As a parent, traveling with your kids is not merely a superb way to make a few excellent memories and shape a few powerful connections with one another. If you include boating in your travel itinerary, consider checking this link https://thefairytaletraveler.com/2016/04/28/boating-kids-tips/. However, as a single parent, traveling with your kids, while still very exciting, may feel a bit more daunting or difficult of a job. If you’re concerned about your first single-parent sojourn along with the kids, we’ve just one piece of advice for you: don’t be! As a solo parent traveling abroad with your children, you need to get some extra planning to do before you go, as shared below.
Choose a Kid-Friendly Destination to Stay
Whether you’re staying in a hotel or on a cruise ship, it’s important that as a single mom you feel comfortable in the company of other guests. Remember that when you’re on vacation, you’re bound to meet couples on honeymoon, bachelor/bachelorette parties, as well as people on retreat for a real break from the kids. Chances are, in case you are with young children, you don’t want to be on top of many of these types of vacationers and crowds, and vice versa. So when it comes to booking your lodging, do your homework and choose places that are family-friendly and convenient for your kids. You’ll be surprised at the number of places that offer perks and activities for kids.
Prepare a Travel and Medical Kit
If you’re a single parent with children, unfortunately, you can’t afford to send another parent to a drug store while you’re getting together and taking care of the kids. In almost every case where an illness occurs, the help of the first aid kit is much more important than if you were traveling alone. Aside from a travel medical kit with all the common medical needs, it would be wise to carry the particular medications that are specific to kids and to the possible illnesses you may be exposed to in the destination you’re traveling to and staying in.
Bring a Parental Documentation
In addition to the obvious things essential for traveling (passports, visas, etc.), in case you are a single parent who has specific legal guardianship over your children, it is important that you obtain this documentation at some point, especially if you are traveling abroad for an extended period. If you have been granted full custody of your children, make a copy of the official custody documents and bring them with you. If you share custody, ensure the other parent gives you a notarized and signed and copy of the document stating that you have permission to leave the state and/or country with the children. This note should also include language to authorize you to make decisions for your kids, such as for medical treatment, during your travels.
Take a Picture of Your Kid(s)
Daily! The moment your child is dressed and you are going out on the town, take a quick picture of them in their full attire before you leave. This has two advantages: First, you have at least one photo of your child growing faster each day, which can be a wonderful souvenir of your trip when you return. Second, if your child goes missing, you won’t have to rack your brain trying to remember what they were wearing because you’ll have the most recent photo to present to the authorities.