Get the scoop on traveling on vacation with kids

Today’s paid guest post comes to us from Kiley Morrow, a content strategy writer from Beaches.com, and she shares the pros and cons of taking your kids on vacation. Kiley writes about some of the great benefits from spending time with your kids and creating treasured memories, but she also sheds light on some of the things that might not be the most fun, like dealing with excess baggage and bored kids. Overall, Kiley covers a wide array of pros and cons you should consider when thinking about vacationing with your children.

What are some of your stories while vacationing with your kids? We’d love to know. Share your comments with us below.

Thanks for the great article, Kiley!

Enjoy.
– Will

Pros and cons of taking your kids on vacation

Traveling with your entire family is incredibly fun, but things can get a bit stressful sometimes. And when you add kids to that equation, some parents will feel dread, while others will be excited about all the activities they can do together.

Yes, it is challenging and you have to multitask throughout the day, but making good memories your kids will fondly remember is more important. Being well prepared and knowing all the difficulties you might face is crucial.

So here is everything you need to know before you pack up your bags and head out for a vacation with your kids.

Pros of taking your kids on vacation

Spending quality time with your kids

First, in our list of pros and cons of taking your kids on vacation is spending time with your kids. Being a parent is a full-time position. You have to take a proper care of your kids and you sometimes forget to actually have fun with your youngsters.

If you are a working parent, you might feel even more disconnected from your kids. This can change during a vacation because you will have plenty of time to hang out with them and try different activities that will bring you closer.

You will be away from your work during the vacation so focusing on your family and kids will be easier. Forget about the deadlines or work related stress and live in the moment. Your primary goal should be reconnecting with your kids and making the trip unforgettable for everyone.

A new experience

Taking your kids on family vacations means that they will get to experience plenty of things for the first time. Their enthusiasm when you get to a beach will make you enjoy that place even if you have been there countless times.

Sign them up for interesting mini adventures, such as seeing the local animal world or tours of the local area. Simply sit back and watch their faces light up when they see something new to them. Soak in the excitement and you will get to experience these things from a whole new perspective

Learning opportunities

Kids are very curious and they are eager to learn new things and taking your kids with you on vacation is no exception and is next in our list of pros and cons of taking your kids on vacation. Traveling will allow them to absorb information quickly because the environment is completely different from a standard classroom. So if you are traveling to a country that has a lot of historical sights, make sure you take them there.

You can do a bit of preparation and act as a tour guide. Your kids will become better students and probably learn some other practical skills which will be useful later on. So make sure you include some interesting quests during each family vacation.

Treasured memories

Some of our most cherished family memories are closely related to travel and is one of the top positives in our list of pros and cons of taking your kids on vacation. Many unforgettable moments happen while you are exploring the world. You can probably recall a couple of them right now. So if you want your kids to experience similar things, do your best to travel as much as possible as a family.

You will often mention the adventures from your vacations even after you come back home and they will stay with you forever. Continue the tradition and your kids will do the same once they have their own families.

Cons of taking your kids on vacation

Unsatisfied kids

Sometimes your kids might not like a certain place and they could feel bored. The chances are they will start complaining and asking to leave even if it is not possible. Different weather conditions might have an influence on their mood and the heat can make them feel agitated.

There are plenty of solutions to this problem such as handing them an iPad and letting them play video games or watch a cartoon. You also have to listen to their needs and make sure to include engaging activities into your daily schedule.

The price

Going on a vacation as a couple is more affordable than traveling with kids and is definitely something we won’t forget to mention among our negatives in our list of pros and cons of taking your kids on vacation. Taking your whole family out of the country will definitely cost you more. You can either accept this or try to find a more affordable version which will be more budget-friendly.

For instance, try to find an early bird or last-minute offers on trusted discount websites. There are some great offers that are ideal for families. All-inclusive vacations are a good idea because the price includes unlimited foods and drinks, as well as other activities within a resort which can be something your kids will enjoy.

If you do go all-inclusive, just remember there’s family-friendly resorts and adults-only resorts. Look at the marketing materials and pick one that works for kids and adults. You don’t want to be staying in the honeymoon suite with your kids.

