Taking Kids to Europe

Some parents seek a little more adventure than a trip to the amusement park or beach offers.  While these venues are good places for a summer vacation, traveling abroad with kids is also an option.  It might seem intimidating just to cross the Atlantic with small ones in tow, let alone try to navigate a foreign land.  But planning (and a bit of guts) can make a trip to Europe with children not only doable, but enjoyable as well. 

Here are some ideas for parents who want their youngsters to experience a vacation on the other side of the Atlantic. 

• Don’t fret about visiting all the museums or tourist sites.  Trips to local parks or an extended stop at a fountain in the center of a town will make the trip more memorable for kids than wandering though museums.  Parents can also benefit because these activities give them insight into real local life.
• Jet lag is a serious problem for adult travelers.  Kids often adjust easier than their parents.  Adjusting bedtime little by little at home can help the little ones get used to a new time zone.  Many children take naps in response to the time change.  Some parents choose to let the child continue to sleep their normal hours, and plan the trip around those times rather than adjusting to local time. 
• Local food can be a turn off for some children, especially those who are already picky eaters at home.  Most places in Europe have food to accommodate picky eaters.  McDonald’s might be more expensive, but a hamburger is still a hamburger anywhere you go. 
• Be flexible.  It is impossible to know exactly how a child will respond.  Find activities or places that elicit a positive response from children and build off that by finding similar places or activities.