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the big city and take in the sights or take a weeklong road trip.” A child’s buy-in will go a long way in making the trip a successful one.
all depends on the child’s age. Older children seem to adapt better to long trips than smaller children. Stop often. It’s good for children and adults.
Road trips Your road trip experience doesn’t have to be all “Are we there yet?” if you plan right. In the planning stage of a vacation, order road maps (yes, they still make them!), brochures, and area guides. They are free and easy to order online from city convention and visitors bureaus or from province, territory, and state tourism boards. Show where you’re going on the map, and ask where the child might want to stop. When traveling with grandchildren, it will end up being more about them than you anyway, so plan accordingly and have a good time. If you have a portable DVD player, bring it and ask your grandchildren to bring along their favorite movies. Or other activities — even the old standby of coloring books and crayons — may be all some children need to pass the time. Bring food that they like, but that won’t make a mess. And search on the Internet for games to play in the car. Of course, this
You’re the guardian: Be prepared During a vacation, you are responsible. Always have the children’s proper identification — photocopies of birth certificates should be fine for all needs if staying in your own country — but also take along medical histories and health insurance cards including prescription cards, dental insurance cards, and secondary insurance cards. Carry contact information, recent photos, and notarized authorization from
their parents in case they need medical attention. Some countries do not allow entry of minors not accompanied by both parents unless the children have written notarized permission from the absent parents. The rules vary from country to country, so it’s best to always be prepared. Passports are essential for any international travel. And it is always a good idea to purchase travel insurance. So, plan, prepare, and have a great time.
JUNE 2016
• COUNTRY LIVING
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