Traveling With Grandchildren
The pleasure of traveling together can cement bonds between grandparents and grandchildren. And everyone benefits - The children's parents relish some quiet time at home. We grandparents have our grandchildren to ourselves. And our grandchildren can feel pampered and special. After all, this trip is designed for them.
You may camp in the West. You may swim in the Great Lakes. You may go to a theme park in the South. You may see the historic sites in the Northeast, or go to a nearby city. You may fly to a foreign country. Whatever you do, travel offers children a chance to learn and adjust to different people and places. For grandchildren, trips away from home open up new worlds. For grandparents, travel with grandkids gives us in depth glimpses into their world. We learn more about their interests, their tastes, their personalities.
That's the good part! And how to make it happen?
Plan, Plan, and Plan and Involve Everyone
To make sure that it's all good, we need to plan extra carefully. Even we grandparents with great stamina may find that our grandchildren exhaust us by noon! (Remember trying to keep up with a two year old? And we were younger then.) As wonderful as they are, our grandchildren bore easily and have endless physical energy. It's best to plan with the needs of mixed generations in mind.
Your travel destination will, of course, depend on the age of your grandchildren and your budget. You need to take care to discuss every detail of the trip with the parents. They will know if a child is mature enough to be away from home. They can tell you their children's limits, their special needs, their behavior, what they love and hate. Knowing these can help you avoid meltdowns, especially in restaurants! Even if you live close to your grandchildren, involve the parents as much as possible. They'll be able to tell you, for example, that your granddaughter is currently enchanted with fish. You can then add an aquarium to your list if you will be in certain cities.
The children need to have their say also. You want them to be excited about the plans they are making with you. If they are old enough, help your grandkids make some choices beforehand. If more than one grandchild is joining you, it's helpful to give each a chance to pick a special activity. Your grandchildren will then know what to expect when you start your trip.
As grandparents, we also need to assess our own limits. Selma Wasserman, in 'The Long Distance Grandparent,' urges grandparents to make sure they are ready for a trip with grandchildren. Children don't understand tired feet, achy joints and other problems we may have. If we're not up to par, travel with children could be a nightmare instead of a dream come true and who wants that?
Preparing the Grandkids
But, you've decided you're ready and raring to go. Selma Wasserman has other good advice. She suggests that you:
- Show pictures, especially to younger children, of the places
you will visit.
- Explain what the travel will be like, whether you are on
planes, trains or in cars.
- Describe where you will stay.
- Plan in advance how you will handle a lost child. Younger
grandchildren should always have identification on them. It
should include the name and number of the hotel and the
parents' names and phone number.
- Build in opportunities for recreation for your
grandchildren.
- Take snacks and games, toys, puzzles and books to occupy
restless travelers.
- Encourage older grandchildren to bring their favorite books,
CDs, other pastimes.
- Talk with your grandchildren before the trip about the
behavior you expect from them.
- Budget a spending allowance for each child. The amount can be small, for candy or inexpensive souvenirs. If you give them a small amount each day, they can't spend it all at once.
Safety First
Dr. Arthur Kornhaber, grandparenting expert and author of 'The Grandparent Guide, the Definitive Guide to Coping with the Challenges of Modern Grandparenting,' recommends that you be prepared for injury or illness. He suggests that you bring:
- The parent's notarized authorization for medical
care;
- The parent's power of attorney statement in case of an
emergency and if you are leaving the country.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol is the brand name), and
age-appropriate cough and cold medicine.
- Cream made for skin allergies or bug bites and antibiotic
ointment for wounds.
- Sunscreen and bug repellant for outdoor activities in warmer
weather.
- A first-aid kit.
Building Memories
Once you are traveling, your grandchildren can help you record the highlights of the trip. Each grandchild can participate, with cameras, journals, tape recorders or paper and pencil. Tape recorders are great fun for kids and are not expensive. Be sure to have someone take some pictures of all of you! You can put together a scrapbook, journal or video your grandkids can cherish all their lives.
Travel Groups
You may want to have some of the planning done for you. Some amusement and theme parks keep grandchildren occupied all day. Elderhostel offers intergenerational programs that are affordable on modest budgets. GrandTravel plans trips that are scheduled down to the last detail. These are generally on the expensive side. Many discounts are also available for grandparents traveling with grandchildren.
If your grandchildren are very young, you will want to start slowly. A day trip to a nearby zoo may be enough. None of us wants to make our grandkids miserable because they are homesick for mom and dad
We probably all remember how important routines are for young children. A missed nap can disrupt everyone's good time. A stroller can be good for nap time. A supply of snacks, drinks (and diapers, if needed) will help youngsters to feel at home.
Here's to happy and successful travel with your grandchildren!
AARP Resources
AARP Trips and Travel
Online
Read about places to go and things to see, and how to get there.
The Gang's All Here
A humorous look at family vacations.
Other Resources
American Zoo and
Aquarium Association
Use this database to find out if the city you're planning to
visit has a zoo or aquarium.
Elderhostel
Elderhostel offers many intergenerational adventures for older
adults and their grandchildren.
GrandTravel
A vacation travel program for grandparents and grandchildren.
The National Park Service
The National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural
resources and values of the national park system. AARP members
save 10% on a national parks pass.
Books
Find these books online at Barnes & Noble.com
Member Benefits
AARP Member Services and
Discounts
Check out all the discounts and benefits of AARP membership -
airlines, cruises, trains, hotels, rentals, parks, and more.
