On-board entertainment for traveling kids

One of the best new-fangled additions (apart from smoke-free flights) to long-haul air-travel since I started flying many years ago, are the personal entertainment screens. In the olden days, of course, we all had to watch the same movies on one screen somewhere at the front of the cabin, instead of having a selection of movies on the screen in the seat-back in front of you.

I can't even imagine traveling like that today. Having my kids watch movies and kids' shows on their individual screens on board has helped them (and me!) pass the time on many long flights over the years. The only problem I've run into with it are that the headphones given out on board are often too big and not very comfortable for children. This is why I now bring two sets of kids' sized headphones on our flights.

Another problem can be the design of the remote connected to the screen. Many airlines use a touch-screen, but KLM has a remote control that attaches to the inside of your arm-rest. I don't really mind the remote, but the way it's attached to the seat means that it's very easy to accidentally hit pause, play or something else simply by moving around. On the other hand, the remote makes it possible for the kids to play games, and that definitely added some entertainment value to our flight with KLM.

Finding new favorites on board
Sometimes there are movies on-board there that the kids have watched before, but I've found that often they end up discovering new favorites when we travel. Here are some of the movies and kids' shows they've discovered "in flight":


Megamind
My kids spent an entire 8+ hour flight watching this movie over, and over, and over again. They'd never seen it before, and I hadn't either. Of course we had to get it once we came home, and it's been in steady rotation ever since. Definitely a funny one!


Madagascar
This movie was a couple of years old by the time my kids watched it on board a plane. Both of them loved it. And again: we ended up getting it once we came home. (I think I now know why it's a good thing for movie companies to get their films to play on flights!).


Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaurs
We had already seen the earlier Ice Age movies, but had somehow missed this instalment until we caught it on a flight. If your kids are into dinosaurs (like my kids are), then this is probably a sure-fire hit.


Miffy
This little bunny, originally from Holland, became my daughters absolute favorite last time we flew KLM. Next time we travel through Schiphol, I might have to pick up one of those Miffy-dolls for her too.


Classic Donald Duck cartoons
On one of our long flights, they showed a selection of old Donald Duck cartoons as one of the kids' options and my son picked that to watch for almost the entire flight. Once we got home, we dug out our old classic Donald collection from the DVD-shelf where it had been all but forgotten for a few years.


Lazytown
This show, created by Icelandic gymnast Magnus Scheving (who also stars in it as the super-hero Sportacus), looks pretty crazy: big rubber-faced puppets interact with a few human actors in the bright-colored world of Lazytown. My daughter (4 years old at the time) absolutely fell in love with it when we traveled with Iceland Air last year. I spent the flight watching it without any sound on her screen and found that to be a rather trippy experience. However, it's a fun kids' show with a great message about eating healthy and being active.


Wallace & Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Inventor Wallace and his intelligent dog Gromit have been two of my favorite animated characters ever since I saw A Grand Day Out at a short film festival many, many years ago. It was great to see my kids share that love after they watched this movie on a flight. Since then, they've also become fans of the other Wallace & Gromit movies: The Wrong Trousers, and A Close Shave. All the movies are available together on Blu-Ray in Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Collection.

Flying with kids: passing time at the airport

Long flights can be an endurance test for parents and children: cramped quarters, limited mobility, lots of people all around and no privacy. But in my own experience, waiting in airports can be just as much of an endurance test, and worst of all: you're not even going anywhere, you're just waiting for a flight.

However, there are some things you can do to try to make this time spent in airports a little easier for you and your children. Here are some of my tips:

Preparation
This is one of my favorite tips to make everything about flying with kids better: prepare your kids and yourself for what's going to happen by talking to them about it in some detail. In this case, tell them before you travel that you will have to wait at the airport for your flight (or flights). Also explain to them about some of the things that will take place at the airport: check-in, security, lining up at the gate, and so on. Even just a little bit of this kind of preparation can go a long way!

For example, if your kids haven't travelled by plane before, they might assume that you will just immediately hop on your plane and go as soon as you get to the airport. In my experience, it will be a lot easier for them and you to handle waiting at the airport if they have some idea of what to expect when you're there.

Give yourself enough time (if possible)
Going through an airport these days can take a lot of time, especially if you're traveling abroad. Lineups for check-in, security, passport control, and at the gate can really add up. While it's no fun being stuck for too long in an airport with kids, it's no fun having to rush like crazy through the airport either if you have your children with you. (My kids usually do not react well to rushing!)

