With the start of the holidays, another winter holiday season has begun. Many of us go on holiday with our children, for whom travelling for hours by train or car is a real ordeal. How can we make the journey more pleasant for our children?
Kasia and Marcin are the parents of 5-year-old Filip and 2-year-old Marysia. At the end of January, they are leaving for a family holiday in the mountains - with a car journey of more than 10 hours ahead of them. Unsurprisingly, they are already drawing up an itinerary with special attention to the children's attractions.
- It's the first time we've travelled this far," says a clearly excited Kasia. "Up to now, we've chosen places in the surrounding area. Usually, after just one hour, Philip would get bored and fussy, which often resulted in him crying and caused us unnecessary stress. This time we are more prepared - we are taking their favourite snacks and toys and planning stops at interesting places. I hope this will make the trip much more enjoyable.
Mum, Dad - how much further is it?
Other parents would love to subscribe to Kasia and Marcin's story. The prospect of spending hours in a car or on a train does not fill adults with optimism, let alone children. Our kids store up a lot of energy and it is not for them to sit static in one place for long periods of time. A solution to travel boredom can be found in any toy shop. Interactive teddy bears, playing cards or colouring books - all these things will keep our little ones occupied on the road. If you have a portable dvd player or laptop, pack it in your carry-on bag now. When your children get bored with toys, you can always turn on their favourite cartoon.
When planning your route, try to include stops at places of interest. By the way, draw your child a map, mark these points and appoint your child as your guide. For children travelling by train, for example, a visit to a restaurant car or a walk through the corridors of a train can be an interesting attraction.
