European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                 Lethe kids help with their gear by Eden Ross Lipson new York times Ike every other aspect of child rearing travel is most daunting before the Tad and coloured afterwards by circumstances events and adventures you could not possibly have imagined. Nevertheless one begins by gearing up As though Lor Bailie. The trick is editing the gear. The More relaxed end better organized parents Are the easier and More fun travel is for the whole family. Modem family rips Aro often divided into two distinct parts air planes and the rest of the trip. And air travel even without Young children is More stressful and less predictable than it once was in getting ready therefore ii is reasonable to assume that both the Airport and the plane with be crowded there will be delays and the overworked Cabin Crew May never notice your children or you unless you both have tantrums. What you take or the rest of the trip depends on the trip what you need for the plane is pretty Standard and applies to trips of accordion length. There Are two containers to Fil for the plane the Backpack and the accompanying adult s shoulder bag. Happily a Small Waler repellent Backpack with adjustable padded shoulder pads is a thrilling birthday prasent Lor almost every 3 year old. It also makes it possible far each child to carry his or her important items yet have hands free one to hold yours and the other to clutch a special doll or toy. One special item. No More the other crucial modern invention from the perspective of the travelling Parent is the sail Locking disposable plastic bag. Especially it you Haven t done it before involve your child in planning packing and getting ready far the trip. Talk about where you Are going How you Are going to get there and what generally happens along the Way. Be specific and detailed and Tell the truth to the Best of your ability it May Lake a Long time to get to the Airport. We have id stand on some tines. Alter we get the boarding passes we have to wait near the Gate. The plane can t leave until everyone is on Board  there Are some Fine picture books about airports and air plane travel available in both hard and soft cover. It s easy to forget what Little children Don t know. A favorite example comes from Selma Freiberg s the magic years the memorable child whose family was going to Fly to Europe one summer and the 3-year-old was in tears because he knew he did t know How to Fly. Talk about the packing about what you really need to take and make lists indeed print a Linal inventory of the contents of the child s Backpack on a lie card and tape it inside he pack. The preschoolers will help you Check items Olf As you fill it older children like doing it themselves. The list is also useful when you Are getting ready to come Home. In putting things into a child s Backpack the first item should be a plastic bag with an extra pair of underpants. Ii goes in at the Bottom just in Case. Next there s a lightweight zip front hidden Hood jacket made of some indestructible Waler repellent fabric usually Nylon. The Ais to photo family pausing Deloro Check in at the Airport jacket goes into the Backpack no matter where you Are going and especially if you Are crossing climate zones or moving around in the summer or in the tropics because the climate control in airports and air planes is related to no known natural Laws. All too often it is freezing just around whore you Are seat belted Inlo place. You May not need the jacket which is Why it goes at the Bottom bul if the climate urns Arctic Well it s there. The truth is that Luggage does gel Tost and Wilh clean underwear and a jacket your trip and therefore life can continue reasonably or several Days. A jacket is Mora useful than a sweater because it can go out in the rain and makes a Windproof lop layer. If you Are travelling in the tropics children should also slow heir own Cun hats and if they usually use one a lip Balm. Does your child have a in jiggly a Blanket or another Security object that he or she cannot sleep without or clutches Al All stressful moments ii you can negotiate it i recommend the following strategy. Ii involves a fair amount of adult Effort and takes a lot of talking bul it has a safely mechanism. What you have to do is to Cut the beloved Blanket into three pieces presuming it s big enough for this. But first you should Chat about the idea for several Days. Then with great ceremony prepare the object pc the trip. Have enough Satin Blanket binding or wide ribbon on hand. Cut or have the child Cut the precious cloth. First Cut it in half then Cut one piece in Hall again. Bind the edges of All three pieces with the ribbon. The big piece stays Home on the bed or in the crib. One Small piece goes in the Backpack the other goes in your bag just in  then come the cleanliness entertainment and nutrition layers. Every child gels a packet of tissues and a packet or two of Premol Sleed towelettes. They also gel a Brand new Raveling Toothbrush the kind that either folds up or has its own top. The toothpaste goes in your bag for reasons that should not need to be explained add a new Box of crayons and a new packet of coloured pens not a big Box of either. Sixteen or 24 crayons and Hall a dozen pens in a Bright plastic sleeve Container Are just Fine. If you Are travelling with More than one child it is crucial to Label each duplicated item because the children will squabble about my his or that each child should have an old colouring Book and a new one a Mavorite old paperback Book and a new one and a Small spiral notebook labelled my trip to use As a diary or for scribbling or games or whatever. Preschoolers love to give dictation. For older children put tha first volume of a series they have not read in a paperback edition in their Backpack put the next volume in your bag. Each older child should also have a Book of puzzles and Pencil games. If you have compatible older children who already know How to play checkers and chess a portable set is Handy. Older children May want to bring their Walkman and tapes and should. Accept any games gee Gaws or toys the airline continued on Page is the stars and stripes Page 15