Posted in General Blogs, tagged Dr. Suess, kids, places, travel quotes on January 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to a great place!
You’re off and away.
You have brains in your head.
You have feet on your shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
Posted in Educational Travel Activities, Travel Advice, tagged educational tools, illustrated journal, kids, nanny advice, secret weapon, sense of security, Travel Journal, travel tips, Weekly Calendar on January 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
This is my secret weapon. It is a traveling weekly calendar. I know it doesn’t look like much, but it is pure genius.
When Charles was three years old, it became clear that the disruption of his daily routine was difficult for him when we were traveling. He began throwing theatrical tantrums, clinging to mom and dad, refusing to eat, and had a difficult time sleeping. His frustration broke my heart. I needed a visual tool that could be used on our travels to create some sort of a schedule for him. Charles, like any child his age, had difficulty understanding the abstract notion of time. Trying to convey the idea of days, weeks and months was nearly impossible. Charles wanted to know when he was going to the zoo, having a playdate, switching locations, and eventually flying home. It was very challenging to explain the passing of time without a tangible example. Counting “how many sleeps” just wasn’t cutting it. The weekly calendar acted as a visual aid for him to envision the daily, weekly and monthly traveling schedule.
Like many children, Charles needs structure and routine to make him feel safe and comforted in an unfamiliar location. For example, he is very concerned with who is putting him to bed, myself or mom and dad. The calendar helps him visualize who is putting him down on a particular night, curly-haired Lizzy or straight-haired mommy (see above illustration). Simply knowing this comforts him and gives him a sense of control in our often-random schedule that accompanies travel. Not only does my secret weapon create structure through visual organization, it has become the cornerstone to all of our traveling art projects. It is creative, fun to fill out, and the end product is an illustrated travel journal.
How to make your own traveling secret weapon:
1. Bust out your trusty ruler and create a weekly calendar template. If you are traveling for a month, create 4 templates. The length of monthly calendars can be overwhelming for a young child, so keep the calendar limited to a week. A single page for each week is easy to visualize.
2. If possible, have your child print his/her name in bold letters at the top. This will create ownership of the calendar.
3. Fill in the sight-words. Monday-Friday, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Even if your child doesn’t read or is learning, they will begin to recognize these words (that is why they are called sight-words).
4. On the day or days of travel, draw the mode of transport (train, plane, car), write a destination word (L.A., London, Berlin) and draw the location to communicate this destination to your child. For example, if you are going to Paris, France draw a picture of the Eiffel Tower.
5. Draw bedtime (a bed) and illustrate who is putting the child down for bed (mom, dad, nanny or other).
6. While traveling, if your child gets tutored, goes to a school, or attends daycare at a particular time, write and draw this in as well.
7. The remaining space should be used to illustrate your child’s daily adventures. Depending upon the age of your child, the drawings can be done by you or him. If you are illustrating the calendar, he should tell you what to draw. This acts as a reminiscent exercise and encourages him to reflect on the happenings of the day’s events. You will discover what he deems as special and illustration-worthy. The finished product becomes like a journal entry.
Now, when your child asks, “When are we going home?” you can refer to the calendar and count the days, giving her a sense of time. If she is unsure of what the schedule is that day, go to the calendar to refresh her memory. The weekly calendar provides the child with a sense of security using a visual schedule, but the finished product is cherished and can be kept as a memento of your child’s travel experience.
Posted in Travel Advice, tagged family vacation, kids, nanny tips, packing advice, Stuffed animals, travel companions, travel tips on January 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Packing for a trip?…don’t forget to bring Mimi the Hedgehog. A beloved stuffed animal left behind can start your family vacation off all wrong. Stuffed animals are excellent traveling companions that don’t get hungry, whine, throw tantrums, have to find a bathroom seven minutes after you exited the last one, or ask the inevitable question, ‘Are we there yet?” These docile ‘stuffies’ can alleviate some of your child’s stresses and fears felt during travel. For little ones, stuffed animals are a little piece of home in a foreign place. They are a warm, tangible reminder of comfort and familiarity. Here are four suggestions when choosing which beloved stuffed toy should accompany your child on a family adventure.
1. Pick a small stuffed toy. Avoid the large overgrown, fluffy critters, such as Peanut the Elephant for obvious packing reasons.
2. Try to avoid bringing the most treasured of stuffed animals. It is always possible to misplace your child’s beloved stuffed friend. I made this mistake when Charles was two-years-old and we had to make a frantic, speedy purchase online. Then, had to explain that Puppy managed to get on a different flight a week later and in the meantime received a magical grooming experience that turned his tattered fur brilliantly white again. Tip: It may be helpful to explain to your child that their treasured stuffed animal has a very important job while you are away with travel. That job is to protect the rest of the animals in your absence, so his presence at home is crucial.
