Adults aren’t the only ones who deal with travel anxiety — children feel it, too, said Dr. Asha Patton-Smith, a Kaiser Permanente Fairfax County psychiatrist.
Thursday’s Independence Day holiday will break travel records as 3 million more people leave with vacation plans than last year. according to AAABut are children ready for stress-free travel?
Adults aren’t the only ones who deal with travel anxiety — children feel it, too, said Dr. Asha Patton-Smith, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente.
“When we have situations where younger children are having tantrums, or are very clingy, or sometimes not eating well, that’s when you know there may be some fussiness that may be part of this journey,” she said.
But parents can help children ease the stress of travel.
First, parents should explain the details and itinerary of the trip.
“Make sure your child is well-rested and eating well,” Patton-Smith told WTOP. “All this before embarking on a trip.”
For younger children, be sure to pack familiar items, like a favorite toy or a special book.
“If they participate in what they need to bring or what they are excited to do once they arrive at the destination, that helps reduce anxiety,” she said.
For families traveling by plane, train or cruise ship and requiring specific boarding instructions, Patton-Smith said practicing routines can be helpful.
“Be one of those families that can board early,” she said. “If you can board early, that will help you get settled in.”
For long car trips, Patton-Smith has two tips: bring something to do in the car and make frequent stops.
“Coloring, drawing and playing ‘I Spy’ are activities that can keep children busy and get them to their destinations,” she said. “The car is a challenge. Plan to take some breaks and include the trip as part of your vacation.”
But Patton-Smith, who lives in Burke, Virginia, said the most important advice for parents is to manage their own anxieties about traveling.
“Make sure you are as calm as possible, because you are the model,” he said. “If you are anxious and scared, your children will notice and that will make everything very difficult.”
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