A guide to traveling with kids

Traveling with children can be challenging, but sensory toys like Glowy the Weighted Lap Pad can ease travel anxiety and provide comfort on the go.

Packing Essentials:
Bring along familiar items like Glowy to provide comfort. The weight and glow can help soothe your child during long car rides or flights.

Let Your Child Help You to Pack Their Bag

As you prep for travel, allow your child help with their bag. This step empowers them, making them feel part of the adventure. Conversations about packing essentials unfold. "Why do we need Glowy the Weighted Lap Pad?" you might discuss. It's about ensuring their comfort and managing travel anxiety. Choosing sensory toys and calming toys for travel becomes educational. Deciding on sensory friendly snacks teaches about self-care. This approach turns packing into a shared, enlightening experience.

Related: Introducing Glowy the Dog: The Ultimate Weighted Lap Pad for Kids

Talk to Your Kids About the Travel Journey

Before you venture out, talk to kids about the journey.Addressing the upcoming trip primes their minds, making the shift in scenery less daunting. This conversation can help mitigate their anxieties, transforming fear into excitement. By involving them in choosing which sensory toys or calming toys for travel to pack, such as Glowy the Weighted Lap Pad, you empower them. 

Get Your Kids Ready for the Trip

Engaging kids in trip planning can spark excitement and shape expectations. Discussing the itinerary allows them to visualize the adventure ahead. Including them in decisions, from selecting travel-friendly activities for kids to choosing sensory-friendly snacks, turned preparation into a fun task. 

Talk to Them About the Change of Scenery

Experiencing unfamiliar settings can, at first, seem daunting to young travelers. Yet, these journeys offer unique chances for growth and learning. Preparing kids for these shifts in scenery means painting these changes in an exciting, positive light. 

Talk About Your Child's Potential Anxieties

I realized engaging in open discussions about fears can transform travel anxieties into excitement. By acknowledging your child's nervousness about new places, you create a space for honesty. I found that incorporating sensory toys, like Glowy the Weighted Lap Pad, brings a sense of comfort. This glow in the dark toy, designed with sensory comfort in mind, acts as a calming companion, helping to ease travel anxiety. Sharing stories of adventures, emphasizing the sensory benefits for children, and highlighting how sensory textures from toys like Glowy can soothe, have always paved the way for us to tackle any child's travel anxiety together.

Creating a Comfort Zone:
Set up a mini calming corner in your travel space. Use Glowy to create a comforting environment, helping your child feel more secure and less anxious.

Benefits of Weighted Toys and Lap Pads:

Weighted toys and lap pads, such as Glowy, are particularly beneficial for traveling. The gentle pressure from the weighted pad can have a calming effect on the nervous system, reducing anxiety and helping children feel more grounded. This is especially useful in new or overstimulating environments like airports and airplanes. Glowy’s glow-in-the-dark feature can also provide a comforting presence in unfamiliar or dark spaces, making transitions smoother and reducing travel-related stress.

Engaging Activities:

Keep your child engaged with travel-friendly activities. Glowy can be used as a comforting lap pad while your child enjoys coloring, puzzles, or reading.

Related: ​​The Sensory Benefits of Weighted Lap Pads and Glow-in-the-Dark Features

Provide Ear Protection for Your Children

Loud noises will meet us, sometimes unexpectedly, during our travels. Offering ear protection to our little ones isn't just thoughtful; it's essential. I found that earmuffs designed specifically for children provide a snug, comfortable fit, ensuring that the rumble of airplane engines or the bustle of city streets won't overwhelm them. Equally effective, noise-canceling headphones can serve a dual purpose, blocking out distressing sounds while entertaining them with their favorite tunes or audiobooks. Both options stand as guardians against the clamor, turning potential distress into comfortable silence or enjoyable melodies.

Pack Sensory Calming Snacks from Their Normal Routine

Sensory-calming snacks make all the difference for my kids during trips. These familiar tastes provide a slice of home, ensuring comfort even miles away. Traveling with kids becomes smoother when their routine snack is within reach. Not only does this prevent travel anxiety, but it promotes a sense of normalcy amidst new scenery. Providing a little part of their normal home routines can bring calm in those moments of anxiety.

Understand That New Places Can Change Behavior

Unfamiliar environments often unsettle kids, leading to unexpected behavior changes. This shift can make traveling with kids a bit more challenging. I've observed that new sounds, sights, and routines disrupt their normal behavior. With patience and understanding, we can help them navigate these changes. Acknowledging that your child might act differently helps set the stage for a smoother experience. It's essential to remember that this is a natural reaction to new places. By staying calm and supportive, you provide a sense of security, helping them adjust and eventually find joy in the adventure.

Ask for Accommodations Where You Will Be Staying

Securing suitable accommodations plays a big role in ensuring a smooth travel experience with kids. Hotels and lodgings often offer options that can turn a stressful stay into a relaxing retreat. For families navigating the complexities of travel with children, it's essential to ask for specific accommodations that cater to the youngest travelers' needs.

Upon booking, request a quiet room located away from high-traffic areas. This simple step greatly reduces disturbances, ensuring your child gets a good night's sleep. Hotels are usually accommodating and understand the importance of meeting such requests for families.

Additionally, child friendly accommodations might be asking for bedding not washed in scented soaps.