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Getting Kids Ready to Go

© Lain Ehmann

Half the fun of any vacation is anticipating the big day. I remember when my brothers, sister and I would pore over maps and brochures, charting our journey before we'd stepped foot on the plane or in the car.

Little did we know that we were also exercising our minds. We were learning geography by examining maps of the state and the nation in minute detail. We were stretching our mathematical skills by calculating what souvenirs we'd buy with the $20 or so our parents would "grant" us. And we were using our imaginations, playing out the entire vacation - be it beach or Disneyland - in our heads. No matter that our fantasies had little resemblance to reality; the mere fact that we were able to experience the vacation not once, but multiple times, made it all the sweeter.

You can help your own kids discover the joys of vacation planning, too. Not only will it keep them out of your hair as you try to figure out how to cram seven days' worth of clothing into two large suitcases, it'll also keep their school skills sharp. Here are a few ideas to get you going:

Request information beforehand. Visit the Triple A, or call or write the local Chamber of Commerce in the town you're visiting and request a visitor's packet. You'll be rewarded with more information - brochures, maps, etc. - than you'll know what to do with. Sit the kids down with this stack and have them each make a list of three things they'd like to visit while you're in town.

Work their math skills. Sneak in a little "good for you" material for older kids by asking them to figure out how long it will take you to get to your destination by car, plane, and train. They can visit websites for airlines (www.travelocity.com or www.expedia.com are two good choices) and for Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) to search for timetables. Then ask them to prepare a chart showing the time and cost for various methods. Don't forget gasoline, and pit stops!

Take to the Web. Once you've booked your vacation, spend some time online as a family. Most hotels now have websites with photos of the all-important kid stuff like pools and playgrounds; show them where you're going and what your room will look like. If there's an online menu, have them pick out the first meal they'll eat once they've arrived. You can even see a seating chart of the airplane on some sites (see above) and scope out exactly where you'll be sitting!