E45: Simple Tips for Holiday Travel & Long Road Trips with Kids

Hello and welcome back to Raising Thinkers! I'm Shelley, and I'm so glad you’re here. If you’re new to the podcast, this is where we share simple, practical ways to raise kids who think, reason, and problem solve.

Today's topic is a big one: Holiday Travel. This time of year often means a long journey, whether you’re facing a seven hour road trip to see family or an airport sprint for a red eye flight across time zones. Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just enjoying the annual family gathering, this journey can be a challenge. We all share the goal of a quiet, happy trip with minimal meltdowns, mine included!

I’ve been traveling since I was rather young, flying transatlantic before I started second grade. But being a parent who travels is a whole different ballgame! My own kids have been on planes since they were infants, doing trips to and from Panama. We even took my daughter to Italy when she was one and a half while I was a few months pregnant with our second. I’m no pro; I just know traveling with young kids is a tough challenge, so I thought I should compile what I’ve done to try to provide some ideas and advice. This episode is about ditching the expensive distractions and using smart planning, cozy comfort, and creative, cheap, or free activities that can help keep your little thinkers engaged and allow you to feel less stress!

Before you even pack a single bag, the first trick is a mindset shift: work with your child’s schedule, not against it.

Schedule Smarts (Zero Cost!)

Car Trip Hack: If you’re doing one of those six to seven hour drives, try to leave right before nap time or 30 minutes before their usual bedtime. You get a few hours of quiet driving right out of the gate, which can save you some sanity.

Flight Hack: If you can swing it, book those overnight red eye flights. It’s hard, but at least your child will probably fall asleep with the white noise of the plane. We’ve also booked shorter travel during typical nap time, so they sleep for at least part of the flight.

Comfort, Gear, and Diaper Bag Essentials

Plan to take a "Comfort Kit" including a piece of home. This could include a special blanket and their favorite stuffy. This little bit of familiarity is an emotional life raft on a crowded plane or in a new, strange hotel room. We normally bring both a blanket and a stuffed animal or plush doll.

And for parents, especially moms who end up holding a sleeping baby who gets extra heavy on a flight: bring a small, inflatable pillow or a tightly rolled sweatshirt to place under your arm. It can help elevate your arm and soften that hard airline armrest, helping you avoid that inevitable dead arm.

Stroller Strategy: If you have little ones, taking your stroller and checking it at the gate is absolutely worth it. Little legs tire out sooner than you think. Meltdowns and not wanting to move can happen at any point with little ones, and having them strapped in can keep them from running into a crowd. We got a stroller at a consignment store for about 15 dollars and it actually folds up small enough to fit in the overhead bin, so we normally just take it right on board with us.

The Diaper Bag: While most parents know this, it bears repeating: pack a full change of clothes for the little ones, and maybe a spare shirt for yourself. Always keep an extra diaper on top of the extras you’ve already packed. Having it handy can save you a frantic search in a tiny airplane lavatory. Also, plan extra time initially at the airport so you can grab any last minute snacks and hit the restrooms before boarding. That way, you might be able to avoid doing a diaper change on the plane!

The Layovers: Turning Wait Time into Play Time

Layovers can either break you or save you, and it all comes down to preparation and research. Probably the best advice I can give you is to know what your airport offers before you step foot in it.

Pre-Flight Recon: Research Your Airport!

Go to the airport’s official website and search for "Family Services" or "Traveling with Children." You're looking for three key features:

Play Areas/Kid Zones: Many major international hubs are now family friendly. Airports like Singapore Changi, London Heathrow, and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), have fantastic playgrounds, soft play zones, or even unique exhibits that let kids burn energy safely. This is where you focus your layover time; don't waste it at the gate! Amsterdam Schiphol actually has a place for babies and families to rest with cribs, dim lighting, soft seating, and curtains. It literally was a haven for us during our layover when we went to Italy.
Nursing and Pumping Stations: Look for private, dedicated Lactation Centers or Mamava pods. These offer options such as comfortable seating, sinks for cleaning, and privacy, which is a game changer for nursing or pumping.
Family Restrooms: These are larger, private rooms that can accommodate multiple people, a stroller, and luggage, making a diaper change or quick change of clothes infinitely easier.

