Arm yourself with lots of patience, because travelling with kids is never easy. However, these trips are a crucial part of their development, and they can help strengthen the bond between all family members. Most family vacations are always tethering on the precipice of chaos, especially if you are a parent of several hyperactive kids, so in order to have a constructive and fun vacation where everyone can have a good time, here are 3 essential tips for traveling with kids.

Packing strategy – aim for efficiency and don’t overdo it

When you are packing for a family vacation, it is easy to fall into that terrible trap of bringing half of your household along. This can turn your equipment management into a real nightmare. When you can’t make heads of tails as you dig through your stuff, this can make you nervous and raise tension among family members, but it can turn into a real problem in the case of emergency when everything has to be within an arm’s reach.

Everything needs to be packed strategically – for easy access while you travel and for quick and efficient unpacking when you settle into your rooms. The important thing is to keep outdoor equipment – like hats, sunscreen, mosquito repellents or jackets – in one dedicated backpack that is always ready to go.

This backpack can either be left in the trunk of your car, or it can be kept by the door of your room if you deem it not safe to leave it in the trunk. If you, for example, go on a family road trip along the East Coast of Australia, you will definitely need to be always prepared for the outdoors.

Encourage your children to “bring their own fun” along – be it books, coloring albums, music, balls, board games, etc. Try to avoid bringing extra tablets along – this is meant to be family time filled with personal interaction.

However, you should definitely bring at least one smartphone along for the vacation, but it should be restricted to adults only and used exclusively in the case of emergencies or if a need for services arises.

Safety comes first

When the entire family is on the road, safety definitely comes first and you need to make sure you can provide first aid to any member of the family in case something unpredictable happens. The same goes for your spouse or additional adult cousins that are tagging along – because if you are not alright, your kids will not be alright.

Make sure you always have plenty of water in the car and keep it in the portable plastic freezer so the plastic bottles wouldn’t be exposed to heat. Have at least two first aid kits beneath your seat and always bring an extra portable smartphone charger to keep it in the glove compartment – preferably a solar powered one.

Of course your car needs to be in tip top shape before you even consider embarking on a trip with your kids. And due to the whole chaos that ensues when the packing starts you should do yourself a favor and call the local mobile mechanic in the Gold Coast area, they will come to your home and do the check up and repairs right there in your garage. That way you have one less thing to worry about.

Keep the mood up and be engaged

If you are going on the mentioned road trip along the east coast of Australia, or any road trip for that matter, it is likely you will see a lot of diverse topography, interesting natural sights, amazing destinations and colorful urban areas. It should not be particularly hard to keep the enthusiasm up, and this factor is so crucial for the long-lasting happiness of your kids.

Both you and your kids will have the same response for locations you’ve never visited before – a sense of awe and excitement. Use this shared sentiment as a jump-off point for keeping everybody engaged. It is much easier to do it when you don’t have to fake it, and children will sense if your heart’s not into it.

The secret to a successful vacation with kids is good organization. Even if some of your younger family members are a bit grumpy in the beginning, their moods are bound to change when an orderly, well organized and interesting adventure winds up. Who knows, maybe even you will not perceive this vacation as something you should survive but a fun romp that will make you feel like you’re one of the kids again.