Trying to keep children occupied when you are travelling on holiday can be a nightmare.  What to us may be nothing more than a short hop and a few hours of inconvenience can feel like a lifetime of boredom and frustration to them.  Away from their familiar surroundings and their beloved toys, and often without much of an idea as to what to expect when they eventually reach their destination, the whole experience just makes them nervous, cranky and downright difficult.

Unless you happen to live and be staying right next door to your departure and arrival airports, the chances are that it isn’t just the flight that your children are going to have to endure either, but probably a car or coach ride at each end too.  If you don’t go prepared, it won’t just be the children’s tempers that will have reached boiling point by the time you get there – your blood pressure could well be off the scale too!

The trick to keeping most children calm and agreeable during long journeys is largely down to giving them your attention.  It is easy to forget that all the chasing around and the upheaval can be unsettling for youngsters, but by organising everything that you need for your journey so that it is readily to hand, you can focus on providing reassurance and keeping them happily occupied.

As well as console games, miniature versions of board games (which are easily available in most toy stores or at the airport) and miniature packs of playing cards can be a great way to pass the time whilst travelling and during the waiting times at airports.  Websites such as http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/games_for_car_journeys.htm and

http://www.smartstart-toys.co.uk/article_09_Great_kids_games_for_Car_Journeys.php offer lots of suggestions for games which can be played on car journeys, but many are also suitable for other situations too, or can be adapted to fit.  Even some drawing paper or a colouring book and some crayons will help to keep little ones entertained for a while, but if you can, try to vary their activities to stop boredom creeping in.

For many young children, airports can of course offer lots of excitement, so be sure to find a spot where you can watch the planes take off and land.  Not only is it a great way to keep them occupied, but often the excitement helps them to overcome any trepidation that they might feel about being up in the air.

Above all, if your child has a favourite cuddly toy, then don’t forget to take it along.  When everything around them feels so strange, their familiar friend will provide them with lots of comfort – and of course they can start a whole collection of photos of bunny or teddy taken all over the world!