We know that traveling broadens your horizons and opens your mind. It is also one of the most enjoyable activities you can do with your children and help them make lifetime memories, especially if you’re Jewish and Sukkot is just around the corner. However, everyone who has even been on a family vacation knows it requires a great deal of planning, from locating the ideal location for celebrating Sukkot to ensuring your children’s happiness and safety.
Tour operators and planners can take care of the transportation, accommodation, and other aspects. However, certain challenges could sometimes arise unexpectedly when traveling with your kids. Follow these six tips when traveling with children during Sukkot, and make it a breeze, no matter where you plan to head.
1. Build Expectations
The main goal is to avoid the dreaded “are we there yet?” One of the best ways for families to survive getting to their Sukkot holiday destination is to set expectations for travel with children ahead of time. The scary part of traveling for children is the “unexpected.”
Begin talking about the trip to your destination early, and inform children about long flights, layovers, where and when they will eat and play, the plane and the hotel rules, and any queries or questions they may have. If you are vacationing in Italy, it can be challenging to explain to children the cultural differences they may not be used to. You can explain to them how you would celebrate Sukkot in Italy, all the fun you will have together as a family, and the places you will be visiting.
Allowing children to know what to expect on the journey gives parents and children a sense of control over the experience. Even if they are young, it is not a bad idea to plant the seeds of the itinerary ahead.
2. Make The Most Of Your Downtime
All holiday time is valuable and well-earned, so make the most of any free time. One parent can go on a quick adventure when the children are napping or going to bed early. Switch places the next time or when the first parent returns. This strategy is even more effective if the parents have opposing interests because you can visit something that only interests you. If work is crucial and urgent and you must catch up, why not do it at night when your children are asleep, and your partner is away? The other option is to head to a destination with something for everyone!
3. Bring a Snack
Most times, avoiding hunger is the key to happiness. Make sure you have some snacks packed. Packing healthy snacks and items that travel well, such as fruit, vegetables, and granola, is always a good idea. You can also carry traditional festive Kosher snacks for your kids to munch on. Ensure you can bring these snacks in your international flight luggage and the airport terminals.
It also doesn’t hurt to have some fun treats to avoid meltdowns. Encourage good behavior or let the children know that they can look forward to getting a treat on the plane or airport while you’re traveling.
4. Make Information Cards
Provide your children with information cards. If you and your child are separated, this information card could make all the difference, especially when traveling abroad. Include important phone numbers, names, where you’ll stay, and anything relevant.
Some of the information will vary depending on the type of holiday you’re taking and where you are staying, so keep it up to date for each trip. Your child can easily hand these cards to an adult or a police officer to help them.
5. Keep Them Entertained
Make a game plan for keeping the children entertained while driving or flying. Comic books, coloring books, and tablets loaded with games and movies are all excellent ways to keep children entertained during long flights and layovers.
Just like with edible treats, pack some fun surprises for the children, such as a new game, book, or toy they aren’t expecting, and you can pull out things that get boring.
Getting acquainted with the airports you’ll travel through is also a good idea. Many have indoor play areas for children, ideal for letting off steam before long flights or during layovers. You can also use this time to teach them about the customs and traditions of Sukkot.
6. Child-Proof Where Possible
Young children enjoy investigating everything, And by child-proofing your rooms, you can let them run around without worrying about their safety. Preventative measures include using a baby gate to close off certain areas and covering outlets, drastically reducing the likelihood of your children getting hurt.
If you don’t want to bring everything, check with the hotel or where you’ll be staying to know their options for child-proofing the room.
Along the same lines as keeping your children safe, investing in a safe car seat is worthwhile if you’ll be traveling with young children in a car.
Takeaways
Find places that your children will enjoy as much as you do. Traveling with children can be a challenge. They won’t be able to do everything you want. Still, if you plan ahead and create an itinerary that includes all essential activities for celebrating the Sukkot festival, you can find places you’ll both enjoy. If you have a specific destination in mind, enquire about the hotel’s or resort’s activities for children and what you should expect with a child on the trip before booking.
Traveling with your children during Sukkot necessitates more planning and preparation, but it is also gratifying. Remember these safety tips the next time you travel, and enjoy watching your children discover the world while celebrating their ancestral traditions.
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