport, I was a bit nervous.  After all, it was our first time to travel by plane as a family of five.   Though weâ’ve made several road trips, weâ’d yet to brave boarding a plane where there is no option to pull over for a pit stop and the fasten seatbelt sign doesnâ’t seem to care that your potty-training toddler has to go potty right now .  See why I was a bit nervous?

 As it turns out, I had no reason to worry.  Our kids did great.  As I thought back on our trip, I couldnâ’t help but wonder if just a small part of that was due in part to the lessons weâ’ve learned on our many road trips.  You see, Iâ’m bit of a minimalist when it comes to traveling with children.  I realize that this is contrary to lots of wonderful advice you might get from others quite a bit more qualified than me to give parenting advice.  However, it truly does work for us.   So, since Iâ’ve yet to see any advice similar to mine, I thought Iâ’d share and hey, if it works for your family thatâ’s great!  If not, then by all means google â”traveling with small childrenâ” and youâ’re sure to find something that will work for you.

 The main thing that Iâ’ve found works for us when traveling with our young children is that less is more.  Weâ’ve done road trips where I plan special activities for them to do throughout the trip.  At certain times, I planned to give them different toys or art supplies to help keep them occupied as we passed hour after hour in the car.  Well, that was a big mistake.  My kids would just look at one toy for a few minutes and ask for the next.  I didnâ’t take the hint the first time around and it was only after two or three trips that I finally realized there might be a better way to travel with our three kids. As it turns out, there was indeed a better way.

 That better way has translated to the following list of things that I insist are in my backpack before I begin a trip with my three children.

1. Â Â  Hand wipes, hand wipes, and more hand wipes.  Do I really need to explain that?

2. Â Â  Crayons and paper or coloring books:  Better yet opt to take along Crayolaâ’s Color Wonder products and you wonâ’t have to worry about the crayon or marker marks going anywhere besides the special paper.  (This works especially well with plane travel.)

3. Â Â  Brain Quest Cards: These wonderful cards are bound together and made for a variety of grade levels and ages.  (You can even find them for two and three-year-olds.)  I pull these out when one of my kiddos seems to need a little extra attention while weâ’re traveling.  The cards encourage conversation while giving children practice with a variety of skills.

4. Â Â  Books:  My little prereaders like to look at Usborneâ’s 1001 Things to Spot books.   We also like the I Spy and Look and Find books.  Of course, any of your childrenâ’s favorite books are fair game to include in your travel arsenal.

5. Â Â  Portable DVD Player and DVDs:  Yes, there are plenty of ways to keep children occupied while traveling that donâ’t include electronics.  However, weâ’ve found that a movie or two while making a long road trip gives everyone a bit of a rest and only serves to make the trip better for us all.

6. Â Â  Hush Food:  Again, it is possible to travel and give your kids nothing but healthy food.  By all means bring the carrot sticks, apple slices, and homemade sandwiches.  In fact, we frequently bring those things in a cooler.  However, weâ’ve also learned that nothing makes that last 30 minutes of a ten-hour road trip go more smoothly than a nice little lollipop.  Our kids are partial to Ring Pops.  It helps that they only get these when we travel.  

7. Â Â  There is no number seven:  Aside from the regular things that I carry with me on a daily basis such as an extra pull up or diaper, we truly donâ’t take much more with us when we travel.  Of course, if I was still traveling with an infant, Iâ’d include a change of clothes for the baby as well as other baby necessities.

So, what do you find works best for you when traveling as a family?  Leave your best family travel tip in the comments and then be sure to head over to Kristen’s at We are That Family to see what other tips you can find or advice you can offer.  Happy Wednesday!

Follow Your Child’s Lead

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My daughter has always been very musically interested and inclined. At nearly 2 years old, she quickly picks up tunes she hears and can sing back parts of the words to you, along with the melody.  She loves to dance, clap, and she can actually clap pretty close to the beat when she hears it!  (Now, I trust that you are not reading this thinking I am an overly absorbed Mom who thinks her kid is the next best “genius” on the block).  She enjoys coloring, drawing, and painting, and could do these types of activities for 20-30 minutes at a time. She genuinely enjoys this, which I love!