3. Make sure the chosen stuffed animal is washable! Inevitably, the much-loved toy will get dragged on the ground, showered with juice, smudged with chocolate, and tenderly dry your child’s tears and runny nose. Once home, you may want to wash the ‘proof’ of your adventures off of Speedy the Turtle.
4. Avoid the ‘stuffy’ that has mechanical devices inside. It may set off the metal detector at security in the airport or drive you absolutely bonkers in the car with your child’s musical bear repeating “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” over and over.
It’s crazy how easily a forgotten plush, furry critter can ruin your family vacation. Before you leave your house with your suitcases in hand, double check that Mimi the Hedgehog isn’t MIA.
Posted in Specific Destinations, tagged ceviche, Chocolate massage, cooking classes, Dolphins, Esencia, family vacation, guacamole, Holiday, kids, Mayan Riviera, Mexico, Nanny, sandcastle, yoga on January 18, 2009 | 2 Comments »
On a recent trip to the Mayan Riviera, Esencia, an elegant, discreet resort, became Charles, Jeff and my private little Mexican paradise. We played hard, ate well and learned the art of doing nothing in the sun. Due to consecutive fashion shoots, we ended up staying for almost 3 weeks, so there was ample time to try out all of the resort’s kid-friendly activities. Although most of Esencia’s amenities are designed for adults, the resort and surrounding area had lots to offer its littlest guests, like yoga sessions, cooking classes, horseback riding, boat fishing, snorkeling – even a chocolate massage!
The Beach:
The surf would change from day to day, sometimes powerful three-foot waves, but mostly smooth, lake-like water that was very safe for Charles to swim in. We spent hours collecting shells and unusual-looking coral for our sandcastle creations and became experts at relaxing on the shaded lounges in the powder white sand. Tip: You should bring sand toys since the hotel doesn’t have these items available. We bought ours at a flea market in Playa del Carmen about 5 minutes from the resort.
Pools:
When the surf was too intense for Charles, we headed to the pool located a few steps from the beach. There are two pools at Esencia, a lap pool and a shallow pool. We spent most of our time at the smaller pool that is roughly four-feet deep and has three steps that follow the length of the pool. The first step protrudes out about four feet into the water, which provides for a great place for babies to sit and play in the water as well.
Food:
I loved the food at the resort so much that I took home an unexpected souvenir – right around my middle! No matter how much I resisted, I couldn’t eat 
enough guacamole, ceviche, and chocolate cake, which is probably why a gym on the premises might have been beneficial. The hotel’s restaurant, Sal y Fuego, specializes in seafood and organically grown foods, with a focus on Meso-American cooking, a method that cooks meat in banana leaves below the earth. Each day was a new culinary adventure and after finishing one meal, we were planning our next or reminiscing about the meal before. The chef was so good to us, making sure Charles was happy with each of his specially prepared meals. Charles ate no-sauce pizza, buttered pasta, grilled fish, breaded chicken, french fries, and many varieties of fresh vegetables. He was always anxious to get his hands on a fruit smoothie, ice cream and the freshly baked cookies at teatime.
Cooking Class:
I highly recommend the cooking classes. Charles loved the cooking experience in the kitchen with the resident pastry chef, who was so patient with the four-year old eager participant. Charles’ face lit up every time we were off to another cooking class. He made guacamole and cookies for our group. With a white chef’s hat on his head, he emerged from the kitchen a proud artisan anxious to share his creations with us all.
Swimming with Dolphins:
On one of our excursions away from the resort, we swam with a dolphin named Connie at Puerto Aventuras, which is about 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen. You can choose from 3 different dolphin activities at this marina; get a dolphin kiss, ride on a pair of dolphins, or race across the surface with them. Charles was unsure at first, but eventually got into the water and touched the bottlenose dolphin as she swam by. He was amazed that she was so soft and couldn’t stop talking about his experience afterwards. http://www.puertoaventuras.com
Resort Address: Playa del Carmen 77710, Mexico; Contact Number (877) 528-3490; http://www.hotelesencia.com.
Posted in Specific Destinations, tagged Antigua, Beach, Bikes, Children's Center, Exclusive getaway, Holiday, Jumby Bay, kids, Nanny, Ping-pong, Pool, Sunsets, Tennis, Vacation on January 17, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Between the beach, the many sports activities and the Children’s Center, my job was a piece of cake at the kid-friendly Jumby Bay Resort. Its “no key” policy sums up the attitude at this laid-back, exclusive getaway, which treats its guests like family and has to-die-for sunset vistas. Here’s how little Charles and I kept ourselves busy when we weren’t gazing at the pristine water.
