When friends and family call me crazy for
traveling with my toddler and preschooler to cities like Chicago, New
York, and Toronto, I just laugh. My kids have munched on picnic treats
while watching the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Millennium Park,
clambered up the monkey bars in the shadow of the arch in Washington
Square Park and peered through the glass floor on the observation deck
of the CN tower. Though it wasn’t always easy navigating the city
streets with two little ones in tow, it was well worth the trouble. I
had a fantastic time and I could tell from the way they talked about
the trips for months afterward that my kids had a great time too.
The city is full of fun and educational activities for children. From
skyscrapers to top-notch museums, kids can see and experience things
that are simply unavailable in small towns. Though city travel with
small children can be challenging, with careful planning and attention
to detail everyone can have a good time. Here are a few tips to help
the trip go smoothly:
Take a stroller. Even if it’s been a
while since your child has used a stroller, you’ll be glad you brought
it. City trips tend to involve a good deal of walking from spot to spot
and a little one can tire out easily. With a stroller he can ride in
comfort and you won’t worry about losing him in a crowd. I’ve found
that the inexpensive umbrella strollers work much better than the
large, heavy-duty strollers complete with food trays and cup holders.
Umbrella strollers fold up smaller and are lighter, making them more
convenient for toting up and down flights of stairs or carrying onto
the subway.
Make frequent stops at playgrounds. The
best part of visiting a city can be simply strolling around, popping
into unusual shops, watching the people and enjoying the city energy.
Remember that while your toddler or preschooler might be very patient,
he’s got his limits. I’ve found that stopping to play for a few minutes
at playgrounds that we happen upon is a great way for the little ones
to work some of their energy off. They also love the novelty of playing
on different equipment than the same old stuff found at the parks back
home.
Bring a travel pack of wipes. Even if
you’re not a germ nazi, you’ll be glad you did. Those city playgrounds,
banisters and benches can be extremely dirty, but after cleaning the
little one’s hands up with a wipe you’ll feel more comfortable about
letting her dig into a tasty hot dog from a street vendor.
Choose your eateries carefully. If
you’re eating at a nice sit-down restaurant, make sure it’s noisy
enough to absorb your child’s prattle. I learned that one the hard way
when, tired out from our long drive, we decided to eat at our Chicago
hotel’s in-house restaurant, the kind of place with a hushed atmosphere
and waiters in white gloves hovering about. Naturally my two-year-old
decided to belt out the “itsy-bitsy-spider” over and over again. We
wound up having the meal sent up to our room. The next night we chose a
popular, lively Italian restaurant where the little guy was no louder
than anyone else in the place.
Plan activities for kids. Big cities
offer all sorts of interesting and educational activities for children
of all ages. Do a little research online and in guidebooks ahead of
time to find a few age appropriate sights for your child. Has it been
over twenty years since you took part in any of these activities
yourself? You just might find yourself enjoying seeing the
tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at the natural history museum and watching
the polar bears glide through the water at the zoo.
Plan activities for adults. Destinations
like art museums can still be on the agenda, but keep in mind your
child’s limitations and be ready to cut the outing short if need be.
Try to engage him at the art museum. Ask questions like: “What do you
see in that picture? Do you see a boat? What picture do you like best
in this room?” Visit any children’s exhibits the museum might have and
ask at the information desk which exhibits are the biggest hits for
kids.
Take the bus or subway. Mass transit
is an adventure for a small town kid. After the trip is over, he’ll
talk about it as much as the dinosaur bones. Try to avoid traveling at
rush hour, though, when the sardine can atmosphere might be
overwhelming for a little one.
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