So we have a few family trips planned this year, and as usual I am more excited than the kids!
Because I like the kids to share in my Kool-Aid happiness, I build up their pre-trip anticipation using a the three few following techniques:
Now this little beauty is easy! Depending on your family's destination (ex: Disney, Sesame Place, or Beach trip) you start by gathering a list of facts or outings relevant to your trip.
I have googled facts on many destinations and I have never come up empty handed. Figure out how many days in advance you would like to start your count down chain, and gather 1 fact or outing for each link of the chain.
Once you have the appropriate number of chains, you put the chain together and hang it in a kid friendly place.
Create a ritual in the morning or evening by reading one of the links each day until you leave on your vacation. Not only does this help younger kids improve their reading skills, but it also helps them understand the amount of time they have before their trip while getting them all pumped up.
2. The Swag Bag
This is one of my favorites and comes in handy with long car rides and plane trips.
Simply start with a gift bag, travel bag, or back pack. Visit your local Dollar Store, Christmas Tree Shop or Target and pick up some old school mechanisms to occupy your child's time. I love to include coloring / puzzle books, crayons, stickers, snacks, glow sticks, sunglasses, and suntan loation. You can even buy these items in the theme of your trip. The Dollar Store is a great resource for Disney, Sesame, or Beach theme items.
When we traveled to Disney one year I filled the bags with hula skirts and leis for the luau at The Polynesian, a bandana for the Hoop Dee Doo Review, an autograph book and pen, and a book with all of the Disney fairy tale classics. It was a great way to build up the anticipation for our trip, and the kids loved it!
Check out www.parrottcanvas.net for great deals on totes with free embroidery for your swag bags!
3. Custom Snacks !!Yummy!!
If you are like myself and lack the time or skills to make custom cookies or snacks, have no fear! Any local bakery or mom and pop vendor could help out with this inexpensive extra. I can suggest an easy do-it-yourself snack: for our Sesame Place trip this year I am adding themed snacks to the swag bags. I printed out character faces on sticker paper that I found online for Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird. Next, I picked up some sandwich bags to adhere the faces to. For Big Bird I included gummy worms, Elmo gets gold fish, and Cookie Monster gets cookie crisp cereal. They came out adorable and very convenient snacks for the car ride to PA.
One year for Disney I ordered the girls favorite characters as cookies. And we ate them in the car on the way to the airport, with some left over for the plane ride. After all it's a vacation!
These little extras above don't take much time or money, and they add your special touch while creating fond memories for your kids.
I believe it's the little things that help make an experience more memorable and special!
