Safety for Children on Vacation

As you prepare for your family’s holiday vacation in the merry madness of it all, don’t forget to take a few extra steps to insure your children’s safety.  Lucky Little Travelers (http://www.luckylittletraveles.com/ ), a new website dedicated to family travels, recommends a few pre-cautionary safety measures:

1. Teach your children their full name and phone number (including area code), you would be surprised how many 4 year olds don’t know their last name.  All children need written identification on them, meaning write on their hand or use a sticker for little ones.  For older children, give them a copy of the vacation itinerary.
2. Teach your children your full name and their father’s full name. (Grandparents full names, whoever you are visiting, and city name where they are going.  They may not remember, but at least you will know you tried.)
3. Use stickers- preprinted with name, parent’s names, cell phone number (including area code) and address.  Place identification stickers on clothing or use in shoes.  Make sure that your child knows their name and address is in their shoe. (You can buy name tags to run through your printer, or the simple introductory stickers.)  Include if you can, cell phone numbers (including area code), home phone numbers (including area codes),  home address, and your child’s pediatrician’s phone number (including area code), and an emergency contact number.
4. Take a photo, with your camera phone or camera, of each child on vacation, at the beginning of each day.  It will I.D. them in the outfit that they are wearing that day, and vacation photos are wonderful memories so it is a two for one.  Also, all adults on vacation should carry current photos of your children.
5. If you should decide to purchase a more costly I.D.  bracelets or dog tag, you should include:  cell phone numbers (including area code), home phone numbers (including area codes),  home address, and your child’s pediatrician’s phone number (including area code), and an emergency contact number.
6. For older children:  Be sure they are told hotel names and number, and give them a copy of your itinerary to carry with them in their backpack.

New TSA Rules for Holiday Travel Check Your Children's pockets to get through Airport Security Faster

Traveling during the holidays can be a difficult under normal conditions, but this year it is an even tougher decision for parents.  The new TSA security measure of full-body scanners involving x-rays or enhanced pat-downs are taking away from the joy of the season.  Either way, it is not an easy choice for parents.  Many pediatricians don’t approve of the x-ray exposure to young children.  Our best advice (http://www.luckylittletravelers.com/ ) is to check with your children’s pediatrician, before you book your tickets, for their recommendation on how you should handle the new TSA methods.  The good that comes from the TSA’s new rules is the assurance that everyone on board your plane is there with the same intention as you, to reach their destination without harm.
As you are emptying your pockets make sure to empty your children’s pockets as well.  Check your children’s pockets for items that may generate problems.  I have seen many parents empty their own pockets and completely forget about checking their children.
Take a look at our new website for other advice on traveling with children:  http://www.luckylittletravelers.com/   We have printable packing list for flight entertainment for children.  We also have packing list for children for both warm and cold weather vacations that can assist you with keeping your packing organized for a stress free vacation.

The New Controversial TSA Rules for Children

As a former teacher, I can honestly say children are a lot smarter and more understanding than most people give them credit for.  The new TSA rules are cause for great concern for many parents.  They have wisely taught their children that no one should touch them, thereby protecting their children from predators.  It is unfortunate that the past nine years has led our society to have to learn a completely different idea.  We all saw what happened on 911.  It must have been terrifying to be a passenger on one of those planes.  Personally, I do not like the new TSA rules, but I also take great comfort in knowing that when I or any member of my family is in the air, that we are safe from ignorant, evil, people who want to do us harm.

I think the children that will have the toughest time with the new TSA rules are the youngest ones.   If a parent is uncertain as to health risk involved with the new TSA body scanners, they should check with the person they believe is an expert on their child’s health, their child’s pediatrician.  If the pediatrician thinks the parent should choose to opt-out in favor of a pat-down that is what should be done.  It is our (www.luckylittletravelers.com) belief as parents we have the responsibility to explain to the child what is going to happen, in advance to arriving at the airport.  We also believe that parents should lead by example.  One parent or adult should go first, and make sure that their child is watching.  We also believe that a “practice” pat-down performed at home by a parent may help alleviate some of the fear that is involved. 

I don’t believe that anyone likes the new TSA rules, but we all enjoy the safety that it produces.