Excess luggage

Traveling with kids often includes additional luggage and you might feel overwhelmed and this is among those in our list of pros and cons of taking your kids on vacation.

They do require more space because they would want to pack toys, games, etc. Plus, there are piles of clothes, gadgets, baby equipment, and so on. You need to know what to expect. After all, there is a huge difference between a stay at an all-inclusive resort and a camping trip. The latter will require much more baggage.

The best thing you can do is to try not to over pack. Be smart with your decisions and limit the number of clothes, especially if you are traveling to a warm place. Allow a couple of toys for each kid and bring only the necessary equipment. Your kids will probably forget that they have no toys because there will be so many new things to do on your family vacation.

So, what do you think of this list of pros and cons of taking your kids on vacation? Do you have something to add? Something that you completely agree with? What is your experience while vacationing with kids? Please share with us by leaving a comment below.

About the Guest Post Author

Kiley Morrow is a content strategy writer from Wilmington, Delaware for Beaches.com who submitted this paid guest post submission.

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Download our free printable Advent calendar from Windy Pinwheel

Do you remember those cardboard advent calendars when you were a kid? Each door opened up and a piece of chocolate was inside. My grandmother gave me one every year. I never really ate the candy, but loved opening the doors in our countdown to Christmas. Today, in our world with Pinterest, crafty moms and dads have stepped up their game and now advent calendars are no longer just a little cardboard door with chocolate.

My good friend Morgann owns Adisten’s Closet (check it out, she makes pretty amazing stuff) and created these super cute Advent calendars last year. So we decided to step up our game this year too! In the interest of making holiday memories and not buying dollar store junk or a bunch of candy, we did a lot of Pinteresting and found so many great ideas and because we love our readers we thought we would share these with you. So here they are; our countdown to Christmas activity printable Advent calendar.

We hope you and your family enjoy the memories and please comment below with other ideas you have and we will add to our advent calendar printables over time.

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The Review Wire’s Holiday #HoHoHo Hop Giveaway is in full swing and we’re giving away Snoopy’s Doghouse Display

As you may already know, last year we celebrated Christmas by giving away a Blu-Ray copy of The Polar Express. You can pick up a book copy of The Polar Express or a copy on Blu-Ray (or get the 3D Blu-Ray/Blu-Ray combo instead) in our online store.

This year, as we are participainting in The Review Wire’s Holiday #HoHoHo Hop Giveaway, we are excited to once again give away something in the spirit of the Christmas season, Snoopy’s Doghouse Display, found only at Toys ‘R’ Us.

Starting now through 9:00PM PST on December 6, 2013 you can enter daily to win this wonderful toy to have in your home this holiday season.

Snoopy’s Doghouse Display in action

Make sure you stop by The Review Wire to Enter the Grand Prize. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a large Teach My Learning Kits of choice (RV $39.99) PLUS a Second Prize Winner will receive Teach My Kit of choice (RV $14.99).

Here are the details for our giveaway:

• Entries are accepted from November 22, 2013 at 9:01PM PST through December 6, 2013 at 9:00PM PST
• The giveaway is open only to residents of the United States
• You must be 18 years or older to enter or with your parent’s permission.
• The winning entry must claim the prize within 48 hours of the close of the giveaway by replying to the email we send to the winner with their mailing address so we can ship the item to that location
• The winner must be able to accept a package at the mailing address they specify; no P.O. Boxes

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We have something special in store for The Review Wire Holiday #HoHoHo Hop Giveaway

Last year, we celebrated the holiday season by giving away a Blu-Ray copy of The Polar Express. You can pick up a book copy of The Polar Express or a copy on Blu-Ray (or get the 3D Blu-Ray/Blu-Ray combo instead) in our online store area. We’re delighted to announce that we will be giving away another exciting item this year starting this Friday, November 22 at 9:01PM PST. We are participating in The Review Wire’s Holiday #HoHoHo Hop Giveaway. The Hop will run from November 22 through December 6, 2013. As I write this announcement there are over 61 blogs and websites that will be participating, making it convenient to “hop” from one giveaway to the next right from the giveaway post itself. The minimum requirement is offering an item $25 or more.

