Hughs Blog

Tips on traveling with kids

Every year I take each of my two daughters on separate adventures and each year I get a little wiser. I just returned from a magical kayaking trip in the Gulf Islands off the South end of Vancouver Island with my 12 year old daughter and I have some advice.

If you have ever thought of (or maybe you do this all the time) taking your child on an adventure these tips might prove handy:

1. If you have more than one, take them one at a time. Nothing beats one-on-one time with your kid. The conversations can go deep without competition from a third mind. All your attention goes to one person. And you’re never outnumbered.
2. It ain’t about the adventure. I’ve tried the challenging routes (Okay, there is a story about a Coast Guard rescue, but that’s for a future blog) and the easy ones. Easy wins hands down. When you are focused on survival there isn’t much focus left for who you came for. If you want adventure, book a weekend and knock yourself out.
3. Little things are huge. After all the planning and packing is done, think of a few small, fun additions to add in. This year we had the last minute addition (actually my daughter brought this one) of a little blue wind-up “Nogging Bop” that would do a bizarre happy dance and get us smiling. Look for fun food treats (Kinder Surprise work for all ages), goofy hats, or camp decorations (even a couple of balloons goes a long way in the wilderness to dressing up camp).
4. Plan for fun. Get the work wrapped up, don’t check emails, stay off the cell phone (better yet, go somewhere that doesn’t get cell service) and bring a good novel. They will have more fun the minute we do.

Tags: adventure, children, fun, happiness, parenting, travel

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