How to Travel Light When Traveling With Kids

This is very tricky. Traveling light with kids can be a real challenge because there are just too many to bring, just in case. But can we actually travel light even with kids in tow? It can be daunting to be traveling with kids but probably if we lessen our loads, we might enjoy our travels.

Here's my tips on how to travel light even with kids around:

1. Know where you're going. The things you need will reflect so much on where you're heading to. If you're going to a place where the climate is cool, you need to bring extra coats/jackets/windbreakers. But if you're traveling to a tropical place with (of course) beach, you need to include swimming attires.

2. List down the things you want to do. Even if you have never gone to the place you're going to, you can easily plan your trip. Just google on the things you can do, what the place is famous for and places to go and visit.

3. By doing number 2, you can then list down what to wear where.

4. Pack light by just bringing enough clothes. If you think it better to pack extra just in case, keep it to a minimum.

5. By knowing which hotel you're going to stay, you would know if you need to bring extra towels. Some budget places are too budget you need to bring your own towels.

6. Pack your toiletries in travel sizes. Don't bring huge bottles of shampoos, conditioners, bath soaps, etc. It would take a lot of space and weight.

7. Well, bear in mind that can always shop for the things that you need. You will have an excuse to go shopping! That's the best part of traveling light.

8. Enjoy your trip with your family.

Travel Safe

How to Travel safe with kids?

good quality car seats are important for traveling with kids. when my first child was born, we bought a brand new carseat for him, sponsored by a friend from the US. i was told to never buy a second hand car seats as we don’t know how the first owner handled it or whether it had been in a car accident already. but of course, when baby girl, my second child, came out and we desperately need to have a car seat for her, i looked up from e-bay for some secondhand ones. i found one which was fairly new, the baby barely used the car seat. and it was for a good price. i forgot the brand but i think it’s mothercare. you know if it’s mothercare, you would know it’s of good quality. in UK, you are not allowed to travel with kids without car seats. here in Malaysia, they haven’t imposed it yet. but when my family and i have a long-distance travel, we make sure to use car seats for both my kids. better be safe than be sorry.

Importance of Family Activities

As a family, it is important to go for a break or getaway from time to time. It fosters bonding between members of the family. Fathers could be busy because of the nature of their jobs and gets few or no time alone for the family. Mothers could get very busy keeping the household together and yet not enough time to spend with kids and husbands. Children could get very busy playing or studying or by being with peers they spent less and less time with the parents. The very obvious solution is for each member of the family to pause in whatever they’re doing and go for a vacation just with family alone. How do we set family time and how often?

• once a day - set aside one hour a day to talk. It could be around the table for a meal. Talk about the experiences you have had for that day.
• once a week - set aside one day a week to be with the family. Usually, Sunday is the best time to do so. You may go to church for worship or go to a park, or go to a cinema. The possibilities are endless. We just started going to the cinema as a family. My boy is already almost 4 years old and my girl is almost 2 years old. Glad both of them did very well inside the cinema. We watched Wall-E. The first ever movie we watched in the cinema as a family
• once a month - stay overnight somewhere else.
• once a year - go for a 3-5 day vacation. There are a lot of holiday destinations available and you can check them online.

One of the best memories we have as a family is when we go for a break. We could do things together without interruptions. We could discover new things together. And the best of all, we could create a more special bond as a family.