Planning family holidays with children

Whether you’re staying in one place or exploring several places, holidays with children are about planning for short attention spans and short travel times.

Here are top tips:

• Plan more breaks and fewer activities than you would if you were travelling on your own or with adults.
• Make sure you have plenty of stops for meals and drinks to keep everyone’s energy levels up.
• Look for activities and local attractions to keep children entertained – for example, swimming, games, playgrounds, carnivals, fun parks and movies.
• Plan downtime for yourself too. If your children are entertained with organised activities, playing with other children, or being looked after by babysitters, you’ll get a break for yourself.

Check out our articles on travelling with children by plane, bus or train, child car comfort and travelling with children with additional needs for more practical ideas to keep everyone comfortable and entertained.

Involving children in holiday planning

If your children help you plan your holiday, it can get them interested and excited. Their input can help you have a holiday that’s fun for everyone.

You could get some books from the library or find some websites about the places you’re going. This way your children can look at pictures and tell you what looks like fun. You could read or tell some stories from the places you’ll visit, or learn a few words of the language if you’re going overseas.

If your children are younger, you can come up with a basic plan and give them some options to choose from.

Although holidays are exciting, some children do get nervous about the break from routine. Talking about holiday plans is also a good way to help them settle into the idea and reduce anxiety.

Things to do on holidays with children

There are many child-friendly holiday activities. Here are ideas.

Beach activities
Check that beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and the tides are predictable for safe swimming. Many beaches have rockpools or other areas that are good for small children, but check first that there’s nothing dangerous in them. And always supervise your child around water.

Don’t forget to pack buckets, spades, balls and bats to play with on the beach. A pair of old runners can be useful for climbing through rocks.

Also pack swim nappies if your child isn’t toilet trained.

Look into things to do in case of wet weather, or for when your child doesn’t want to play in the sand and water anymore.

Bushwalking
Check out guidebooks or national park websites for local walking trails. These guides will also tell you whether trails are suitable for nature walks with children. Many national parks have paths designed for wheelchairs and prams.

If your walks will be longer than half an hour, make sure you pack a first-aid kit, sunscreen, hats, wet weather gear, insect repellent, and some food and water. Always tell someone where you’re going, and carry a fully charged mobile phone. If you’re planning to go off the beaten track, take an emergency beacon.

Baby and toddler carriers can be a great way to carry your child and keep your hands free. If you use a carrier, make sure to walk on flat ground, look out for uneven surfaces and keep your walking distances short.

Camping activities
Choose a camping location where you can be sure children can see and do exciting things like spotting local wildlife. And always choose a spot where you can keep an eye on children.

Be prepared with wet weather gear, sunscreen, hats, insect repellent, first aid, games and books.

There are many caravan and camping grounds in Australia with child-friendly facilities like playgrounds, pools and water parks.

For sun safety on holidays and anytime, wear sunscreen, hats and other sun-protective clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating of 50+. Sunglasses are also a good idea. Try to find some natural shade, like from a tree, or carry a sunshade or umbrella.

Accommodation tips

Here are tips for choosing accommodation that will help you have a relaxing stay away from home:

• If your budget allows, book a holiday house, hotel or rooms that allow family members to have some privacy and space, especially for sleeping. Even a room with a balcony or patio can give you some space when the children are asleep.
• Look for accommodation with a self-contained kitchen. Preparing some meals yourself can help you keep to a budget and have healthy snacks handy.

Here are tips for making sure your children are safe in holiday accommodation:

• Make sure your baby sleeps in a safe sleep environment.
• If you’re staying in a hotel, check where the nearest fire escape is, and ensure that it isn’t blocked.
• Bring or hire your own stair barriers or gates if you need to.
• Have phone numbers and locations of the local doctor and hospital handy.
• Avoid bunk beds for very young children.
• Check outdoor play equipment to make sure it’s structurally solid and nothing is broken.
• If there’s a pool, make sure that pool fencing meets Australian Standards. Supervise your children at all times in the pool.

Many companies rent equipment like cots, prams and highchairs. Many also deliver to your accommodation. This can help you make sure you have everything your children need while reducing the stress of packing and managing excess luggage. But make sure that all equipment is safe and meets Australian standards.

Routines and rules on family holidays

Holidays are about having fun, relaxing and getting away from the daily grind. But many children benefit from routines, whether at home or on holidays. Some routines will slip but sticking to a few basics, like bedtimes and mealtimes, can help children adapt to changes while you’re away.

You might need to remind your child about rules and routines on holiday. For example, only go swimming with an adult, always wear sunscreen and a hat outside, or always tell parents where you’re going.

A break from routine can affect how much sleep children can get. And if children aren’t getting enough sleep, it can make it harder for them – and for you – to enjoy family travel. Read more about sleep and travelling with children.

International holidays with kids

Staying well is a priority when you’re on holidays. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about the vaccinations and medicines you’ll need for your destination.

It’s a good idea to get children, particularly young children, immunised well in advance. If your children are too young for the necessary vaccinations, consider postponing your trip. If a child has a cold, check with your GP that it’s OK for them to fly.

Note: not all immunisations or anti-malarials are suitable for children.

If you formula feed, check that the formula you use is available where you’re going. If you’re planning to carry made-up formula or expressed breastmilk on board a flight, check with the airline beforehand about any restrictions on carrying liquids.

In some places, it’s hard to get clean drinking water. Even when the water is clean, it’ll probably have different bacteria from those you’re used to. It’s possible you or your children will have gastroenteritis symptoms while you get used to it.

Bottled water is available in most places, as is long-life milk. You could also consider taking your own pocket water purifier and some reusable bottles.

Children might also not like new food. It might help to introduce them to some of the local food before you leave home. Otherwise, you might have to be a bit more relaxed about mealtimes than you would be at home. Just try to make sure they get plenty to drink if they’re not eating much.

A good supply of wet wipes or a bottle of hand sanitiser can be very useful, because your children might get dirty on their adventures with you. Cleaning their hands and faces regularly will reduce the chances of them picking up diseases.