(Image credit: Pixabay)

In the first of this two-parter on travelling with children, I wrote about how to survive a trip with your kids.

Mind you, that was just the journey. And whether it’s a one-hour flight to Singapore or a long-distance transatlantic flight, parents are unlikely to rest easy until they’ve reached their destination.

Of course, then comes the rest of the trip.

Well-planned travel can benefit children immensely in terms of their learning and development. New experiences offer great learning opportunities, especially when children get to learn about different cultures, cuisines and people.

The best thing about being on holiday is that you can be fully present for your children. It’s rare to be able to spend quality time with our son without being distracted by work, household chores and other demands.

Cities like Singapore can offer a lot for families like ours — I wanted child-friendly activities, convenient travel options (MRT rides were activities in themselves!) and some predictability in our routines.

My husband, meanwhile, is secretly envious of families who do extreme holidays with their young children, such as trekking in South America or backpacking across Japan (not that he’s ever done either).

Consultant developmental paediatrician Dr Rajini Sarvananthan advises families to look at what kind of activities their children would enjoy or dislike.

Many parents think theme parks are a must in any family holiday, but for us, it would have been sheer hell. My son doesn’t do well in noisy and crowded places, and is still too young to enjoy rides.

But just like his geeky parents, he loves parks, museums and art galleries. Which child wouldn’t love exploring a world of vehicles, animals or dinosaurs, or running free in wide, open spaces?

Even art galleries can be lots of fun, as many have children’s sections with interactive exhibits and activities. These activities can be as immersive as VR-enhanced scapes, or as simple as using colourful pool noodles to create art.

Dr Rajini reminds parents that holiday activities should suit everyone, so take into consideration how your older children may want to do different things than their younger siblings.

The key to enjoying all these activities is to prepare in advance, and to have contingency plans in case things go awry.

With a kid in tow, travelling will never be the same again. But you just have to be realistic — your holiday is no longer just about you.

Same goes for everything else in life, really.

Listen to the podcast ‘Occupied Children’ for tips on keeping children occupied during school holidays:

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