I’m a child expert… these are my FIVE top tips for travelling with kids this summer

Australia
By William

A BBC newsreader turned child therapist has revealed her five tips for traveling with children this summer.

Kate Silverton, 53, enjoyed a long TV career, presenting a series of BBC News shows and appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

But she qualified as a child therapist in 2023 and earlier this year released a parents’ guide entitled ‘There’s no such thing as naughty’.

With the summer holidays approaching, she has revealed her five tips for family travel, from ditching the smartphones to careful planning.

Kate Silverton, 53, who you may recognize from her string of appearances at the BBC, has teamed up with lastminute.com to teach parents how best to travel with children

Kate has revealed her five tips for traveling with children this summer (stock image of a family)

Kate has revealed her five tips for traveling with children this summer (stock image of a family)

1. Leave the screens behind

Kate’s first tip is to lleave the screens behind and travel with a bag or backpack filled with coloring markers, a word search book, a family game like Bananagrams, picture books to color together, or books to read side by side.

When traveling, we want to engage the seeking and curious part of our children’s brains.

Otherwise, boredom can lead to behavior that unconsciously creates “drama” that makes a child feel engaged.

2. Plan your packing

Kate’s second tip is about packing. She emphasized that while the decision to go on vacation for a few days may be last minute, packing doesn’t necessarily have to be done.

Think carefully about everything your children may need while you are away, whether it is medicine, a first aid kit, games, water bottles or suitable clothing.

3. Manage your expectations

Kate’s third piece of advice was about managing your expectations on a family holiday, as being too ambitious about what you can achieve on a short trip can spoil the sense of spontaneity.

Choose one or two things you each want to do as a family, and let the magic of being present together do the rest.

4. Finances

The former broadcaster said you should choose a trip that won’t put a strain on your finances.

She said: The beauty of spontaneity lies in the quality time you get to spend with your family, not the worry it brings to your bank balance.

‘Some of my fondest memories are when we packed up our tent and headed out on a camping adventure in Britain.

“It’s the spontaneity and the precious moments with our children that really matter.”

5.Ba confident ‘leader’

‘Whether you’re alone or parenting as a team, things can happen, like missed flights, delayed trains or cars breaking down.

“It’s often the hard times that provide us with rich learning experiences, showing us that things are okay, that things happen and that we can still get through them.

“These are the experiences that will help build resilience and ensure that our children will embrace change and be spontaneous later in life.”

According to research from Lastminute.com, a whopping 79 percent of parents, based on a sample size of 2,000, feel there are certain things they want to enjoy with their kids before they fly the nest.

They also found that 59 percent are currently working through a family bucket list to ensure they see all the places they want, with the whole family sitting around the table and working together to decide where to go.

One in three Brits want to swim in the crystal clear lagoons of the Maldives, while a further 31 percent would like to explore the Great Barrier Reef with their children.

On average, Brits take four family holidays a year, budgeting £2,200 per trip. More than half (56 percent) say they now have to make more cuts than five years ago.

The 30 travel experiences Brits want to do with their kids before they fly the nest

  1. Go to the Empire State Building – 37%
  2. Visit Pompeii, Italy – 35%
  3. Explore the Valley of the Kings in Egypt – 34%
  4. See the Northern Lights in Reykjavik – 33%
  5. Swim in the crystal clear lagoons of the Maldives – 31%
  6. Swimming in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia – 31%
  7. See Times Square at night – 27%
  8. Admire the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City – 26%
  9. Eat a margarita pizza in Naples – 26%
  10. Island hopping in Greece – 23%
  11. Go whale watching in Iceland – 23%
  12. See the Colosseum in Rome – 22%
  13. Eat an ice cream with a view of Lake Garda in Italy – 21%
  14. Visit Lapland and go on a husky sled safari – 21%
  15. Take a photo holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa – 21%
  16. Take a selfie under the Eiffel Tower in Paris – 20%
  17. Explore the Grand Canyon in Arizona – 20%
  18. Visit the White House in Washington DC – 19%
  19. Drive Route 66 across America – 19%
  20. Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles – 18%
  21. See the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, Paris – 18%
  22. Visit the Parthenon in Athens – 17%
  23. Wander around the souks of Marrakech – 17%
  24. Eating snails in a French bistro on the Left Bank of Paris – 16%
  25. Take a gondola ride in Venice – 15%
  26. See the Sydney Opera House, Australia – 15%
  27. Learn to surf in Hawaii – 15%
  28. Take the Lord of the Ring tour in New Zealand – 15%
  29. Watch ‘Old Faithful’ Blowing in Yellowstone National Park – 14%
  30. Drinking an espresso while looking out over Lake Como in Italy – 13%

And when it comes to choosing where the family goes on vacation, it has long been assumed that mothers are the driving force behind decision-making. Today, however, 45% say the whole family does it together and 20% say everyone contributes.

Reigo Eljas, Director of Dynamic Packaging at lastminute.com said: ‘It’s clear that British parents see the value of traveling with their children and showing them the wonders of the world.

‘However, as we get older, we seem less likely to make the decision to leave and explore the world.

‘Our latest booking data shows that families tend to be the biggest planners, with almost 50% booking five to 12 weeks in advance of their trip.

‘This year our top five family destinations range from the traditional sun, sea and sand to a good dose of culture, with the Turkish Riviera taking number one, after Tenerife, Mallorca, Marrakech and Paris.

Kate added: ‘Change can often feel unsettling, which can often hinder spontaneity! But showing our children that change can be exciting, and by exploring the wonders of the world as a family, we offer them a gift that will last a lifetime.

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