How to Prevent Total Boredom During Dreaded Travel Delays
There’s nothing worse than having to wait out a travel delay – except having to do it with kids. If you think you’re bored, you can guarantee they’re even more so. And your own experience of waiting around definitely isn’t going to be made better by having the kids whinging that they’ve got nothing to do. Luckily, some of the things you can do to keep them entertained are the same tricks you can use when you’re on the move. Not going anywhere can add a certain amount of dullness, but you can still keep everyone happy if you rally together.
So what can you do to stave off the boredom and keep fussing to a minimum? Try these tips to entertain both the kids and yourself, and prevent your trip from being ruined.
Go Exploring
If you don’t have to stay in one place, which you often don’t, you have a great chance to go and find something to do. Granted, not everywhere will be full of options. But there are some great airports or even bus and train stations with nearby amenities that will offer plenty of options. If you’re stuck in an airport, it’s easy to keep one eye on the departure board while you look for something to do. You might discover a playground or activity area for kids, or even something like a cinema. If you’re close to a town or city centre, you can often find quick and flexible things to do too.
Pack Games and Activities
When you’re travelling with kids, it always makes sense to pack some things for them to do. They might want to take their own toys and games, but it’s also a good idea for you to think of some activities that will entertain them when you really need to. These things can come in handy when you have delays, as well as when you’re on the move. A tablet can be a catch-all for activities, allowing kids to do everything from playing sudoku to watching a film. It’s a compact option if you don’t want to have a bag full of lots of activities. An activity book for each child can be another good idea, or you could pack some travel games.
Get Some Food and Drink
Waiting around for a long time can lead to grumbling tummies and complaints of thirst. If you know you’ve got some time on your hands, it makes sense to go in search of food or drink. Find somewhere to sit down for a meal or snack, whether it’s a restaurant or a cafe. If you’re not sure how much time you’re going to have before you’ll be on the move again, you could just buy something to take away. Of course, if you plan ahead, you could have food and drink ready to hand out at a moment’s notice.
Do Some Exercise
Sitting still isn’t easy for a lot of children, especially when they don’t know when they’ll be able to move again. If they’re getting restless, a little movement can help. You can go for a walk to get everyone moving, even if it’s just a walk around the immediate vicinity. You could also challenge them to do some jumping jacks or stretches in place. As long as they’re not disturbing anyone else by running around or making a lot of noise, it’s a good way to get some energy out.
Buy Access to an Airport Lounge
Buying entrance into an airport lounge might seem like an extravagance most of the time. But when you’re indefinitely delayed and the kids are bored, it can be well worth it. Lounges offer lots of things to do, including TV to watch and sometimes play areas too. There may also be free food and drink included in the price. Check that the lounge is child-friendly before you pay anything. You might also find you can get a discount or even free entrance as a bonus of certain services, such as your credit card or bank account.
Keep Them Engaged
Don’t just leave the kids to entertain themselves if you want to stop them being bored. Actively engaging them will stop you from getting bored too. It’s a good chance to have a quality chat or maybe play a game you haven’t played in a while. Maybe you’ve got time for a cuddle, or you could just talk about what you’re looking forward to about your holiday (or what everyone most enjoyed if you’re going home).
There’s no need for everyone to be bored if your travel is delayed. You can find plenty of options for things to do.
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