Travel is a far more effective teacher than hours spent at a school desk. That is why the last days of the school year are often used for short trips, outdoor education camps and team-building outings. How do you pack your child for an adventure like this? We will tell you what to look out for, what not to forget and which mistakes to avoid. At the end of the article you will also find a free downloadable checklist of things to remember.
Food for the journey
Vomiting children are the biggest nightmare of trip supervisors. Such episodes are usually caused not so much by motion sickness as by the excessive amount of sweets that caring parents send their children off with. The best food for a journey like this is vegetables, fruit, sandwiches and snacks such as crackers or pretzel sticks. Pack the food so that it is easy for your child to eat in small portions. Don’t forget drinks – water or tea are best for the journey. Sugary drinks can also cause nausea. Wet wipes will come in handy too! They serve practically every purpose: as a cloth, a hand freshener or toilet paper.
Clothes – comfortable and practical
How to pack for your child? The amount and type of clothing depends on the length of the trip and the expected weather. Remember that even in the hottest summer, warmer clothes will come in useful for night-time treasure hunts or campfires. Above all, clothes should be comfortable and nothing you would be sorry to see ruined. Avoid light colours – on trips like these, children are there first and foremost to have fun, and as everyone knows, a dirty child is a happy child 😉 For younger children, it is worth labelling every item with the child’s name or a coloured tag.
Shoes – just not new ones!
Don’t buy new shoes specially for the trip. It can end in painful blisters and traumatic memories. If you are packing lace-up shoes, make sure your child can tie them on their own! A spare pair will also be essential in case the first gets soaked, along with flip-flops for the shower – hygiene standards at many holiday camp centres vary, and it is better that your child doesn’t bring home any stowaways on their little feet.
A first-aid kit for the supervisor
If your child takes medication regularly or as needed, it should not be packed in their luggage. Hand all medicines over to the teacher in charge, together with clear instructions and written consent for them to be administered. This also applies to motion sickness remedies. You can safely pack plasters in the luggage – let’s hope they won’t be needed 😉
Electronic devices
You are not paying for the trip so that your child can spend it with their nose buried in a phone or tablet. They can do that for free at home – if you allow it, of course. If you give your child electronic devices for the trip, you have to accept that they may get damaged, lost or stolen. It is not worth the risk or burdening your child with extra responsibility for expensive gadgets.
Money and documents
Agree with the teacher in charge how much money the children should have with them. The money should be split between 2-3 places so that, in the event of theft or loss, not all of it is gone. Also make sure your child remembers where the money is hidden. Don’t forget their school ID card!
Toiletries
Ideally in small “travel-size” containers, sealed in a leak-proof toiletry bag in case a tube isn’t screwed on properly and the contents spill out. For children with long hair, don’t forget spare hair bands and clips – they love to go missing. An absolute must-have, of course, is sun cream and a mosquito and tick repellent.
What else shouldn’t you forget?
A hat, the beloved cuddly toy that gives your child a sense of security, pyjamas, towels, underwear, swimwear, an extra lightweight backpack for short sightseeing trips, a phone charger… These things seem obvious, yet experienced teachers list precisely these among the most frequently forgotten. It is also worth protecting the whole bag against loss. A small notiOne tracker dropped into the backpack will make it possible to find it if it gets lost or stolen. At the same time, you will be able to check in the app whether your child is where they are supposed to be.
