For the first time ever, we are spending Christmas away from home, 8,000+ miles away from in a country where Christmas is not a traditional holiday. We have spent the holiday in New Jersey, but that was with family and we all had the same holiday traditions. When we first brought up the idea, the kids were hesitant. They wanted to go to India, but be away for Christmas? Their favorite time of year? Even for me it was cause of anxiety. It’s okay for all of us to feel a mix of excitement and homesickness for missing the traditions we are used to. But this trip is about reconnecting with the other side of our traditions and creating new memories and maybe even new traditions. Here we are going to talk about practical tips to help get you and your family ready for Christmas in a new place and create new travel-friendly traditions.
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Preparing Kids of All Ages for the Change
Every age has a different way they might react to this change. Here are a few things to think about for each age group.
Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 1–4):
- This age responds well to storytelling and pictures. You can use storytelling to help them understand what is happening. Talk about going on the plane and read them “Monsters Don’t Fly on Airplanes” to teach them about plane etiquette. Show them pictures of places you will go and things you will see.
- Let them choose one toy or one special ornament to pack to help bring a piece of home with them.
- Make sure to stick to the regular nap and bedtime routines as closely as possible. Use familiar blankets and routines. Keeping the routine as close as possible to make the transition better.
For School-Aged Children (Ages 5–10):
- This age loves to have a job and help. So make sure to give them one. They can be a “Holiday Activity Coordinator,” “Snack Packer,” or “Road Trip DJ.” Giving them control helps ease anxiety.
- This age group also loves visuals. Use Google Maps and the internet to see where you’re going and what the accommodation and surrounding area will look like. Talk about how the holiday will look different and what will be the same.
- Encourage the kids to bring a small notebook to start a Travel Holiday Journal of the new memories you make. You can write, draw pictures, or even collect and paste in postcards.
For Tweens & Teens (Ages 11+):
- Involve them in planning. Let them plan a non-holiday activity they’ll enjoy (like a hike, a museum, or a restaurant choice) and a holiday activity they enjoy, showing you value their opinion.
- Make sure that you have a way for the teens to communicate with their friends back home. They crave that friend connection at this time.
- Make sure to dedicate some downtime each day. They need that me-time to decompress from the day, text, and Video Chat with their friends, etc.
- Reassure them this trip is not about stress but connection. If a favorite tradition can’t be done, it’s an opportunity to relax or do something new instead!
Bringing Comfort
The holidays are full of old and new traditions that your kids (and let’s face it, you as well) value. Bringing comfort and traditions from home will help ease the pain of being away and ease you into the new place.
- Consider a small candle or oil diffuser that has a scent that reminds you of home.
- Create a playlist of your favorite holiday tunes and play them at your hotel, Airbnb or wherever you are staying. It reminds you that the holidays are everywhere.
- Do you and your family do matching Christmas PJs? Bring them along! They pack well and you can all snuggle together and take your traditional photo no matter where you are.
- If you need decorations, consider bringing along some easy decorations. You can bring a string of battery-operated lights or a few ornaments that are important to your family. We decided to bring along our stockings this year, so we have them to look at and open on Christmas morning.
Start New, Travel-Friendly Traditions
When away during the holidays it is a wonderful way to explore and try new travel-friendly traditions that you can add to your holidays in the future. Some things to consider:
- Check out the local traditions. If you are in Europe, explore the Christmas Markets. In Australia? Do a BBQ on the beach on Christmas day. In India, New Years is a big holiday, so we are excited to check out all the fireworks shows over the beach. It’s a great way to be involved and learn more about where you are.
- Consider experience gifts instead of things this holiday. We love to gift our kids tickets to shows or cool experiences they can have 1-1 with a parent. My oldest and I went on a GoCar tour of San Francisco as a present one year, while another we all went to see a Broadway production of &Juliet. Experiences don’t have to be wrapped and don’t take up space in your suitcase but provide so much value.
- You can do a Holiday Movie Night. Pack your favorite Christmas Movie DVD or stream it and bring or buy some popcorn. Have a night at home where you watch together and have some of the holiday with you.
- Consider doing Video Chat time with family back home on the holiday so you can open gifts together or wish each other a happy holiday.
Being away for the first time for the holidays can be hard at any age, from 2 to 62. But it is a great way to help everyone learn that what makes the holidays special is not where you are but who you are with. It’s the traditions you make for yourself. Pack the ornament, the decorations, and your thirst for new adventures. That is what will make this holiday wonderful.
Edited by: SKS
* Starred Photos taken by Atma Photography
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