Organized Travel with Kids
School is out and summer is finally here! As you navigate through finding camps and childcare for the season, there may be a few weeks without either, and the best solution is to escape town for a while. Whether you’re flying or driving, staying organized while traveling will ensure a smoother experience for everyone involved.
When I plan a trip, I always aim for it to be easier than being at home. However, when you have young kids, that’s not always the case (hence why I refer to them as trips, not vacations). But with effective organization, you can enhance your experience and make it feel less burdensome than being at home!
Start Planning Early
Determine which weeks or weekends are the most convenient for your family to travel. In our case, we prefer going out of town during the 4th of July and the beginning of August when camps are not in session. Living in Houston, escaping during August is always a great idea because of the scorching heat.
Beginning early also allows you to find suitable destinations. When you have young kids who still take naps, it’s essential to be close to engaging activities so that you can return to your accommodation for naptime. We like to plan a major activity for the morning or afternoon and keep the other one more low-key, such as visiting a playground or simply strolling around and enjoying a meal. This helps prevent meltdowns caused by overtiredness. Conducting research ahead of time facilitates planning, ensuring that you don’t find yourselves sitting around in the morning, wondering what to do while the precious naptime clock is ticking! (As you see in this picture, Raleigh was too close to nap time!)
If you have older kids, involving them in the planning process can be a great idea. For instance, when we’re in the mountains, my older kids and their dad (definitely not me) love going camping. We schedule a night specifically for that purpose. When we’re at the beach, I let the kids decide whether we go to the pool or the beach in the morning, and then the other option in the afternoon. This way, they feel more invested in the trip rather than merely following mom and dad’s instructions.
How to Pack in an Organized Way
Once you have the travel and activity aspects of the trip organized, it’s time to pack. This is typically the responsibility of moms, and being organized in this area benefits everyone! If your kids are old enough, involve them in the packing process. Currently, my four and six-year-olds pack their bags with a checklist, which I double-check (depending on the trip). For quick weekend getaways, I even let them pack entirely on their own. This way, they gain some independence, and if we forget something, it’s not a big deal.
Regarding clothing, I prefer to pack enough outfits for the entire trip plus an extra set. If we’re traveling somewhere with access to a washing machine, I pack for half the trip’s duration, assuming we’ll do one load of laundry during the stay and rewear outfits. My kids have a capsule wardrobe, so their tops and bottoms can easily be mixed and matched. I don’t mind if their outfits don’t match perfectly, and they’re accustomed to wearing the same clothes each week.
When it comes to packing for myself, I also opt for a mini capsule wardrobe. I select items that can be easily combined, eliminating the need for extensive outfit planning. After doing laundry during the trip, I can mix and match the items to create different looks, so I never feel like I’m wearing the same thing (even though that’s often the case in my everyday life!).
For everyone, it’s essential to pack a bathing suit and a jacket—just in case. As for shoes, try to limit the number of pairs to a maximum of two to save space. And, it’s just easier with less options, for moms and kids.
My Favorite Organization Travel Hack
One of my favorite organization hacks for traveling is having pre-packed medicine and toiletry bags. I always have a dedicated medicine/first aid bag that contains our essential items: allergy medicine, pain relievers, and band-aids. I keep duplicates of these items exclusively for our travel bag and restock it once we return from a trip, ensuring it’s always ready for the next one! The same goes for toiletry bags. My kids have their fully stocked bag with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and a brush. Since I have boys and a little girl with easy-to-manage hair, it’s not a hassle.
I follow the same approach for my own toiletries, making sure to note the items I can’t pack ahead of time, such as my retainer. Everything else is already stocked and ready to go! These pre-packed bags are items for which I have duplicates, but they significantly simplify our departure process. Personally, I appreciate strategic duplicates in my house that make my life easier rather than harder!
Before I finish packing, I create a last-minute list of items that we don’t have duplicates of, such as comfort objects and sound machines. I review this list right before we leave to ensure that we haven’t forgotten anything crucial.
Take some time this week to reflect on your summer plans and determine when a trip would be ideal for your family. Just make sure you allocate enough time to stay organized and plan effectively so that everyone can have a fantastic time!
