Thanks, Cristina! We're going in June with my almost 11 and 5 year old boys - first time abroad with kids and I'm a little worried about how it's going to go (70+ year old in-laws too), but the article reaffirmed why we were taking them! Plus we're visiting family on the Amalfi coast which I know will be awesome!
I had a fabulous 3 month trip (molti anni fa) when my boys were 15 months and turning 4. We spent a total of 49 nights with the Aunts in Modena while coming and going, 10 days in a friend's apartment in Capo Mele, Liguria and 10 days in an apartment up in Tonezza. We stayed in camere (rooms, like b&b) between San Gimignano and Poggibonsi, in Valle D'Aosta and had a trip to San Marino. We had 2 long trips before we had children with art galleries and museums, so spent more time in parks and in the grounds of every single castle I could find on a map. The children were easier to manage on the trip than at home. Lucky you. Have a great time! Leslie.
We've been taking our now 7 year old with us on trips out of the US (including two trips to Italy) since he was 4. He loves it and we love it. Just be sure to plan for it well. Our old habit of "playing it by ear" doesn't work as well when traveling with kids.
We have been travelling (mostly Europe) with our nine year old more or less since she was born. For those who like slow travel kids are great: our pre-kid trip was two nights here, two nights there, our recent trip to Rome was 12 days in Rome with a short side trip to Florence; max of two hours in any museum (including the Vatican!), which is good for both parents and child; home most afternoons by 4 or 5PM with down time til a nice relaxing civilized dinner.
Cannot run the experiment so no idea if we just have a daughter who is a pleasure to travel with or whether she just got trained young.
Also my guess is that complications rise exponentially with the number of children.
But everyone should travel as much as possible (though perhaps relocating as little as possible) with their children.
Sophia, We travelled to Italy two summers ago with our two children (then 5 and 8) and my-laws (70 and almost 70). The kids were great! It was the in-laws who were a bigger problem!
Jane is right, have a plan for everyday. It also helps if you can explain what they are seeing. Know the history. Show them pictures of things before you go. Lot and lots of gelato breaks are a MUST! I also did many searches on the internet for places and things we would see. I printed out coloring pages, scavenger hunts, games, etc and made a booklet that they both had with them throughout the trip. They both still have it in their rooms.
There is a website with a semi-weekly newsletter. I think its called Kids in Italy. I think they had an ebook you could download. Kids in Italy - Kids Europe I'm at work right now, but I will check that URl when I get home for you.
I would take my kids again in a heartbeat! My in-laws....I'll get back to you on that one.
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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pauline,
Debi Cavataio
Posts: 102 | Location: Escondido, CA | Registered: 18 July 2002
I've been reading all the info on traveling with kids and we've rented a few movies with Rome and Pompeii to peak their interest; plus trying to teach the kids a few basic words so they'll be irresistible!
Foot note about traveing with Casey--it'll probably make sense to all traveling with kids parents.
Casey has been to many cathedrals and museums--starting when he was 4. We would usually start the day by promising him we would be doing something really interesting. We realized that he wasn't really buying it when he woke up one day and asked "Can we not do something interesting today?"
We make sure that we hit playgrounds, gelato stands and threw some balls that day. We now try to police ourselves by remembering his sweet request.
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