Rather than determining what Ava will be interested in, I am watching and observing her to see first what her interests are.  I plan to introduce her to other experiences of course, but I don’t want my agenda to get in the way of what her natural interests are.

In a society that tells us that our kids must fit a particular criteria (usually…excel at sports, be good looking, be in the 99th percentile on standardized tests, and be identified as a “gifted” leaner), I believe that we are missing their natural bents and interests just to fit them into what we think they should be.  Square pegs can’t fit in round holes.  Learn to watch your child, play with him or her in a meaningful way, and follow their lead. I guarantee you they will be happier and more engaged, and you will be less stressed out keeping up with the next door neighbor kids who are on their 3rd year of Suzuki violin (and they are only 5 years old!)

Tips for Toddler Field-Trips

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I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE taking my children on field-trips and outings. We go on a minimum of two per week outside of “routine” places like the library and grocery store. Parks, the zoo, museums, play places, I love taking my children on outings. When we go through a period of bad weather or illness and we’re unable to go places, I find that it impacts my productivity and even the moods in our house. We thrive on field-trips. (Note: My ideal is basically a half-day at home and a half-day out and about.) With three children under the age of five, I’m frequently asked how we do it… how do we go “so much.”

 

Here are a few tips I’ve learned and put into practice for successful field-trips with my children:

1. You don’t have to do it ALL in one day. Leave the field trip while everyone is happy. When going on a local field trip, remember you can go back! It is much better with preschoolers to take several “short” trips rather than a long exhausting experience. Our family invested in Children’s Museum and zoo memberships so we can return often without feeling pressure to “get our money’s worth.” Many local venues are even free!

2. Eat in advance and bring snacks. We love going to the Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery (a great free trip). We spend 30-60 min. in the gallery then we take a snack break on the lawn and go back for another 30-60 min.

3. Relate to young interests. When we go to the art gallery, I don’t expect my toddler to appreciate the differences between Rembrandt and Bingham. We take her so she will begin to enjoy art. When Emily was just 2 years old, her fascination with everything princess was just beginning. She saw the Knight in Shining Armor and immediately squealed with glee at discovering “Prince Charming!”

4. Scavenger Hunts. This works on field trips and errands. Ask children to find objects one at a time. At the art gallery, I glance at paintings and spot familiar objects (cats, hats, wagons, etc) and ask Emily to find them. For older children, create a list using words or pictures or go on an alphabetical hunt finding objects that start with A, then B, etc. It’s also fun to play, “I Spy.” Hunts are especially good at museums, markets, or other places that aren’t instantly entertaining for tots.

5. Cameras are not just for Parents. Bring a disposable camera or inexpensive digital for children. Just be sure to observe rules. At many museums, for instance, you may not use a flash.

6. Finish with a treat. My girls know Winstead’s is within walking distance of the Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery. Have a treat at home or on the way home and talk about the fun you had together.

7. Be spontaneous. Keep a map and a few resources in the car (Kansas City Parent Magazine is a great FREE Resource to have handy). Refer to them often and be willing to go where the road takes you from time to time!

8. Visit your favorite places often. My girls know that we WILL return to Kaleidoscope, so they’re not as disappointed when it’s time to go when they’re reminded we’ll be back another day.

Things I Used to Waste Money On

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Sometimes I think back to just a few short years ago and shake my head at all of the money I used to waste before I discovered couponing/savvy shopping!  I considered myself to be pretty frugal even back then.  I didn’t buy a ton of unnecessary junk or feel like I needed to have the latest gadgets or the most expensive brands, but I was still wasting a TON of money!  Here are some of the ways I threw money out the window:

