Traveling – you imagine sunny beaches and clear blue skies. Or perhaps mountains surrounded by rolling greens. No matter where you’re heading, one thing is for sure – there will be adventure around every corner and memories to be cherished. However, traveling with children can bring challenges. For some parents, traveling can be a daunting prospect. The stress of traveling and being in a new environment can trigger mental health challenges. It’s essential to be aware of this and how to manage them.
Here are some of the most common mental health challenges associated with traveling with children and tips for improvement with them.
Challenges you may face when traveling with your children
Being out of your daily norm, surrounded by thoughts of the unknown. What will you face, will everything go as planned, and will it be hard traveling with my children? All these thoughts, and more, pop into your mind as you prepare for your trip.
The short answer: yes. Yes, there may be challenges, but that is life – you get creative and find fun solutions. No, it most likely won’t go as planned. But will it be worth it? Absolutely.
You will be out of your environment while taking care of your children, who may be acting out of their norm. It is important to note that this is okay and normal. Some factors that go into the mental health challenges are:
- Messes – drinks spilled, snack crumbs, endless wrappers, and activities everywhere.
- Space – at home, you’re used to having your own space when needed. However, that changes when traveling.
- Keeping children safe – mountainsides, water edges, flying, and new cities. Wherever you are, you could face safety concerns. Preparing and planning will help ease those thoughts.
- Sleep – generally, everyone sleeps less when traveling. This can lead to emotional outbursts and patience struggles.
- New everything – with traveling comes unfamiliar sights, sounds, locations, cultures, smells, sleeping environments, etc. This can play a role in discomfort, uneasiness, and mental health.
- Busyness – being busy is fun, especially when experiencing new places. The downfall is extra tired children and parents. Don’t let this stop your fun; just add spare time for a nap or two. Remember to take it slow and don’t rush, thus providing yourself with the best chances of a successful trip.
- Emotions – Adults and children alike experience changes in moods and emotions when traveling due to being out of our everyday routine. Just consider this and work to create a safe, fun trip for everyone.
Signs that you may be experiencing mental health challenges
With changes may come some challenges. How do you know if you are experiencing travel mental health challenges? Some signs to look for are:
- More than usual crying, a flood of emotions, and anger
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Lethargic
- Undereating or overeating
- Unwillingness to do activities you typically enjoy
- Withdrawing
If you are feeling any of these, you need to do self-care. Find what works for you and take the time to do it. Improving how you feel during your travels may be easier than you think, given the time and tools.
How to improve your mental health when on the go
Mental health is essential and should always be a priority. When traveling with children, you could face additional bumps along the way. Having an idea of what to do, what works for you, and taking the time you need to feel your best is vital.
Some steps to take to ensure you are caring for yourself are:
Nourish your body. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water.
Stay active. It is no surprise that staying active will help your mind, body, and soul. Sometimes we forget to do this while traveling.
Snacks. When you’re hungry, it’s hard to focus on anything else.
Treat yourself. Buy your favorite drink, games to play, or food to eat.
Plan, plan, plan. When you can, figure out your traveling details ahead of time. With children, this will help you stay calm when they aren’t calm.
Give yourself grace. Be easy on yourself. Do not set high expectations. Take life on as it comes, planning when you can. Know that what you’re doing is exciting and fun – do not stress over the little things. Help your children through their challenging moments.
Breathing. Yes, breathing has many benefits. It can help to calm down your mind, heart, and recenter. It is vital to remain calm. It can be a challenge – and that is okay. Why don’t you try different breathing techniques to help you in those difficult moments?
Unplug. If you find yourself absentmindedly scrolling on social media on your phone or working from your laptop, unplug – if you can.
Walk. Head out with your family, or solo, on a walk. Sometimes all we need is a change of scenery to clear our minds and reset our moods.
Talk. Talk with another adult. If you aren’t traveling with one, call a loved one. Talk to them about how you’re feeling. What made you happy or sad, what you’ve learned on the trip, or what you’d like to do next. If you’re experiencing extreme emotions, discuss it with someone and determine your next steps for improving your mental health.
Activity. Find something in the area you enjoy and share it with your children.
Music. Play your favorite artist and enjoy. Sing along, dance, lay down – whatever your heart desires.
Connect with your children. Undoubtedly, engaging with your children is the highlight of your day. Time with them is immeasurable. Sometimes, all we need is uninterrupted time with our children. Take the time to focus on them and enjoy creating memories. Snuggle, collect leaves, dance in the rain, go on a scavenger hunt – whatever it is, be present with your time with them.
Benefits of traveling with your children
Sure, traveling with children has difficulties, but the benefits outweigh them. You and your children have more to gain from traveling together than to lose. Understandably, you may stress or feel overwhelmed when thinking about traveling with your children. Don’t let those fears slow you down.
Your children will gain a sense of independence, new skills, knowledge of other cultures, respect for places different than what they’re used to, confidence, new friends, and create a stronger bond with you.
Take it slow, prepare, and give yourself the time you need for self-care. With this, you’ll create wonderful childhood experiences for your children, and they will carry them for the rest of your life. Gift them with the love of travel and all the wonders the world offers.
We hope that you enjoyed this article about some of the challenges for parents while traveling with children. If you would like to see more content like this, send us a note! Also, check out our article about the challenges that children face while traveling.
Safe Travels!