Traveling is supposed to be fun and relaxing, but when you have kids their restlessness can make you stressed out. If you are looking for ways to help your boys as you travel then check out these tips.
Let Them Pack Themselves
As your kids are getting older, you can let go a little more. You can give your older boys a packing list and let them go to town. All you have to do is check before you leave and you’re good to go. (Less stress for you, mom)!
Electronics are Golden
Although you probably do not like allowing your kids to be on their electronics for long periods of time, they are golden while traveling. Make sure they’re charged up and ready to go before you head out on your trip!
Proper Napping Gear
Older kids seem to not sleep as easily in a car, so make sure your kids have proper napping gear in the car. Pillow, blanket, and headphones are all three must haves if you want your older children to nap in the car for you.
Reward at the End
If your older boys can make it through a very long trip, promise them a great reward at the end. I don’t know about you, but a good meal is a good enough reward for my boys at the end of a long trip. I don’t know many people who like long car rides, so a reward is always welcome in most cases.
Surprise Them Along the Way
A good way to keep your boys entertained while traveling is to surprise them along the way. Sometimes their favorite video game or a newer edition of the game is a great surprise. Or something as simple as an activity book is good enough while traveling. When you’re stuck in a really small space, things you never appreciated before become precious.
Let’s Discuss: Do you have any tips for moms of older boys who are traveling? I’d love to hear them!
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These are very helpful tips. I agree gadgets are golden when traveling. They keep the kids quiet and they don’t get bored easily.
Traveling with older boys can be tough. These are great tips.
Hey, I think proper napping gear is important for adults, too! LOL Great post!
Portable electronics are a godsend, not just for boys. Travelling in the car is so much easier for us now that our girls have iPads.
My kiddos are younger yet, but I know my friend get books for them to read in the car and they do a lots of stops. I personally think it is fun if the kiddo and pick a destination to go to.
A reward at the end is always a good idea when traveling with kids! It gives them something to look forward to.
These are great tips. Just wait till they’re really older – I went to Iceland alone with my son when he graduated college and it was one of the best, most special trips I’ve ever taken.
I haven’t yet taken my older son on a longer trip, mainly because we have younger ones too. These are great tips.
These are definitely good ideas. My daughter was a different story. My son enjoys the destination but hates the traveling.
I may not have any children of my pwn but I have certainly taken road trips with them. Of course back when I was driving on those trips there was no such thing as electronics!! We played word games–accompanied the radio and discussed the various places we were driving past.
I learned the hard way that I can let him pack, but I have to go behind him. The last time we traveled, he packed one pair of shorts and no underwear!
Also, I liked to surprise them periodically with simple activities or snacks or games to keep their interest.
Great ideas there. Older boys can get bored easy!
Great tips. I have a 9 year old and we are starting to creep into the older boy stuff. These are great ideas.
My son is looking to take his first trip out of the country his school is going to Rome. I’m excited about his opportunity. Thank you so much for this list. It is going to be helpful
Electronics are golden! I agree. Especially with the tweens and teens on a long car ride. We always pack pillows so they can lean them up against the window of the car when we drive. We travel a lot back and forth to visit my mom and I have to say this list is right on the money.
I can use these tips when my son becomes a teen, you’re such a sweet mother.
Napping does get harder when they get bigger. That’s a good reminder. I like the idea to surprise them too. 🙂
Electronics would be a must have or my older son wouldn’t travel. When we took a 2.5 hour train ride to my hometown he was on his phone and iPad the whole time, I felt so alone haha. But it was ok, at least he was entertained!
Great tips! I always let me kids travel with electronics and earphones. They need to be happy and occupied during the trip. A book is also a good idea.
Traveling with young boys can be a pain. I am sure it only gets worse when they get older!
My daughter does not like long car rides at all, so I try to plan as much enterntainment along the way as possible. Listening to music and singing together is a lot of fun too and makes the time go faster.
These are some great tips! I don’t have a boy,I have a girl…. But same stuff can apply to a girl as well!
These are all great tips. I always bring electronics for my kiddos.
I don’t have any boys, but I can imagine that electronics or games would be helpful.