Now, you might be wondering what this item could be.#What could this item be, you wonder? You’ll have to wait and find out. It could be “a major award” that is “frah-gee-lay”. You never know. Or it could cause you to put on a Christmas pageant at your school and mock the director as you dance with your friends. It could be something to cause the power of the city to dim as you turn on your Christmas decorations or send your cousin to kidnap your boss because he forgot your Christmas bonus this year when you are already committed to putting in a pool in your backyard this year. Maybe it will make you declare that “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear” or scare some guy on top of your rooftop on Christmas Eve and cause him to slip and you to decide whether or not to put on his appropriately-red suit. Maybe you’ll see three ghosts trying to inspire you to change your life or just an angel who will show you what life would have been like without you in the world. Who knows? You’ll have to stop by again on Friday night to find out.

In the mean time, you can take a look at the other blogs/websites offering to join the giveaway hop starting this Friday below. If you have a site and you would like to join, please sign up right here and join in the fun.

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Happy New Year. Download your free New Year’s healthy themed printable lunch box love notes below.

It’s a new year and it’s time for a new you and a new start. Why not share in all of the healthy activities and resolutions with your kids? Today, we bring you our New Year’s healthy themed lunch box love notes for you to share with your kids. From healthy foods to sports, bananas and apples to golf and football, this free healthy themed printable lunch box love notes printable set is complete for a healthy and active start to the new year.

What do you think of the latest set of free healthy themed printable lunch box love notes printables? Did we hit the bullseye for 2013? What are your New Year’s resolutions? Do you set resoltuions and goals for yourself for each new year? Please share with us what your resolutions are for 2013 by leaving a comment below.

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Indoor activities for kids during the cold winter months can include art projects, reading, baking and cleaning. There are also a number of great places that are perfect to visit in during the cold weather months and winter days.

I wanted to share some of my tactics for keeping myself sane during stay-at-home days. Please note that I am not, by any means, an expert on indoor activities for kids, but I try to be creative and enjoy my time with my children.

This fall, we had to keep both our children home “sick” for the day. They weren’t sick, as in, “laying in bed and sleeping all day”, but sick enough not to go to school and not sick enough to make me think, “What in the world am I am going to do with two kids during the winter when we can’t go outside? I need to find some indoor activities for kids and find them fast!” Like any modern mom these days, I escaped to my favorite idea generator, Pinterest to learn about more indoor activities for kids that I can store in my arsenal for those cold, chilly winter months ahead! I started pinning some ideas and keeping track of what I wanted to do to prepare myself for the holidays and wintry days ahead.

Tip: Check out my “Crafty Kids” board on Pinterest for even more ideas.

Top 12 indoor activities for kids

1. Art Projects: Painting or drawing is one of our kids’ favorite activities. We typically get a big plastic outdoor tablecloth, you know, the ones with the material on the back to keep them from slipping. You can find these on sale towards the end of the Summer. We have an easel that we use, but sometimes, I find great deals on blank canvas frames at the local craft store and I let them go crazy (these great for gifts to family members). Typically, we let them paint in the nude with just an apron and a diaper/underwear (because they are young and don’t really know how to keep themselves clean during art project time). This decreases my mommy stress with less ruined clothes afterwards. For a little extra fun try making your own finger paint.



2. Cooking and Baking: Absolutely my go-to kids activity to do. Break out all the ingredients for really anything you want to cook and let the little ones help with the parts that are safe for them. As a teacher, I know this is also an amazing way to show my kids how the skills and content they are learning about in school connects to real life. This is also a great way to get them to try new and exciting foods. We all know kids can be persnickety, but if they have a stake in making the meal, they might just be fired up to try it.
3. Movie Night: As an easy activity to keep kids busy for a while, most movies that are geared towards the preschool and elementary school crowd are no more than 90 minutes, but why not make it more of an evening with hot cocoa and a slumber party? Try making these fun movie pillows or, if you have time to plan in advance of a winter storm, try a Disney-themed movie night.
4. Dance Party: As another indoor activity for kids, this may or may not be my own way of reliving my own childhood, but I love having dance parties with my family. My daughter actually received a karaoke machine for Christmas. Turning up the music and letting all your cares go out the window is like therapy for a winter’s day. Use some oldies, but goodies, and relive some of your favorite childhood memories with your own children. You can get really crazy and rowdy and let the kids dress up and put on a performances as well. For the ultimate dance party, try a family talent show!



