How to Make Travelling with Kids Easier

Because “are we there yet?” starts before you leave the driveway.

Whether you're off on a family holiday, visiting relatives or just trying to survive the motorway to a party venue, one thing's for sure - travelling with kids isn’t always a walk in the park.

Between toilet stops, snack demands and backseat boredom, even the shortest trip can feel like a mission. But with a bit of prep and a few clever tricks, your next journey can be smoother, calmer and maybe even enjoyable.

Here are our top tips to make travelling with children easier - whether you're in the car, on a train, or 30,000 feet in the air.

1. Pack Smart, Not Heavy

You don’t need to bring everything your child owns. Instead, pack a compact essentials bag you can reach quickly, including:

• Wipes, nappies or spare clothes

• Water bottle

• Small snacks (non-messy ones!)

• Travel games or toys

• A tablet or phone with headphones and downloaded content

• A comfort item (teddy, blanket, etc.)

  
  

It's always worth having a backpack or a car organiser accessible so everything’s in reach without rummaging around every five minutes.

2. Bring Snacks - Then Bring More Snacks

Hungry kids are grumpy kids. Pack a mix of healthy and treat-style snacks in individual portions so they can graze without making a mess. Think rice cakes, fruit rolls, crackers and mini biscuits.

Avoid anything that melts, crumbles or sticks to the car seat like glue. Looking at you, chocolate buttons.

3. Embrace the Screens (Without the Guilt)

No shame here - when travelling, screens are your friend. Download age-appropriate films, shows, audiobooks or games before you leave (especially if you're going off Wi-Fi).

Mix in some educational content or stories to keep things balanced, and be sure to pack a power bank if you’re in for a long haul.

4. Old-School Games Still Work

You don’t need to rely entirely on tech. A few tried-and-tested travel games can go a long way, like:

• I Spy

• Would You Rather?

• Car Bingo (print out a sheet before you go)

• Alphabet Game (spot things beginning with each letter)

• Story-building (each person adds a sentence)

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Great for passing time and building memories, especially when travelling with siblings.

5. Plan Breaks (and Make Them Count)

If you're driving, schedule breaks every couple of hours. Let the kids run around, stretch their legs and burn off energy.

Choose service stations with outdoor areas if possible, or bring a ball or frisbee for a quick park stop. A 10-minute play can save you an hour of whining.

6. Travel During Sleep Time

If you can, plan travel around naps or bedtime. Kids are more likely to sleep through long stretches, giving you some peace and quiet.

For early morning starts, get them into PJs and into the car with a pillow - let them snooze while you get a head start.

7. Use Headphones for Everyone’s Sanity

If you're travelling with multiple kids, and each child will be watching or listening to something different, headphones are essential. Otherwise, it turns into a noisy battle of cartoon theme tunes.

Get a headphone splitter if two kids are watching the same thing, and consider kid-friendly volume limiters for safety.

8. Turn the Journey into an Adventure

Frame the trip as part of the fun, not just something to endure. Make a travel checklist they can tick off (think 'keep an eye out for 10 yellow cars' or can you spot the horses, cows and other farm animals in the fields?', or let them 'help navigate' by spotting signs or landmarks. Even something small like choosing which snacks to eat next gives them a bit of control and keeps things interesting.

9. Rotate the Entertainment

Bring a mix of games and activities and rotate them throughout the journey to avoid boredom. For example:

• First 30 minutes: games

• Then a snack

• Then some screen time

• Then a book or drawing

• Repeat

It breaks up the journey and keeps kids engaged without overloading them.

10. Lower Your Expectations (Just a Bit)

Even with the best planning, things can go sideways. Spills happen. Someone might cry. Someone will definitely need the toilet five minutes after the last stop.

Stay flexible, keep your sense of humour, and know that you're doing brilliantly - even if your car looks like a snack explosion by the end of the trip.

Conclusion

Travelling with kids isn’t always easy, but with the right mix of preparation, patience and snacks (lots of snacks), it can be manageable - and even fun. By packing smart, planning breaks and keeping little minds entertained, you’re making the journey part of the adventure. So take a deep breath, hit the road and remember: you're doing great (even if you do hear "are we there yet?" on repeat).