Travel is exciting, but let’s be honest, it’s also a complete routine disruptor. Different time zones, new environments, long waits, overstimulation, and unfamiliar expectations can be a lot for little ones. It's no surprise that even the most well-behaved child can turn into a mini tornado mid-transit.
So why do kids “act out” when traveling? And what can you do (realistically) to help them stay regulated and grounded along the way?
Here’s what we’ve learned as parents, travelers, and play advocates.
1. Their Routine Is Gone, and That’s Big
Children thrive on predictability. When their usual rhythm of waking, eating, playing, and sleeping disappears, their internal sense of safety goes with it.
🟡 What to do: Create a travel-friendly routine using MKandM’s Routine Cards. Even if it’s as simple as “Wake up, breakfast, play, tidy up, quiet time,” having visual cues can provide comfort and structure in a new setting.
2. They're Overstimulated and Feel Unheard
Airports, hotel lobbies, crowded attractions, it’s a sensory overload. And unlike adults, kids don’t have the emotional vocabulary or regulation skills to manage this.
🟡 Try this: Introduce Calm Down Cards before the trip. Practice a few techniques daily so your child becomes familiar with them before emotions run high. Breathing like a balloon, squeezing a stress ball, or imagining a calm place becomes easier when it’s already part of their emotional toolbox.
3. They Miss the Comfort of “Home” Choices
At home, kids know where their things are and what’s coming next. On the road, they feel out of control.
🟡 Empower them with choice: Let your child choose a few activities, whether it’s coloring, swimming, playing a game, and give them control over their own playtime.
4. Waiting Feels Endless
Layovers. Delays. Traffic. These moments test even adult patience.
🟡 Our solution: Be ready, fill a pouch with screen-free, reusable activities, something lightweight and durable, and keep little hands and minds busy, no batteries needed.
Tantrums, whining, refusal to sit, they’re not bad behavior. They’re a child’s way of saying: “I’m overwhelmed.” When we lead with empathy, structure, and play, travel becomes less about survival, and more about shared adventure.
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