Thirteen tips for a successful vacation abroad with his children

Before leaving

Stay loyal to yourself

La psychologue Florence Millot est catégorique : «La maison d'un enfant se trouve là où sont ses parents, peu importe s'ils sont à l'autre bout du monde. L'important, c'est qu'ils soient à l'aise pour que l'enfant le soit aussi. Il est donc primordial de choisir une destination où l'on se sent en sécurité.»» Pas de trek dans la jungle amazonienne si l'on n'a pas l'âme d'un aventurier.

Check the validity of passports

Say like that, it seems logical.And yet...To avoid any disappointment, Caroline, mother of two and Family travel founder, a blog specializing in family travel, recommends installing an alarm on her smartphone six months before the validity date of any identity document, knowing thatThe passport of a minor is valid for five years, against ten for an adult."We must also think of photocopying or scanning all important documents, very useful in the event of loss or theft," continues the mother.

Provide an appointment with your doctor...

Initially, the Venance Varille pediatrician recommends contacting the Pasteur Institute - or consulting the website - in order to learn about vaccines and current epidemics in the chosen country."Then," she continues, "it is better to meet the pediatrician one month before departure for a full check-up, and return there within eight days preceding the flight for toddlers to check the weight,"ears and vaccines are up to date.»»​

...and a "survival kit" accordingly

Second step, and not least, the preparation of the pharmacy kit. «Quelle que soit la destination, il faut toujours avoir un anti-diarrhéique, des probiotiques pour éviter le mal de ventre, du doliprane, un antihistaminique, un antiseptique, du sérum physiologique et une boîte d'antibiotiques à large spectre»», note Venance Varille.On site, we favor bottled water, peel fruits and avoid ice cubes.And the pediatrician to add: "For sunny countries, you have to think about protecting children with an anti-UV t-shirt and good sunglasses"».

Brief children

«Il faut les préparer à ce qu'ils vont voir, à une culture ou des traditions différentes des nôtres, de manière à ce qu'ils sachent à quoi s'attendre et qu'ils appréhendent au mieux leur voyage»», conseille Josefa Casado-Daigremont, directrice générale pour la Chine et l'Asie du Sud-Est au sein des Maisons du Voyage.Psychologist Florence Millot abounds: "We can also show them photos of animals they could meet or places they will visit in order to help them project themselves"».

And prevent their possible apprehension

The psychologist wants to be reassuring: few children are anxious at the idea of going on vacation with their parents, even abroad. «Mais s'ils font part de certaines inquiétudes, l'idéal est d'en discuter avec eux et de trouver des solutions en amont»», conseille la spécialiste.On the other hand, no need to do too much: "We only stick to fears that the child formulas"». Et en cas de turbulences dans l'avion ou de secousses en mer, Florence Millot conseille de surjouer les mouvements avec l'enfant, «comme s'il s'agissait d'un jeu»», pour éviter toute panique.​​

On video, the top 10 destinations according to Pinterest

To pack light

For package, each his method.Caroline, travel designer Family, plans to hold five days, even if she leaves two weeks."Everyone has their bag, stored according to the Marie Kondo method: I roll the clothes instead of folding them.»For the rest, each his preferences: the blogger always finds room for an inflatable balloon or a frisbee.Guizem and Paul, at the origin of the account La Voyage Family, collect children's books that they intend to visit and never leave without a baby hiking carrier, ideal for long steps.

Devance the time difference

Venance Varille, pediatrician in Paris, advises to adapt to the schedules of the country in which we arrive."The ideal is to favor a night flight to reach the morning at your destination and keep the children awake once there, and that they go to bed at night, so that they adapt the mostquickly possible.»Once there, Florence Millot recommends a few days of rest so that children, like parents, find their rhythm.

Anticipate hollow moments

More than 11 hours of non -stop flight separate Paris from Bangkok, an eternity for a child.To occupy it, Florence Millot advises "one activity per hour to pass time"»."Provide something to color, read, play, but also small snacks.»Usually little inclined to praise the tablet, the psychologist believes that it can be very useful in this specific case.Also, the specialist recommends keeping her child in motion, "walk every hour and make small stretches"».Caroline, the travel designer Family, never leaves without audio books, "very useful in transport once on site"».

During the trip

Indulge

«On a beau avoir planifié un voyage de A à Z, il faut garder en tête que tout peut changer avec des enfants»», prévient Maxime, père de 33 ans et fondateur du blog voyage Détour Local.The opportunity for this father to slow down and live the trip differently."Before multiplying the destinations, they must be made to live an experience.»Why not take advantage of it to do nothing, if not spend time together around a board game or a part of cards?

Keep a link with the house

After several days to explore an unknown country, the child can feel the need to find his cocoon.For Florence Millot, it is important to establish times "like at home"»."It can be a film party or a meal that makes them happy and that they are used to eating. En retrouvant leurs habitudes, les enfants vont être plus à même d'en créer de nouvelles et de repartir à l'aventure»», note la psychologue.

Listen to your child...

Time difference, modified habits and upset benchmarks... «Il faut avoir conscience que c'est parfois difficile pour les enfants»», poursuit Florence Millot.What is more in a country where the climate is different."Heat as well as humidity can tire them, they will sweat more abundantly, drink more often, and therefore go to the toilet more frequently.»»Ditto when food varies, a stomach ache quickly arrived. En bref, «s'ils râlent ou se plaignent, soyez patient, et écoutez-les»», avertit la psychologue.

...and let him breathe

"If for fifteen days, our children do the opposite of what we instill in them the rest of the year, it does not matter," said the founder of the Blog Voyage Family.They know that this is a party period and that it is not "real life".»»The holidays are also made to decompress.

And on the return?

«Si possible, privilégiez un vol deux à trois jours avant la reprise de l'école et gardez le rythme des vacances à la maison pour une reprise en douceur»», conseille Florence Millot.And to prolong the trip, nothing like a travel diary that we continue to fuel with children, underlines Josefa Casado-Daigremont.Another important point underlined by the agency director: food."Upon arrival, it is essential to take meals at local time.Thus, children will find their rhythm more easily ”».