Written by Dr. Calli Studebaker of Confident Kids Therapy
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If you're like us, you're probably wondering: How do I make traveling with kids less stressful?
Traveling with kids isn’t always easy. It can feel stressful and exhausting—but it’s absolutely worth it. The good news? With the right preparation, you can make family travel days smoother, calmer, and even fun.
As a pediatric occupational therapist (and a parent who’s been there), I’m here to share tips and tricks that actually work.
Does your child get overwhelmed in loud, busy spaces? Do transitions like moving from the car to the airport gate feel like uphill battles? Do meltdowns and fatigue leave you wondering if you’re doing it “right”? If you said yes to any of those—this post is for you.
With a little preparation and the right tools, you can help your child feel calm, confident, and even enjoy travel. Let’s break it down.
Before the Trip: Preparing Kids for Family Travel
Parents often ask: “How do I prepare my child for travel so they don’t get overwhelmed?” The answer is to combine predictability with sensory prep. Here's how!
The more you prepare your child (and yourself!) before travel day, the smoother the experience. You know what lies ahead but your child likely doesn’t so the more we can prepare their from a cognitive, sensory, and physical perspective, the better the days ahead will go.
Use a Social Story
Create a simple story with pictures about where you’re going, how you’ll get there, and what to expect. Kids love predictability, and this helps reduce the “unknowns.” Social stories like the one from Mimu & Me provides easy to understand stories, allows your child interact with the story, and helps prepare them for what is to come.
Visual Schedule for Travel Day
Draw or print out a simple schedule (car 🚙 → airport security 🛫 → waiting area 🪑 → boarding ✈️). Let your child cross off each step. Visual schedules provides predictability for your child, decreases their questions, and gives them autonomy over their day. The schedule provided by Mimu & Me in their travel bags is perfect for busy travel days and keeps things simple and accessible.
Sensory Prep Time
Give your child opportunities for big body play (jumping, climbing, biking, running, etc) the day before or morning of the trip. Proprioceptive input (jumping, climbing, pushing, pulling) helps regulate their nervous system before long stretches of sitting. Vestibular input (running, swinging, balancing) fills up their nervous system with input while the proprioceptive input helps to calm and regular their nervous system. Each person’s nervous system is different so knowing your child’s unique needs will be important for this step.
Pretend Play Practice
Play “airport” at home! Pack a bag, pretend to go through security, sit at a pretend gate, and board a “plane” (the couch works great). This playful practice makes the real thing feel less overwhelming.
Travel Day: Calming Tools for Kids
You’re packed and ready to go! But travel days naturally come with stressors—for both kids and parents. It’s just as important to regulate your own nervous system as it is your child’s. Take a deep breath, and try these strategies:
Keep That Visual Schedule Handy
A picture guide of each step of the day helps kids know what’s coming and reduces anxiety. Go through the schedule the day before and morning of so they are familiar with what is to come. After each step take that piece off their schedule.
Movement & Sensory Input Before Boarding
Wall push-ups, animal walks, stretching, or a quick walk around the terminal. These prep the body for stillness during the flight or car ride.
Pack Smart with Your Mimu & Me Calm Kit
Our calm travel kits for toddlers and preschoolers are designed with calming, sensory-friendly tools that look like play but are carefully chosen to support regulation on-the-go. Think fidgets, lacing cards, and calming activities—all in one grab-and-go bag.
Connection Time
Even five minutes of undivided attention before boarding can make a huge difference. Put the phone away, make eye contact, play a quick game, or just let them talk. When kids feel seen, they’re more likely to stay regulated.
During the Flight or Road Trip
Now you’re en route! Here’s how to keep things calm in tight quarters:
Offer Movement Breaks
When safe, walk the aisle or encourage “heavy work” in the seat: squeezing putty, pressing palms together, pushing feet into the floor, pushing hands together. This provides the input our nervous systems often crave when we sit still for too long.
Use Deep Pressure
Weighted lap (backpack), firm hugs, leaning into you, or wrapping in a blanket. Deep pressure is grounding and calming—perfect for turbulence or long stretches of waiting.
Rotate Activities
Switch every 15–20 minutes: snack → coloring → fidget → story. This prevents restlessness (and screen-time battles). Your Mimu & Me kit makes this easy with built-in rotation-ready activities.
Visual Cues & Mini Routines
Use sticky notes with small timelines (takeoff → snack → play → landing) or finger counting (“three more steps until we board”). Predictability leads to calm.
During Your Trip: Keeping Kids Regulated
You made it! If you've ever wondered "How do I help my child adjust to a new hotel or environment?" - we've got pointers! Once you arrive, here’s how to keep your child regulated throughout your stay:
Stick to Routines When Possible
Keep familiar rhythms—morning checklist, snack times, bedtime routine. Even little consistencies help kids feel secure.
Calm Time with Your Mimu & Me Kit
Hotel downtime can be tricky—kids are overstimulated but need quiet. Pull out your travel kit: quiet sensory play, fine motor activities, and calming tools built right in.
Prioritize Movement
Jumping on the hotel bed, hallway races, resistance band tug-of-war, playground visits—all great ways to release energy and reset.
Pack a Sleep Kit
Bring along a lovey, white noise, favorite books, and maybe even your child’s pillowcase from home. Familiar comforts ease bedtime in new places.
Final Thoughts
Travel days will have their bumps—that’s normal. But with preparation, sensory tools, and a calm connection, you can turn stress into smoother transitions and even fun memories.
That’s exactly why we created the Mimu & Me Calm Travel Kit for kids: an expert-designed, sensory-friendly travel bag that makes family travel less stressful and more enjoyable.