7 Tips For Long Term Travel With Kids
If you haven’t read part 1 to this post about the pros/cons of long-term travel with a kiddo, start there.
Our son was 2 (almost 3) when we left to live full time on the road. We’ve been traveling for a year and a half and he is now 4. So these tips and tricks are geared at toddler/preschool kids, though I have a feeling they may be applicable beyond that!
Our Picasso Blocks are favorites - they have lasted through several rounds of ‘downsizing’ our stuff. Seen here at our first stop in Sandestin, FL (and my little guy looking like a baaaby!!)
7 TIPS FOR LONG TERM TRAVEL WITH A TODDLER/PRESCHOOLER:
1. Bring a few key things that are consistent to help them feel at ‘home’ in a new place. Our favorites are:
o His Slumberpod tent/bed setup
o His favorite stuffed animals
o A small bin of his current favorite toys
o His scooter & helmet (he wanted a bike and this was our travel-size compromise. It folds up and he loves taking it to new parks)
His bed setup - a Slumberpod blackout tent, a travel mattress and all the stuffed animals. Shown here in South Lake Tahoe, CA
2. Start talking about the next move early, but not too early
We found that, at his age, we couldn’t start talking about the next move too early or it’s all he’d talk about (constantly). But we also don’t like to surprise him. The sweet spot right now seems to be to start talking about it about 3-7 days before it happens so he feels prepared and aware but not overwhelmed.
3. Find ways for them to socialize in each city
For our longer stays, we’ve put him in programs at The Little Gym and Goldfish Swim School. For shorter stays, we do a lot of park time and I bring him with me to the kids room at Burn Boot Camp (my favorite workout, if the city has one). We also do children’s museums, parks and other kid touristy things where he can be around a lot of other kids.
4. Find crafts or other activities they can do and then be thrown away
Rohry doesn’t get a lot of new toys on the road. But he LOVES crafts, so in each city I spent a few dollars picking up some new options (play dough, paper/markers/paint, etc). It’s exciting to get something new and we just use them up and then toss before we move. Also, I take pictures of my favorite creations instead of collecting them 😜
5. Have a schedule that doesn’t change very often, regardless of city
Our weekdays look very similar no matter where we are. Kyle and I have schedule that allows us each working time each day while the other one has Rohry. It doesn’t change often, and when we get to a new time zone we keep the same general hours and force ourselves on that schedule pretty much immediately. Here’s the rough outline if you’re wondering:
Monday:
7am-Noon – Kyle works, Kristin has Rohry
Noon-6pm – Kristin works, Kyle has Rohry
Tuesday:
7am – Noon – Kristin works, Kyle has Rohry
Noon-6pm – Kyle works, Kristin has Rohry
(Repeat for the rest of the week)
Schedule Notes:
-Whoever has Rohry for the ‘morning shift’ also does wake up, breakfast, getting dressed, etc. so the other one can go straight to work
-Kyle and I are both super committed to not working weekends so we can explore all weekend long. This has been key to feeling like we really get to see each city.
Every now and then, the detailed schedule doesn’t work out and you have to let him do some ‘work’ while you work. Here are the boys in Montreal, Canada.
6. Be really intentional about spending extra time with the kids during move weeks
Move weeks are stressful on everyone, but I try to remind myself how scary it could be for Rohry. He doesn’t have any concept of how far our next place is or what it will be like. His behavior is often toughest around moving days. I’ve learned from experience that if we stretch ourselves too thin with work and activities right before or after a move, we all pay. It’s worth it to slow down for those days and help the adjustment go as well as it can - even if it means taking a day or two off work, or letting go of something on our travel dream list in that city.
7. Call familiar friends and family often
Our little guy misses his grandparents, cousins and other family a lot. We FaceTime all the time and it’s a nice sense of stability for him. It’s a good tip for the grown ups, as well!
There you have it, the top things we’ve learned from traveling full time with a 4-year-old. Do you have any other questions for us on this topic? We’re always happy to answer them!
