How to travel to foreign countries with a child

Are you about to take that first trip to a foreign country with your child? Are you nervous about what to expect? If you're well-prepared, you need not be nervous. Over the years, I have lived in Thailand and Italy with my son and traveled to many other places such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland with him.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A journal
• A camera
• Medical supplies
• Language phrase book
• A smile and a good sense of humor

1. Aside from luggage, passports, money, and visas, the most important thing you can take with you on a trip with children is a sense of humor! Children sense when you are stressed...but if you can smile through difficult circumstances, you will help relax your child and make your trip so much easier. This is a great way to teach your child lessons in self-sufficiency, patience, kindness, and instill a sense of adventure that will help them to have a really incredible life!
2. Prepare your child in advance of what to expect. Before my son and I moved to Thailand, for example, we spent 15-20 minutes each day looking at pictures of Thailand online. I had him journal his feelings about the upcoming trip, as well. This helped him to process any nervous feelings he had and helped give me insight into his fears or areas of concern.
3. Teach your child some basic phrases. You can pick up phrase books or audio books at any bookstore such as Barnes and Noble or Borders -- or even your local library. The most important phrases I think a child can learn before going to a foreign country are:
   
   Hello; goodbye; thank you; please; I need a police officer; I'm lost; HELP! I don't know this person! (just in case); and I need a hospital.
4. I always have my son carry an identification card with his name, my name, my cell phone number, and my address, in case he gets lost and needs to notify a police officer of how to contact me. Better safe than sorry! I also prepare him by giving him a few dollars in local currency so that if he does get lost, he has money to get water or have someone help him make a phone call. Again, better safe than sorry! Our rule, by the way, is that if he gets lost, he does not approach random people on the streets, but instead he is to try to find a uniformed officer or, at the very least, go into a place of business with more than one person working there and ask for help.
5. Pack basic medicines. We always pack Pepto-Bismol, Advil (ibuprofen), and a basic first aid kit.
6. Give your child a camera and a journal and encourage them to document their trip. This will get them involved in the process and give them a way to be able to keep the memories of their trip alive for the rest of their life!

Tips & Warnings

• Be prepared!
• Don't worry!