European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Family trips planning is key to keeping kids Happy by John Taylor staff writer does any of this sound familiar Quot Why do we have to go to stupid old. France again Quot a Quot we re tired of castles and Quot can t we stay Home we never get to play with our if it does you Are probably a Parent who has tried to take your children travelling. And if you have you Kivow it is not All bad. All you have to do is use common sense and be willing to learn from your mistakes. We be taken our children Ages 5 and 8, on lots of trips and have talked to other parents who have too. All the key to a Good journey is planning. When you Start thinking about your trip keep in mind that adults and children do not always like to do the same things. Their interests Are different their attention spans Are different their purposes for travel Are different. To keep everyone Happy plan a trip that has room for activities each person wants to do. For example children love zoos. We figure that if we spend one afternoon looking at animals we can spend the next one looking at cathedrals and shop windows. Kids also love playgrounds. So if we pass the morning driving around looking at castles and Chateaux we try to spend part of the afternoon looking for a Park where we can play. We also try to arrange the Day to take advantage of the children s Energy level kids can walk for hours at a zoo but get exhausted after 30 minutes in a museum. If we re going to do something that requires a lot of walking we do that in the morning. If we re going for a Scenic drive we do that in the afternoon when the children can Nap. It keeps everyone Happy. -. Here Are a few things to think about for your next Outing. C travelling when driving we Don t have any special departure time. Some people recommend leaving in the Early morning so the children will sleep in the car but we think everyone misses too much of the scenery that Way and besides we Aren t Early risers. We plan our trips so we Don t 1 Pend too much time in the car and so that we can afford to Stop along the Way even it it is just at a rest Stop with some play equipment. A miniature rides and animals made out of Lego blocks Are just two of the attractions at Lego land in Lillund Denmark. Solis. Devn Didio file feeding pigeons is a treat for the kids As Well As the Birds. Kids especially younger ones get bored quickly so it is essential that the take something to entertain themselves. Let them pack their own Backpack with toys books crayons drawing puds tapes and a tape recorder with headphones if they a have one. They can even Par k is with supervision a that can he eaten As the Day goes on. Take along sonic car games and then a a a a. A amps Norm Zoi Glor local fairs and carnival rides like those on dam Square in Amsterdam Netherlands Are usually More fascinating for children than museums. Find 30 minutes or so for one of the adults to get in the Back with the kids and p a a a with them. It is surprising How much mileage the kids will get out of half hour. \ a a. make special provisions for c Hildren handing them travel packets with crayons and Small toys allowing families to Board first and placing children in Bulkhead seats so that they have a Little More room around. I Raveling on trains and be fun Bee Ause kids can walk about looking at things while getting to their destination. Buses Are Ari Othear Story. I hey Are too. Often cramped and the rides seem interminable. family s it Comfort Ohmit d on / age ii May 22, 1991 stars and stripes travel Europe 4 7
