Adults aren’t the only ones who suffer from travel anxiety: Children feel anxious as well, says Dr. Asha Patton Smith, a Fairfax County psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente.
Thursday’s Independence Day holiday is expected to break travel records, with 3 million more people heading out on vacation than last year. According to AAA:But are your kids ready for a stress-free trip?
Adults aren’t the only ones who suffer from travel anxiety: Children feel anxious as well, says Dr. Asha Patton Smith, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente.
“When you have a small child throwing tantrums, being clingy and sometimes not eating properly, you can see how travelling can be unsettling,” she said.
But parents can help ease travel tensions for their kids.
First, parents must explain the trip details and itinerary.
“Make sure your child is well rested and well fed,” Patton Smith told WTOP, “and do all of this before you start traveling.”
For young children, be sure to pack familiar items, like a favorite toy or a special book.
“Having your kids talk about what they’re going to bring and what they want to do when they get to their destination can help reduce anxiety,” she says.
For families traveling on planes, trains or cruise ships that require special boarding instructions, practicing the procedures may be helpful, Patton-Smith said.
“Be part of a family that can board early,” she said. “If you can board early, it helps you stay calm.”
Patton Smith has two tips for long drives: bring something to do in the car and take frequent breaks.
“Coloring books, drawing and I Spy are great ways to keep kids occupied while also getting them to their destination,” she says. “Road trips can be tough, so plan the trip as part of a vacation with breaks in between.”
But Patton Smith of Burke, Virginia, said his biggest advice to parents is to manage his own travel anxiety.
“You’re a model, so try to stay as calm as possible,” she says. “If you’re anxious and panicked, kids will sense that, and it can be really tough.”
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