What to take with you and what to leave, this is a difficult decision and a very personal one!
It depends on where and when you are travelling, how old your kids are, what type of travel you are doing and what luggage you are taking with you. However, there are some important things that are essential to a smoother family travel experience. Remember that the worldschooling lifestyle will be different to your life at home. You will not be able to bring it all!
Here are some packing tips especially for families:
- A good quality backpack is essential. You’ll be carrying it around all day, every day! Ensure it has lots of great pockets for storing big and little things. Wide and comfortable straps are a must. I love a waterproof, diaper backpack, as they even have a side pocket for easy access for wet wipes or tissues. Lifesaver!
- If your kids are older, they can carry their own backpack. The same advice applies for their bags; wide and comfortable straps, with a clip to secure over chest and multiple pockets, including front zip pocket for easy access. The added feature of a side pocket for drink bottles is handy, just make sure it’s wide enough for their bottle. Let your child help in choosing it, it builds excitement about your travels and also ownership so they’re more likely to carry it!
- Travel set of cutlery is handy. When you are out and about you never know when you may need a spoon, fork or knife. These sets are light and compact, but have come in handy SO many times. Also great for the environment if grabbing a takeaway…say no to single use plastic cutlery!
- Wet wipes, travelling with kids, say no more! Not only for sticky hands/faces but also wiping down dirty surfaces on planes, trains and at restaurants.
- Zip-lock plastic or reusable sandwich bag to store food leftover from breakfast buffet, small toys, pencils for that spontaneous café visit, or nature collectables like leaves or acorns.
- Reusable drink bottle, you may not be able to take it on your flight but pack it empty in your suitcase so you can use it at your destination. Many cities like Paris, Rome and Brisbane have water refill stations scattered throughout so you can refill regularly. Make sure your kids have a bottle they are used to using at home, you don’t want them struggling with a simple thing like drinking water and needing you to help. Believe me, when you’re in the middle of lugging suitcases and searching for platforms, you won’t have enough hands to help them have a drink! Choose a bottle that has a close option to avoid spills, preferably with a sip spout so its easier to drink while on the go. There’s nothing worse than spilling a whole bottle of water down their front while they’re on a long journey.
- Take a book and pen for yourself to take notes and to occupy your children if waiting for food at a restaurant, or for a bus or plane.
- Muslin wrap/thin blanket. I always like to have a muslin wrap or thin blanket to use on the aeroplane if your child is cold or for extra padding when they fall asleep. It’s also handy to wrap up as a pillow if your child falls asleep on a train, boat or in a restaurant (all of which have happened to us!) It could also be used as a picnic blanket, to collect all your toys together (think Lego) and secure with an elastic band, wrap around eyes or mouth as a mask, wipe up messes or catch vomit if your child gets motion sickness (lets hope not!) It doesn’t take up a lot of room and is very versatile. Also for a towel if you find a random water park/beach/river that your children can’t resist!
- A medium sized waterproof bag is great to store wet clothes from swimming (particularly if travelling in Summer, the amount of random water fountains my kids have played under!) as well as for those toileting or feeding accidents!
- Spare clothes for your children
- An easy snack to keep in your bag such as nuts, muesli bar, dried fruit etc, if you’re stuck and your children are hangry!
- A travel clothesline is super light and compact, yet super helpful when travelling with kids. This is pretty much a daily task for me, whether we have a washing machine or not, I am constantly trying to keep on top of the washing load!
What do you think of the list? Anything you hadn’t thought of that you are now adding to your suitcase? What have we missed that you think is essential for travelling with kids?