City Travel With Kids

When friends and family call me crazy for traveling with my toddler and preschooler to cities like Chicago, New York, and Toronto, I just laugh. My children have munched on picnic treats while watching the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Millennium Park, clambered up the monkey bars in the shadow of the arch in Washington Square Park and peered through the glass floor on the attending deck of the CN tower. Though it wasn’t always simple navigating the city streets with two tiny ones in tow, it was well worth the trouble. I had a fantastic time and I could tell from the way they talked about the trips for months afterward that my children had a great time too.

The city is full of fun and educational activities for children. From skyscrapers to top-notch museums, children can see and experience things that are simply unavailable in small towns. Though city travel with small children can be challenging, with careful planning and attention to detail everyone can have a good time. Here are a few tips to help the trip go smoothly:

Take a stroller. Even if it’s been a while since your child has used a stroller, you’ll be glad you brought it. City trips tend to involve a good deal of travel from spot to spot and a tiny one can tire out easily. With a stroller he can ride in comfort and you won’t worry about losing him in a crowd. I’ve found that the affordable umbrella strollers work much superior than the large, heavy-duty strollers complete with food trays and cup holders. Umbrella strollers fold up smaller and are lighter, making them more convenient for toting up and down flights of stairs or carrying onto the subway.

Make frequent stops at playgrounds. The ideal part of visiting a city can be simply strolling around, popping into uncommon shops, watching the people and enjoying the city energy. Remember that while your toddler or preschooler might be very patient, he’s got his limits. I’ve found that stopping to play for a few minutes at playgrounds that we happen upon is a great way for the tiny ones to work some of their energy off. They also love the novelty of playing on different equipment than the same old stuff found at the parks back home.

Bring a travel pack of wipes. Even if you’re not a germ nazi, you’ll be glad you did. Those city playgrounds, banisters and benches can be extremely dirty, but after cleaning the tiny one’s hands up with a wipe you’ll feel more comfortable about letting her dig into a tasty hot dog from a street vendor.

Choose your eateries carefully. If you’re intake at a nice sit-down restaurant, make sure it’s noisy enough to absorb your child’s prattle. I learned that one the hard way when, exhausted out from our long drive, we decided to take at our Chicago hotel’s in-house restaurant, the kind of place with a hushed region and waiters in white gloves hovering about. Naturally my two-year-old decided to belt out the “itsy-bitsy-spider” over and over again. We wound up having the meal sent up to our room. The next night we selected a popular, lively Italian restaurant where the tiny guy was no louder than anyone else in the place.

Plan activities for kids. Huge cities offer all sorts of interesting and educational activities for children of all ages. Do a tiny research online and in guidebooks ahead of time to find a few age appropriate sights for your child. Has it been over twenty years since you took part in any of these activities yourself? You just might find yourself enjoying seeing the tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at the natural history museum and watching the polar bears glide through the water at the zoo.

Plan activities for adults. Destinations like art museums can still be on the agenda, but keep in mind your child’s limitations and be ready to cut the outing short if need be. Try to engage him at the art museum. Ask questions like: “What do you see in that picture? Do you see a boat? What picture do you like ideal in this room?” Visit any children’s exhibits the museum might have and ask at the information desk which exhibits are the biggest hits for kids.

Take the bus or subway. Mass transit is an adventure for a small town kid. After the trip is over, he’ll speak about it as much as the dinosaur bones. Try to refrain traveling at rush hour, though, when the sardine can region might be overwhelming for a tiny one.

City Travel With Kids

Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video. Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from NelsonN and more videos in the Travel With Kids category. You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at www.howcast.com or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at www.howcast.com Whether by plane, train, or automobile, traveling with children who are too young to entertain themselves is a challenge. Here’s how to rise to the occasion. To complete this How-To you will need: A backpack, tote bag, or plastic box for apiece child Quiet, travel-friendly toys Books and small toys the children haven’t seen before CDs your children like to sing along to Kids’ books on tape Outdoor toys like a jump rope, a flying disc, or balls Wrapping paper Portable DVD player DVDs Step 1: Give apiece child a carryall Before the trip, give apiece child a backpack, tote bag, or plastic box to pack whatever games, toys, and books they want to bring along. If you’re flying, make sure everything meets airline standards. Tip: If you travel a lot, place aside some special items that are just for trips. They’ll be more appealing than stuff your children have access to all the time. Step 2: Include travel-friendly items Make sure to include plenty of travel-friendly items like crayons, paper, and coloring books; hand-held and attractable games for older kids; and drawing and doodling toys. Step 3: Hit the dollar store Hit the dollar store for some cheap …
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