Map It Out: Once you know where the amenity is, find it on the airport map and save the screenshot to your phone. The moment you land, you know exactly where to go. You don't need to worry about connecting to Wi-Fi or if you're using roaming, you're already ready.

Layover Strategies: The Thinker's Plan

Once you know your airport's layout, here is how you turn a long layover into a "playover."

The Energy Burn: The first and most important job is to empty the kids’ energy tanks. Go straight to that children's play area or find an empty corner of a terminal.
- Activity: Use that space for physical games, such as Simon Says, trying to keep a balloon off the floor, a game of "Follow the Leader" through a less crowded hallway, or simply letting them run and climb in a designated zone. They’ve been strapped down for hours; this is their reset button.
- Brain Boost: Turn a walk into a Scavenger Hunt. Can you find a purple suitcase? A place that sells burgers? A plane with two engines? This shifts their focus from restlessness to observation.
The Refuel and Recharge: This is the window for food, drink, and comfort.
- Hydration is Key: Airplane air is dry. Make sure everyone is drinking water before you board the next flight to help with fatigue and ear pressure.
- Lounge Access (If Possible): If you have a credit card or a day pass that grants access to a quiet lounge, use it. They often offer comfortable seating, free snacks, and a much calmer environment for the whole family. I remember doing this as a kid, but have yet to take advantage of something like this myself as a parent yet.
The Transition: Remind them exactly what's coming as you get closer to heading to the gate. For example, “In about 30 minutes, we are going to walk to the gate, wait for a few minutes, and then we get on a new, big plane." Setting clear expectations is the best defense against a sudden meltdown.

Key Takeaway: Your job during a layover is not to sit. It’s to let them be kids so they can tolerate being "plane people" for the next flight.

The Snack Strategy

This is the real MVP of any trip: snacks! They are a total lifesaver for distraction, comfort, and, honestly, just buying yourself 10 minutes of peace because their mouths are full. The key is to pack items that are non sticky, non smelly, and relatively crush proof.

Pinchable Perfection (For Babies and Toddlers): Focus on small, dry items that encourage that fine motor pincer grasp. Think Cheerios, Goldfish crackers, small pretzels, or puffs. Consider pre portioning in small containers or Ziploc bags.
The Power of Dried Fruit: Raisins or other small pieces of dried fruit are fantastic. They’re chewy, slightly sweet, and take a while to eat. Just be mindful of sticky fingers, but generally they are less messy than fresh fruit. You probably already have baby wipes on hand, even if your kids are out of diapers; they’re perfect for messy fingers.
Pouches and Portability: Fruit, veggie or even yogurt pouches are great, especially for flights and road trips, because they are self contained. TSA allows these as necessary liquids, so pack what you need!
Avoid the Goo: Skip anything that melts easily (chocolate) or gets crumbly (muffins). Stick to the basics! And as a bonus tip, don't give them all the snacks at once. Rotate through the options; a fresh new snack can be just as exciting as a new toy!

Baby & Toddler Hacks (Ages 6 Months - 3 Years)

This is where we tackle helping you plan for the tiniest travelers!

TSA Know How: Parents of babies and toddlers, listen up: TSA is on your side with formula, breast milk, juice, and puree food pouches. These liquids are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule. Be confident walking up to the security check and simply inform the officer you have water or milk for your infant or toddler. Honestly, you don’t even have to tell them; they see the kids and they can easily put two and two together. They may need to test it, but you don't have to stress about the volume limits.

Prep Tip: To save time and potential mess, if you use formula, pre portion the powder into bottles. For nursing mamas, consider freezing breast milk in a bottle or bag in advance; it's easier to transport frozen, especially for long flights! If you use regular milk, you can also freeze a bottle or two of that as needed for the long trips.

The $3 Game Changer: Painter’s Tape: One of my absolute favorite hacks is a roll of blue painter’s tape. It’s cheap, leaves zero residue, and is pure magic for little hands, and a fantastic fine motor activity. There are also all sorts of colors of decorative tape which can also be fun!

