Travelling with children can be stressful at the best of times. During the summer holidays this can be exacerbated by traffic hold ups and flight delays. This is definitely one of the high risk times in family life and planning ahead is key to the success of the journey you and your family take.

If your children are old enough involve them in the planning of your journey. Have a look at a map together discuss the route you will take. Set children the task of looking out for certain signs and landmarks along the way. Encourage a family diary of your journey together written and edited by the children.

Plan what drinks and food to take as well as the location and opportunity for comfort breaks, also consider changes in clothing depending on changing weather conditions or in the case of long delays.

Electronic devices can be very useful on long journeys though do remember holidays are an opportunity for quality time with each other, so don’t forget traditional ways to entertain the whole family such as audio books, CD’s to sing along to as well as CD’s to encourage language learning for foreign holidays, and what journey wouldn’t be complete without a game of I Spy!

The high street is a good place to go to purchase small affordable books and games to amuse and distract your children when you recognise they are becoming bored. When children are tired and bored we tend to see the type of behaviour that we don’t like from them.

Remember that family life is put under the microscope during the holidays, as usually your days are filled with work, school and clubs. Don’t worry if every aspect of your holiday isn’t perfect. Enjoy the time that you have together and learn from any ‘hiccups’ you experience along the way. There is no such thing as a perfect parent or family for that matter-all we can aim to do is our best!

Have a great holiday!

* Chris Garner, of Kendal, runs Parent and Baby Coach, which offers positive parenting programmes for the parents of children up to the age of 16. She can be contacted at chris@parentandbabycoach.co.uk or by telephone on 01539 730713 or 07972 282975. The company’s website is www.parentandbabycoach.co.uk