5. Cleaning: If you are stuck in your house for any length of time, you will probably begin to notice your floors need cleaning. There is dog hair all over the couch and the laundry is about 5 loads deep. Not to mention, the laundry that did not get put away from the previous 5 loads is still left in a laundry basket, left to be put away. Well, at my house anyway, this often happens. So, I have started having the kids help with with cleaning and organizing. Giving kids responsibilities around the house makes them an active member of your family and helps them to learn that cleaning up and keeping a house in perfect condition does not magically happen. I really like this list of chores for kids because its broken down into age groups. Please be sure to try these as one of your own indoor activities for kids in your arsenal of things to do with your children.



6. Build a Fort: Easy, cheap, and provides loads of fun as one of our indoor activities for kids to engage in. Grab your dining room chairs, a large sheet or blanket and let your imagination take you on various adventures.
7. Put on a Play: Similar to the Dance Party and the Fort, this is one of those fun indoor activities for kids to let your imagination go wild. Grab some clothes from your closets or the kids dress-up box, you can even let your kids make up the characters. Playing make believe is wonderful for children’s development.
8. Reading: As a teacher, I cannot stress enough how important reading is for children and what a great excuse it is to sit down in a comfy chair and start reading to your child as one of our favorite indoor activities for kids. You can start with a short story or even a chapter book. Really, any book will do. Talk to them about the book and get their feedback. Ask questions about the colors, shapes and names of what they are looking at. Engage them as you’re reading. My husband’s favorites are Go Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman and Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. In fact, he reads Green Eggs and Ham at varying speeds just to be playful with our kids. It really cracks them up and makes them laugh as he is reading it to them. This is one of my favorite indoor activities for kids.
9. Create your own story and illustrate it: As one of my go-to indoor activities for kids, I know that kids love books and they love to color. Put those two together and write your own story. You can have them draw the illustrations and, if you really want to get crazy, you can eventually scan all the photos and have it made into a book. I have made some for families through Hullabaloo Stories in the past. For your day at home, however, you can simply put all the pages together with a bit of ribbon or string and a hole punch. Help your children write out the words and draw what they are seeing in their minds. This is among our top picks for indoor activities for kids to encourage creativity and imaginative play.
10. Interview your children and have them interview you: This is a great indoor activity for kids to encourage the growth of your child’s imagination. You can do this to get information for creating a birthday present or just to learn about each other on a deeper level. It’s always a fun game. I always enjoy this one when selecting indoor activities for kids to do with my own children.
11. Go on a scavenger hunt: One of the teachers at our preschool does a fun twist on a traditional scavenger hunt for one of her indoor activities for kids. She adds on one thing at the end, asking the kids to think through which item is in the wrong place. This goes along so well with teaching them about clean up responsibilities because they begin to learn that all things have a place. For younger kids, print out pictures of the items you want them to find and for older kids, have them practice their reading skills by just simply writing a list of items to find.
12. Card and Board Games: Candyland, Hasbro’s Connect Four, Go Fish, using something like this Melissa & Doug Classic Card Game Set, Checkers, puzzles, and many more are appropriate for the preschool crowd. Try your hand at playing some fun board games with your kids, this can lead to many hours of fun, but a word of caution, once they start playing games, they will not only beat you but want to keep playing again and again. For a fun twist, try this life size Candyland game.

Top places to take your kids in Northern Nevada, Reno, Truckee Meadows and beyond for indoor activities for kids during a cold winter day

1. Discovery Museum: Hands down, one of the best places in Reno, Nevada to spend the day with your entire family.
 



2. Coconut Bowl: A fun way to spend the afternoon, ask the staff to help you with bumpers and other aides to help kids bowl. Also check out their “glow bowling” for the older kids. Coconut Bowl also offers much more than bowling check out our post and their website for more information.
3. Kids n Art: A new local art studio designed just for kids. They even offer camps! Do some art without making a mess in your house. Sounds like a great snow day to me! They even offer adult classes.
 



