Top 5 Tips to Support Children Through Transitions & Travel

Traveling with children is an incredible opportunity to broaden their horizons, foster curiosity, and teach empathy. However, the disruptions to their routine and exposure to new environments can bring about big questions and emotions. Here are five strategies to support children through transitions during travel, help them navigate changes and meet moments of curiosity with growth and understanding.

1. Foster Open Conversations About Differences and Privilege

When traveling, children may notice differences in skin color, clothing, language, or living conditions that spark questions. As parents, it’s important to handle these moments with grace and openness:

Avoid Shaming Questions: If your child asks something that feels awkward or inappropriate, resist the urge to shut it down. Instead, say, “That’s a great question. Let’s talk about it.”
Provide Information: Explain what they’re observing in an age-appropriate way. For example, “People have different skin colors because of where their ancestors are from. Isn’t that amazing?”
Talk About Privilege: Use simple examples to help children understand privilege. For instance, “Not everyone has the same things we do, like a car or toys. That’s why it’s important to share and help when we can.”
Encourage Empathy: Teach your child to approach differences with curiosity and kindness. Ask questions like, “What do you think they love about their home?”

By normalizing these types of conversations, you help your child become more curious, compassionate and thoughtful about the world around them.

2. Build Flexibility into Their Routine

Travel often disrupts the structure kids rely on, which can lead to meltdowns or resistance. You can ease the transition by:

Maintaining Key Anchors: Stick to familiar routines like bedtime stories, snack breaks, or family check-ins, even in new environments.
Offering Predictability: Share the day’s plan in simple terms so they know what to expect. “After breakfast, we’re going to the museum, and then we’ll have ice cream!”
Teaching Adaptability: Remind them that things might not always go as planned and frame this as part of the adventure. “We missed the train, but now we get to see this cool park!”
For more on routines, check out our post on “7 Simple Travel Rituals For Creating Consistency”

3. Prepare Them for What They’ll See and Experience

New environments can be overwhelming, so preparing your child beforehand can help ease their transition:

Discuss Cultural Norms: Explain behaviors they might see, like how people greet each other, dress, or eat. “In this country, people use their hands to eat, and it’s totally normal!”
Frame Differences as Opportunities: Encourage them to view cultural differences as fascinating rather than strange. “Isn’t it cool that people have so many ways of living?”
Read Books or Watch Videos: Stories set in your destination can give kids context and make the unfamiliar feel exciting. I also really like this book for our 5 year old that answers important questions about race and skin color.
For more tips, on preparation and building resilience, check out our post “Top 7 Resilience Building Activities for Children While Traveling”

4. Help Them Navigate Big Emotions

Travel can bring up feelings of excitement, frustration, or homesickness. Equip your child with tools to process their emotions:

Validate Their Feelings: Acknowledge their emotions instead of dismissing them. “I know it’s hard to wait in line, but we’ll be on the train soon.”
Create a Comfort Kit: Pack small items that bring comfort, like a favorite stuffed animal, small novel toy, or a special snack.
Practice Mindfulness Together: Use simple breathing exercises or grounding techniques to help them calm down during stressful moments. Some of our family favorites are bear breathes and alternate nostril breathing.

5. Cultivate Curiosity Through Engagement

Travel offers endless opportunities for learning, so encourage your child to explore and ask questions:

Turn Questions Into Adventures: If your child asks about something new, explore it together. “You’re curious about that building? Let’s go see what it’s used for!”
Introduce Them to Local People: Let them interact with locals in kid-friendly ways, like learning a new word in the language or participating in a cultural activity.
Model Lifelong Learning: Show your own curiosity by sharing what excites you about the trip. “I love how brightly colored this market is. I’ve never seen one like it before. What do you think?”

Support Children Through Transitions & Travel: Final Thoughts

Supporting your child during travel isn’t just about keeping them happy—it’s about helping them grow into curious, empathetic individuals who embrace the world with open hearts and minds. By addressing big questions, easing transitions, and encouraging exploration, you can turn every journey into an opportunity for growth and connection.

What strategies have worked for you when traveling with kids? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to learn from your experiences!