  • GROCERIES:  Oh, the money I could have been saving on groceries!  I used to just go to the store, buy what I wanted/needed no matter what it cost.  I would decide what to have for dinner that week and go buy it…didn’t matter if it was on sale or in season…I just bought it.  I considered food to be a “necessity” so I didn’t give it a second thought.  No wonder I was spending $150/week to feed 2 adults and a baby!   I wish I would have known how much I could have saved just by checking out the sale ad when I was planning my meals!  Add in coupons to that strategy and I have cut my grocery half! 
  • CLOTHING:  Like most people, I used to shop for clothes when the seasons changed.  When it got warm, I’d go buy shorts and swimsuits.  In the fall I started stocking up on sweaters and coats.  It makes sense…that’s what the stores want us to buy!  But now instead of going to the STORE when the seasons change, I go to my storage bins full of new clothing for my kids that I bought last year at a fraction of the price!  This year’s swimsuits cost me $5 last November.  I’ve got a coat waiting for this fall for my daughter that cost me just $3!!  If I bought that same coat in October it would have cost me $30!  Of course I still have to pick up odds and ends while they are in season, but the bulk of my kids wardrobe is “SO last season” and I couldn’t be happier about it! 
  • TOYS: The same thing applies to toy purchases.  I used to buy toys when I needed them…a few weeks before Christmas and birthdays I would go spend way more than I needed to.  When we got invited to a birthday party I would go blow $20 on a gift.  I didn’t know the joys of the toy clearance!  Now I buy toys twice a year at Target’s toy clearance and save them for the occasions when I need them.  Do I still have to buy toys at full price sometimes?  Yes…my kids have a “MUST HAVE” gift now and then that isn’t in my toy storage closet.  But instead of spending too much on everything under the Christmas tree, I only have to pay retail for one or two things and the rest is all 75% off or more! 
  • HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:  Before my savvy shopping days, I would buy toothpaste or toilet cleaner when we ran out.  Most of the time when I needed something, I needed it THEN, so I couldn’t wait for it to go on sale or until I had a coupon.  Now I have learned that having a stockpile of these kinds of things is awesome!  When toothpaste goes on sale and I have a coupon that makes it free or really cheap, I get as many as I can and save them for the next time I need toothpaste!  Same goes for almost all non-perishable personal and household items.  You do have to know  when to say when…there IS such thing as having too much toothpaste…but I haven’t spent more than $.50 for toothpaste in a year and most of the time it’s FREE! 

I’m not the perfect bargain hunter…there are still plenty of things that I waste my money on because I’m hooked on a particular brand or product that never goes on sale, or I’m too lazy to drive around searching for the best price.  But I’m so happy that all of that money that I used to waste on so many things now stays in my pocket!!  How about you?  Are there things that you waste your money on that you want to change?  Things that you used to spend too much on that you are happy to not have to buy anymore?  If you haven’t started savvy shopping…it’s not too late!  Start today and see how much you can save on all of those little things that really add up!

Creative Ways to Thank Teachers

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Beyond Apples-Creative Ways to Thank Teachers

As the school year comes to an end, it’s time to buy presents for the teachers and staff that have worked with your child for the last year. But what to buy? Teachers always receive bottles of lotion, coffee cups or candles. Use these tips to buy a present the teacher will truly appreciate and will remember for years to come!

A Thoughtful Card or Child-Drawn Picture

Tracey Kracht, Liberty High School teacher, says, “The very best thing I have ever gotten from students are thoughtful cards. I keep every one of them and when I’m having a bad day, I pull them out and read through them to remind myself that sometimes even when we think things are not going well, we really can make a difference.”

Gift Cards

By far, this is the most appreciated gift by teachers. It doesn’t matter where–Starbucks, Barnes and Noble and Target are popular choices. Or try the local route: Crepes on the Square in Liberty, Garozzo’s or Screenland Theatre. You don’t have to spend a lot; $5-$10 is appreciated and is a thoughtful gesture.

Potted Plants or Flowers

They can take the plant or flowers home and plant in their yard or keep in a pretty pot on their desk. Either way, they will remember you when they see them! This is a gift that has the potential to last a long time.

Books and supplies for the classroom

With many school districts making budget cuts, teachers are having to purchase supplies for their classrooms with their own money. Give a set of children’s books, new dry erase markers, boxes of crayons and sticky notes or even a box of colored card stock paper.

Food

How could you go wrong with chocolate truffles, homemade chocolate chip cookies or a bag of their favorite candy? Wrapped in a pretty package with a nice card, this is a low-cost way to show your thanks.

Don’t forget the P.E., music and art teachers, as well as the librarian, counselor and secretaries. They are well-deserving of your appreciation as well! Regardless of the gift, letting teachers know they are appreciated is the most important thing.

Jennifer Higgins is a freelance writer, teacher, wife and mother from Kearney, MO, who loves receiving any gifts from students.

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