4. The Playroom: who doesn’t love an indoor playroom place to play, all the toys and equipment to wear your kids out while you have the opportunity to sit back and watch them revel in new discoveries.
5. The Clay Canvas: an activity better reserved for older children and toddlers who are able to be around breakable objects.
6. The Children’s Museum of Northern NV: Located in Downtown Carson City, Nevada. This museum is Northern Nevada’s oldest children’s museum and an entirely play-based great afternoon outing in our state’s capital, Carson City, Nevada.
7. Movie Theater: Typically there is always a movie suitable for younger audiences at the movie theater. Most theaters have booster seats for the little ones and who doesn’t love a bowl of movie popcorn? Check your local theater for listings.
8. National Automobile Museum: Kids love cars and going to see them is among our many indoor activities for kids. They just love them. Mine always try to sneak in the driver’s seat. The minute I unbuckle their car seat harnesses, my two year-old always tells me, “I dive”. Meaning, “I drive”. He wants to be a race car driver, I just know it. I took both my kids and my car-enthusiast father-in-law to the National Automobile museum last February. I can’t honestly say who had more fun, my father-in-law or my son. This museum is a pretty cool place. I would only caution that most of the cars are for looking at and children can’t touch them. So, be aware of that, ahead of time, to make sure your kids understand why they cannot “drive” all the cool cars and hot rods.



9. The Library: As I mentioned before, I love reading with my kids. Sometimes however, you feel like you have read the same book one too many times and just have get out of the house as one of your indoor activities for kids. So, often times, we will go to the library or our local bookstore to pick out some new books to add to our rotation. Check out your local bookstore or library for story time. Most places have a set story time and activities related to the story that is read that day.
10. Build a Snowman or Go Sledding: Admittedly, this is not one of our indoor activities for kids, but who can resist going outside and playing in the freshly fallen snow. Bundle up and dive in. You can even sled down your own driveway or just pull the sled down the street. It’s a great workout for you and the kids will wear themselves out; then you can start a warm fire and put on some hot cocoa, and a movie or better yet… nap time!

So there you have it. My survival guide for the cold winter months for indoor activities for kids when I am trapped inside a lot with my children and do not want to lose my mind and go daffy. Share with us, what do you do to keep your marbles, I mean active indoors with your kids in the winter?

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A poem entitled, “Visit From St. Nicholas”
a.k.a. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
originally published in the Troy Sentinel in 1823.

by Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

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Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

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Happy Holidays. Download your free Christmas and winter themed lunch box love note printables below.

Continuing our free offerings here at Windy Pinwheel, we bring you Christmas and winter themed free downloadable printables for you to share with your kids. From candy canes, to penguins and snow, this set is complete and ready to warm a child’s heart on a cold winter day.

What do you think of the latest set of free winter themed lunch box love note printables? Did we make your holiday bright?

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Sponsor this article for $1.00

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By sponsoring this article, your sponsorship will display for a period of 180 days (6 months). If, for any reason, and it is up to the discretion of the authors of Windy Pinwheel, we feel content linked to or the name provided does not coincide with the objectives of this site for our audience we will issue a refund and pull the sponsorship of the article. This action does not limit you from sponsoring an article on our site again. However, by sponsoring again, we will issue the same review criteria as the prior sponsorship and if it fails, we will follow the same process as before and issue a refund and pull down the sponsorship. We truly appreciate the support of our audience and hope you can help offset our costs of operating this site by sponsoring our site articles.

For all reviews, please exercise discretion. If the sponsor of the article is in conflict of the topic of the article, we will pull down the sponsorship to remove any conflict of interest with the article at-hand. For instance, there is an article about a hamburger restaurant and a competing hamburger restaurant sponsors the article; we will pull the sponsorship and issue a refund.

By clicking the button below, I agree with the Terms & Conditions.