As one of five children, I remember the look of sheer exhaustion on my parents\u2019 faces when we would take a family vacation. In particular, there was the year we went to Disneyland\u24c7 and all five of us shot off in different directions as soon as we screamed through the gates of the supposed Happiest Place on Earth. Each one of us reaching sticky fingers for a Mickey-shaped candied apple or urging my mom onto the Dumbo ride right now<\/em>. I think that trip resulted in some of us getting baby-leashes shortly thereafter. Not the cute ones they have nowadays, disguised as adorable monkey backpacks–the harnessed leashes initially designed for medium-sized dogs.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re traveling with kids in tow anytime soon, skip my family\u2019s tether system and be prepared for the chaos that comes with scheduled or surprise layovers. So just breathe and try to remember it\u2019s not your fault. There\u2019s nothing wrong with your child being curious, though cats may not agree with me on that sentiment. And when you\u2019re faced with the monstrous stretch of time known as a \u201clayover,\u201d consult our tips to help you be prepared instead of scared.<\/p>\n

Have You Been Working Out? Your Biceps are Huge!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As a parent to young children, you\u2019re probably well-versed in packing everything but the kitchen sink. And the only reason the kitchen sink got left behind is because you didn\u2019t think it would make it through security. Pack as many things as possible to entertain your antagonistic troops and keep them from sticking gum underneath seats and screaming, \u201cWHY CAN\u2019T WE YELL \u2018BOMB\u2019 HERE?!\u201d Load up your purse or man-purse (no judgment here) with snacks, activity books, toys, and most importantly–entertainment. You definitely look like you\u2019ll have no problem lugging everything around, check out those guns! If you have access to a tablet or portable video game device, bring it. Long layovers are not the time to nurturing your child\u2019s mind. Let the infiltration of \u201cDora the Explorer\u201d and \u201cSpongebob Squarepants\u201d into their gray matter begin. Your kids will be happy and momentarily occupied. And hey, you definitely wanted to hear \u201cLet it Go\u201d from \u201cFrozen\u201d for the 500th time, right?<\/p>\n

Pick Up More Germs Than You Would by Licking a Subway\u2019s Handrail<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Play areas. The travel gods hath giveth these to parents. Most domestic airports have a designated play area to let your toddlin\u2019 tikes run wild. If your layover finds you at Chicago O\u2019Hare International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, or even Las Vegas\u2019 McCarran International Airport, you\u2019re in luck. Check online ahead of time to find one in your terminal or grab the nearest airport employee and tell them if they don\u2019t direct you to the closest play area, their lounge seats are in for some redecorating at the hands of a crayon-wielding maniac. And hey, even if they do pick up a few germs, just consider it as bolstering their immune system. If you have a considerable amount of time to kill, leave the airport and check out any nearby attractions.<\/p>\n

The Action of Distraction<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I know, I know. Your child is doing really well in pre-K and probably even received the prestigious \u201cStudent of the Month\u201d award at some point this year. Although every other kid got the award, too, you don\u2019t need to start doubting the fact that your child is a special little snowflake. But that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re not easily distracted nonetheless. Recruit another one of your offspring or a willing spouse to go along with your musings. Have the two pair up to play some games a.k.a mommy nap time (thank you, Buddy System). Pick out items within your line of vision and have your intrigued participants go on a treasure hunt of sorts. Who can walk to the coffee stand and come back with a napkin first? Ok, now who can high-five a bald man in khakis the quickest? Another easy activity to pass time, which is my personal favorite: the Story Game! Have each member of your family add on a sentence or two to your very own narrative, and pretty soon you\u2019ll be laughing about aliens and dancing acorns named Esmeralda Firejumper. If neither of these games pan out, you can always see who can eat the most peanuts without barfing. I hear that\u2019s a real crowd-pleaser.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let the layover defeat you. You\u2019re traveling with your family and you are going to have fun, dangit, or else<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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