Baby/Toddler Use: Stick small strips to the airplane tray table or car window. They can spend 15 minutes or more mastering the fine motor skill of peeling the tape off.
Toddler Use: Use the tape to make a small 'road' or 'shapes' outline on the tray table for small cars or figurines. You can create a set of shapes and have them try to create the same. They may need help tearing pieces, but they’re quiet and focused and not engrossed with a screen!

Other Simple Activities

The Posting Game: Grab an empty spice container with a shaker top (just ensure the holes are big enough!) and a handful of Q-Tips or pipe cleaners. You can even cut them in half if you want, just be careful of sharp points. Your toddler gets a huge amount of fine motor satisfaction pushing them through the holes.
Placemat and Stickers: Kids love stickers. You can buy some cheap puffy stickers and a simple plastic woven placemat for kids to create their own scenes and to be able to stick again and again. The puffy ones have a little bit more for little fingers to grab onto, making it fun for them and not frustrating.
Library Books (The Count): Get a fresh batch of books from your local library. The novelty is great. But here’s the thinker tip: Count the exact number of books you brought and jot it down. You’ll be too tired at the end of the trip to remember, and you don’t want to have to pay for a lost library book! So far, I’ve only done this for shorter car trips, but if you’re feeling brave, you could do this on any trip; I’m just not quite that confident yet.

Big Kid Hacks (Ages 4 - 8)

For our older thinkers, we want to maximize their creativity and problem solving. Here are a few ideas to get your own ideas flowing:

The Tube Challenge: Pack a few empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes and a small roll of clear tape or other materials inside. Challenge them to build a marble run, a mini castle, or a spy telescope. It’s cheap, open ended, and encourages engineering.
The Storytelling Game: This is a zero prep activity! Start a story with one line: "The reindeer got stuck in the palm tree." The next person adds one line, and you keep going. This builds sequencing, creativity, and vocabulary without needing any materials.
Audiobooks and Podcasts: Download a batch of free kids' podcasts (Currently we love Tiny Theologians and Lamplighter Kids) or use your library's app (like Libby or Hoopla) for free audiobooks. This is especially great for a long car ride, as it rests their eyes and reduces car sickness risk.
Logic Puzzles and Travel Games: There are a variety of compact, single player logic puzzles that come in travel cases. These require kids to use sequencing and spatial reasoning and can keep them occupied independently for long stretches.
Sticker by Number/Sticker Mosaics: These are fantastic because they require focus, matching, and fine motor skills but are entirely mess free. They are also easy to pick up and put down, making them perfect for short segments of a journey.
Classic "Paper" Games: Don't forget the original screen free games that require conversation:
- 20 Questions: A great way to build categorization and deduction skills.
- Would You Rather: Simple, fun, and promotes conversational skills. You can take turns developing the options and hearing everyone’s responses.

Quick Shop Alert! Now, I know sometimes a new toy is the perfect incentive to get them through that final hour. With holiday sales coming up, including Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, this is a great time to stock up. I've put together a specific resource page with my top recommendations for easy to pack, thinker-friendly toys, things like threading toys for fine motor skill development, Kanoodle, Melissa and Doug’s Water Wow!, or those Crayola magic mess free markers which are are 100% worth it, as well as LED drawing pads.

You can find my suggested buys here (and yes, they include my affiliate links to help you quickly find the deals). It’s just an extra resource in case you want to make that final push for a quiet trip easier! I personally always try to get one new surprise per trip.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re celebrating or simply connecting with loved ones, holiday travel is a lesson in resilience, adaptability, and patience for the whole family. View it as a unique opportunity to teach your children that they can be thinkers wherever they are, and that home is wherever the family is.

If you have a favorite travel tip or a funny travel story, I'd love to hear about it!

Please share your experiences in the Raising Thinkers Community; it’s completely free and a great place to connect with other parents who want to raise engaged, curious learners.

Deep Dive: And if you’re looking for more structured learning, especially to keep those math skills sharp over the break, check out Raising Mathematicians. I’ve got videos and resources to help parents understand the way math is taught today so you can support your child’s learning with confidence.

Join the Mission: Finally, if you have expertise to share in education, parenting, or child development, I’d love to have you on the show. Head over to RaisingThinkersPodcast.com to fill out the guest interest form.

Thanks for listening, and as always, keep raising those thinkers! Safe travels, and I’ll see you next time!