The One Thing That Simplifies Traveling Routines with Kids

12/11/2024

The One Thing That Guarantees a Smoother Routine While Traveling With Kids

Traveling full-time with kids is an incredible adventure, but let’s face it—keeping everyone happy and on track isn’t always easy. Between adjusting to new time zones, navigating unfamiliar places, and managing endless activities, it can feel like chaos is lurking around every corner. For kids, the lack of routine can be especially unsettling, leading to crankiness, meltdowns, or just plain overwhelm.

But what if there was a way to bring a sense of calm and stability to your days, no matter where in the world you are? Imagine a simple, adaptable practice that grounds your family, making the challenges of full-time travel feel manageable—even enjoyable. That “one thing” could be the secret to smoother routines and happier adventures.

Read on to learn how to make traveling with kids easier.

This post contains a few affiliate links. There's no cost for you to use them, and if you do, we get a tiny commission.

Let's explore why maintaining a routine matters while traveling and how a single, flexible anchor activity can transform your family’s travel experience. Whether you’re navigating bustling cities or quiet beach towns, this one small change could make all the difference. Let’s dive in!

Why Routine matters on the road

Children of all ages benefit from having routines. According to Raising Children: The Australian Parenting Website, routines foster emotional stability, teach responsibility, and support healthy development. A consistent routine helps children feel secure and in control of their environment, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of safety. It also aids in building essential skills such as time management and independence. These are skills that are particularly helpful for emotional regulation while traveling.

The downsides to not having well-developed routines are many: disrupted sleep schedules, missed meals, hyperactivity, cranky kids, and even cranky adults!

A flexible anchor activity

An anchor activity should be part of your daily routine. It's the single, consistent ritual or task that centers the day. You probably already have a bedtime routine (take baths, brush teeth, read books/sing songs, snuggles and goodnight kisses, then lights out). And these are just as important while you're traveling. But an anchor activity varies from standard routines that are related to our health and general well-being.

Your anchor activity should be flexible. It should easily adapt to any time zone, culture, or schedule. Let's look at some examples.

Your anchor activity also needs to be consistent - something you do every day at roughly the same time.

Examples of anchor activities by age group

Toddlers to Kindergarten Age (Ages 2–5) Example Anchor Activities:

Morning: Start with a dance break to get everyone energized. Play their favorite song and encourage them to dance along. Add another layer by pausing the music at intervals and freezing. The person who accidentally continues moving after the music stops must be the next person to start and stop the music. Or for something less active, sing some fun morning affirmations.
Afternoon: During a scenic walk, turn it into a treasure hunt, asking them to find specific items (e.g., a red leaf or a smooth rock). Or visit a playground or a green space for a game of hide-and-seek or tag.
Evening: Wind down with storytime, reading a familiar book that brings a sense of home. Or play favorite thing, asking them what the favorite part of their day was. Starting out, they may find this difficult, but as they come to expect the question, they will think about it throughout the day and have an answer ready in the evening.

Elementary Age (Ages 6–10) Example Anchor Activities:

Morning: Begin with morning movement, such as stretches or a yoga video suitable for kids.
Afternoon: Explore a new place with an exploration checklist. Have them spot landmarks, try a local food, or learn a new word. Or your anchor activity could be to return each day to have lunch at the same local restaurant that you've all come to enjoy. This will give them the chance to get to know the wait staff and to be greeted warmly each day.
Evening: Close each day with a round of Uno or another card game that is easily transported or a simple art session where they draw their favorite part of the day.

Middle School Age (Ages 11–14) Example Anchor Activities:

Morning: Start with a fitness goal, such as a short jog or a push-up challenge.
Afternoon: Let them practice photography during sightseeing, encouraging creative angles and storytelling through images.
Evening: During dinner or downtime, have a family discussion, where everyone shares something interesting they learned.

High School Age (Ages 14–18) Example Anchor Activities:

Morning: Begin with a gratitude reflection, encouraging them to jot down three things they’re looking forward to.
Afternoon: Assign an hour for independent exploration, like exploring a museum or trying a local café (if safe and age-appropriate). You can even have them choose one museum or café to return to every day for a week, with the goal of analyzing a different work of art each day or trying a new menu item each day.
Evening: Wrap up the day with a travel blog post or a casual family conversation about cultural insights.

Combining Activities for Mixed Ages (If you’re traveling with kids across different age groups):

Morning: Start with a family dance break or yoga session, appealing to all ages.
Afternoon: Pair younger kids’ treasure hunt with older kids’ photo challenge to encourage collaboration.
Evening: Have everyone gather for storytime or a shared game like charades. High schoolers can help the younger ones reflect on their favorite moments.

Implementing your anchor activity

Choose your anchor activity carefully. Make sure it fits your family dynamic and is meaningful and enjoyable for the whole family. Then make sure that it fits the requirement of flexibility and adaptability to various places as you travel and that it is something you will be able to do consistently.

If your anchor activity will require materials (e.g., a particular book, a travel journal, a travel yoga mat, a box of crayons, or a card game), make sure they are easily transportable and fairly durable.

Decide on the time of day for the activity. Introduce it to the family as a new shared ritual. Do it consistently so that it becomes a habit. Stick to it consistently, even during travel transitions.

Additional tips for maintaining
routines on-the-go

Maintaining routines while traveling requires creativity and flexibility, but it can be done effectively with some practical strategies. Here are some additional tips to help maintain routines as you travel.

Plan around your natural rhythms. Leverage natural points in the day (like meal times or bedtime) to anchor your routine. Use breakfast as a time to discuss the day’s plans. This is a great way to give the kids a chance to be active participants in the planning. If you already have established naptime or bedtime routines at home, continue those as you travel.

Block out certain times of the day as tech-free times, or certain areas as tech-free zones.

Create downtime for balance. Schedule a certain day of the week that is your R&R day - a day that you have no plans and just take it easy. Take a short walk, take an afternoon nap, make dinner together as a family, and have a movie night. Unstructured time encourages creativity and reduces burnout from over-scheduling.

Be flexible. Recognize that travel introduces unpredictability. Keep routines simple and allow for adjustments. If bedtime shifts due to sightseeing, maintain a short story or gratitude reflection before sleep. Flexibility helps avoid frustration while preserving the benefits of routine.

Whether you are traveling full-time, long-term, or short-term, traveling with kids can come with its fair share of challenges, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to create lasting memories and strengthen family bonds. By incorporating a single anchor activity into your daily routine, you can bring stability and joy to even the most unpredictable travel days. Whether it’s a morning dance break, a journaling habit, or a nightly storytime, these small moments of consistency can ground your family and make the journey smoother for everyone. So, as you plan your next adventure, take a moment to choose an anchor activity that resonates with your family—because sometimes, it’s the simplest routines that make the most extraordinary experiences possible.