HOLIDAY TRAVEL Keeping trips fun for kids, parents

Getting an early start is important because children are at their best earlier in the day.
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
Holiday vacations can be great fun. But when it comes to traveling with kids, fun can easily turn into frustration.
When vacationing with children, parents should set realistic expectations. The blaring sounds, busy streets and sights of a new city can be overwhelming to a young child. If you try to do too much too soon, the excitement of a family vacation can quickly turn to temper tantrums.
Suggestions
Here are some suggestions from Tips4Trips.com to help ensure a happy and safe vacation with kids:
UTake along a package of outlet covers. Hotels don't provide these, and outlets in hotel rooms are just the right height for children.
UBefore starting out on your trip, visit a local hospital and ask if they will give you plastic bracelets for each of your children. Usually they will. Then put whatever information you'd like on a slip of paper and insert it into the bracelet.
UAlways keep a recent photo of your child in your wallet. If the child gets lost, the photo could help in locating him.
UBuy hand sanitizer. It works without water and is perfect for cleaning grimy, sticky hands when you can't find a restroom.
UBuy an inexpensive camera (with flash) for children old enough to use it. The trip is then photographed from the child's prospective. Then a memory book can be created with her photos.
UBefore your trip, prepare a homemade "book" with a page for each day you will be gone. Write the day/date at the top of each page. As you travel, your child can use any sit-down time to fill in what you are doing that day, draw pictures of interesting things you saw, paste brochures or get the autographs of anyone -- from your waiter to the occasional celebrity.
UEasy ID: To help identify your family quickly at the airport, dress everyone in matching colors.
USnack-time Tips: Juice boxes, easy-to-eat snacks, wipes, napkins and trash bags are important.
UEdible jewelry: This is a great project to occupy your children while you are walking, in the car or on a train. Provide your kids with sweetened cereal rings and string licorice. They can string the cereal into the licorice and make edible bracelets and necklaces. When they get hungry, they can snack off their finished products.
The experts at Babycenter.com also have great tips for keeping children happy while on vacation.
UBring a blanket and cuddly toy. A favorite blanket, special sheet or stuffed animal helps a child feel safe and secure. It can ease anxieties about being in a new place.
UStart and end your day early. Young children are at their best earlier in the day, so plan to travel or go sightseeing early in the morning.
UEstablish a routine and stick to it.
UEat familiar foods. Toddlers are picky eaters, and it's hard enough finding food they like at home, let alone when traveling. When dining out, bring some of your child's favorite foods to keep her entertained while you enjoy your own meal.
USchedule running-around time for toddlers. After being cooped up in a car or stroller all day, most toddlers are eager to let loose. Try to spend time every day at a park or playground.
Other tips
"If you bring children on vacation with you, take time to plan what the kids are going to see and do," said Dee Hoffman, founder and president of The Children's Concierge, a nonprofit organization that helps parents plan kid-friendly vacations.
For large families traveling in cities, the thought of losing a child can be horrifying. Hoffman suggests that parents give each child a responsibility and something to carry. "They'll all want you to pay attention to them so they won't go far," she added.
"Most importantly, parents must remember that this is their vacation, too. Have fun with the kids, but do things that will interest you also."