The Beach:
The beach is literally perfect for children of all ages to fool around, regardless of their swimming ability. The resort’s beach is in a bay, so there are no waves. Charles found it hilarious to lie on the wet shore and make sand angels. We dug holes deep enough to bury each other in and found some beautiful shells for some art projects we did at night. Tip: The resort has sand toys available for the beach. And the gift shop is fully stocked with beach balls, kites, activity books, postcards and more to keep your kids busy.
The Pool:
The lap pool would get a little crowded in the afternoon, so we spent our mornings here virtually alone. There is no shallow end for younger children or non-swimmers, so come prepared with proper floating devices if needed.
Bikes:
My favorite part of the resort was our daily bike rides. The resort offered bikes to guests (Charles had a red bike with training wheels, I chose a blue beach cruiser), which we used to explore the entire island – riding on the sand, dirt paths, paved roads and grass. Tip: There are two other beaches that can be reached by bikes that provide for a change of scenery and small waves, so bring towels and snacks and make a day of it.
Sporting Activities:
We were in sports heaven! Charles learned so many new games (in his eyes, croquet was the best sport EVER!) and we had a blast making up our own rules. We also learned that it’s way more fun to fetch a runaway ping-pong ball than hit it over the net. There’s also tennis, fishing, and a putting green.
Children’s Center:
The jungle gym and swings area was always the happening spot for Charles to make friends. The Children’s Center is a shaded, open-air, wooden structure that has many scheduled and impromptu activities that will keep any kid engaged and entertained. There were also board games and toys, art projects and movies. A true kid paradise, this was, hands-down, Charles’ favorite place. They even served snacks!
Food:
The restaurants at Jumby Bay offer children’s menu for both lunch and dinner (Charles ate fresh grilled fish, grilled chicken, chicken fingers, hot dogs, French fries, buttered pasta, and steamed vegetables.) The chef also will prepare food specially catered to your child’s individual tastes. Our favorite meal was the BBQ on the beach, complete with white tablecloths, candles, and steel drum music. The selections were endless and the deserts were unreal – Charles and I both indulged in the decadent chocolate cake and the silky smooth mousse. Speaking of sweet treats, teatime at the Estate House was another highlight of our days as we sampled all the desserts that were baked fresh daily. Delish!
*Note: Jumby Bay is undergoing a massive face-lift. The 14-month renovation project started June 6th. This Rosewood Resort location is adding a full-service spa, an infinity pool (with shallow end) and redoing many of the rooms.
Resort Address: P.O. Box 243, St. John’s, Antigua, West Indies; Contact Number: 268-462-6000; http://www.jumbybayresort.com.
Posted in Specific Destinations, tagged Aquarium, Dinosaurs, Dolphins, Family Travel, kids, Mallorca, Marineland, Nanny, Spain, Specific Destinations, Train on January 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
With over 300 days of sunshine a year, you can’t go wrong in choosing this island oasis for your family beach vacation. In one week, we discovered so many gems in Mallorca. Here are my favorites:
El Valle De los Dinosaurious: (www.elvalledelosdinosaurios.es) This place is truly magical and mind-blowing, so go — especially if you have kids who love dinosaurs or the idea of a safari adventure. The park truly transport you back to the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Tip: Bring your imagination, walking shoes, camera and food! The snack bar toward the end has snacks and sweets, but nothing substantial or healthy.
Palma Aquarium: (www.palmaaquarium.com) This is by far the BEST aquarium I have ever been to – and being a nanny, believe me, I’ve been to my fair share. We spent three hours here and loved every minute. The pristine marine habitats, the touch tanks and the turtle beach were super cool, but nothing beat the huge pirate ship playground! Tip: Skip the informal eating area and make your way to the Panthalassa Restaurante at the Aquarium, where you can enjoy a fabulous panoramic view of the harbor.
Marineland: (www.marineland.es/marineland/mallorca/index.php) Head to Marineland if you want to be entertained by mammals that swim and soar through the air. The marine zoo is quite small and isn’t much of a draw, but the dolphin show is a must-see, so make sure to go online and check out show times before you arrive.
Soller Train: The Soller Train is a great excursion for the entire family. Leave the rental car behind and take a leisurely and charming train ride that covers 16 miles in a little over an hour. The narrow-gauge track winds through enchanting landscapes. While your kids excitedly count the 13 tunnels, you can sit back and relax in your plush leather seat with picturesque scenery sliding past the window. Check http://www.trendesoller.com for complete timetables.
La Reserva: (www.lareservaaventur.com) For the athletic family outing, the Park, or “La Reserva,” is a superb hiking destination. Daring families can get their rush from the zip wire, rock climbing, repelling, canoeing, and swimming near a waterfall. You can pack food to BBQ yourself or lunch can be served at the tables if you wish. There is also a children’s playground, which is clearly old but still functional, located between the park entrance and exit.
