A plan for a great day out with your kids - the shortlist
The basics you should prepare for a successful day trip.
Photo by alexey demidov on Unsplash
Now that you are thinking about planning a day trip adventure with your kids, what are the essentials to planning a good day out?
Prepare to stress less
Ideally, you want to have your stuff ready (or at least planned out) to avoid last-minute panic searching before you leave. The more you can avoid stress leaving the house, the better it is for everyone.
Starting your adventure stressed out is already one strike against the chances of having a terrific day out. What can you do to streamline your departure?
Pack smartly
We have to be careful with what we pack for the day. As a parent, my tendency is to over-prepare.
Why not bring the big first-aid kit?
Should I pack some extra sweaters?
Let’s pack more snacks!
You want to use a bag that you can easily carry throughout the day. The more you carry, the faster you will get tired. A tired parent makes snap decisions and has less patience.
Don’t opt for a gigantic bag either. The more space you have to fill, the more likely you are to fill it.
Pack ahead of time
Sure you can throw together a bag for the day at the last minute, but that’s when we forget things. Or worse, we over-pack because we are in a hurry.
Packing your weekend “go bag” on Thursday or Friday means you should have a dedicated weekend bag, not the one you use during the week. Also, having a clear differentiation between your weekday and weekend carry is a critical part of stressing less, as it affords you the chance to detach from your weekday worries.
Come up with a plan
What kind of adventure are you going on?
Will you be outside or inside?
Is it a hike?
Are you riding a bike?
Asking yourself what kind of trip you want to take will help quickly identify where it is you want to go, and what you need to pack.
Create a loose itinerary
Sure you can schedule some time-specific activities, but don’t let your itinerary dictate your day. I like to think of my itinerary (or plan) as more of a to-do list rather than a strict diagram of my day. This allows us to react to opportunities that present themselves.
Be ready to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, you will have a much better day out, and a good story to share afterward.
Know when to call it a day
Your goal for a good day out is to have it end on a positive note.
You could have the most epic day out filled with delight and surprise, but if it ends in hurt feelings or a tantrum, how will you remember the day?
Overtired kids (and adults) can react poorly to the smallest of problems. Who wants to deal with that upset?
Don’t strive to fit everything in. In fact, it’s best if you don’t push it, leave it till the next visit. This means you are already planning for your next day-trip adventure, you are ahead of the game without even trying.
It’s ok to leave some things till next time!
No matter how good your day was, coming home exhausted and cranky will feel like less of a success.
It’s far better to come home in a good mood with some energy to face the rest of your evening. Do what you can to end the day without fuss.