Try to have enough time that you can deal with stuff like unplanned bathroom breaks, diaper changes, and extra-long lineups at security, without having to go nuts. This means arriving in good time at the airport for your first flight, and booking connecting flights that leave you some wiggle-room, if possible. (I usually like 1 1/2-2 hours between connecting flights, though I have managed on less than that with the kids too.)

Make sure everyone eats and drinks
Hungry and thirsty kids are no fun at the airport or anywhere else. And with the stress of flying, and possible time-zone changes, might mean that your kids don't eat or drink when they need to do so. This might end up causing tantrums or meltdowns, or just general whining.

Make sure you have snacks with you for your kidst, or pick something up at the airport. Also make sure they have something to drink at regular intervals. It sounds simple, but it's not always easy to remember such simple things when you're rushing around and trying to make sure you get to where you're going on time. Quick pit stops for snacks and drinks can do wonders.

Also, if you are breastfeeding, it might be more comfortable for you to feed your baby at the airport where you'll have more room and more privacy than on board. On the other hand, breastfeeding your baby on board helps with ear pressure, and might help them sleep too!

Watch the action
One great way to spend time at the airport with your kids is to find a good spot to sit, and just let them watch the airplanes and vehicles on the tarmac. For some kids, this is all they need to pass the time while you're waiting. Seat yourself where you can keep an eye on them while maybe having a coffee or snack, or at least somewhere you can sit comfortably for a while. Being close to the bathrooms never hurts either if you're traveling with kids.

Find the play room
If you're really lucky, the airport you're in will have a play area. Ask at an information desk, or grab a map of the airport (they're usually available from a stand somewhere) and try to locate it. In my opinion, every airport should have a play area, and they should all be equipped with comfy seats for parents, and have roomy bathrooms fitted with change tables nearby.

Nap
If you're traveling with older kids, napping might be out of the question at the airport, unless you've been doing some long-haul travel and your kids are really exhausted. But if you're traveling with an infant, or if your older child is really tired, one good way to spend time at the airport is to find a quiet spot and let them take a nap.

An infant might sleep in your arms, on a blanket on the floor, in a stroller, or on a seat next to you. For an older child finding some seats for them to stretch out on can work too. If possible, find a quiet area near your departure gate, so you can get to your flight easily once it's time to go.  

Break out some easy, non-messy activities
Sit down at a cafe, or at the gate, or wherever else there's room for you and the kids and bring out some activities and games. Sticker books, coloring books, memory games, paper and crayons, books to read, hand-held games... anything that is easy to pack in your hand luggage and won't be too messy is great. My personal preferences right now is reading books on my Kindle to the kids, or letting them play with sticker books.

Play games
Playing games with your kids can be a great way to pass the time when you're waiting at the gate or in any line-up. You can do finger-plays with little kids, do "I Spy" with older ones, or tell knock-knock jokes (I'm wary of these right now since the 5-year old is in a "toilet-words-are-hilarious! phase).

Other ideas: have the kids do some Simon Says, or have them scavenge for planes of a particular color, or find a certain number of trucks or buses. Look at the baggage handlers and try to spot your own suitcases, or see who can spot suitcases of a certain color first. And hey, there's always smart-phone apps, iPads, or why not that old-school classic: rock, paper, scissors!

Traveling with kids in Sweden: 6 places I want to go

Yesterday there was some big royal news coming out of my old home-country Sweden: crown princess Victoria (future queen of Sweden) gave birth to a baby girl. I'm no royalist, but I can be happy for any family welcoming a new baby.

Since I have lots of family and friends in Sweden, my kids have visited that country quite a few times already. Still, there are a lot of places they (and I!) haven't seen yet. So, inspired by the royal birth-news out of Sweden, here's a list of 6 Swedish places I would love to visit with my my kids.

Uppsala Castle. Photo by David Castor.

1. Uppsala
Uppsala is a university town with a lot of history. There's Uppsala castle (built in the 16th century), Uppsala cathedral (built in the 13th century), several university buildings dating back to medieval times, and a lot of other buildings that are centuries old throughout downtown Uppsala. It's lively place, full of students and lots to see and do. I spent some time studying in Uppsala a long time ago, and loved it there.

I'd like to take my kids to Ofvandahls (a cafe serving delicious baked goods in a fancy setting), to Carl Linneaus Garden, and just walk with them on the cobblestone streets around the cathedral and along Fyrisån, the creek that goes through Uppsala. Another must-see destination I'd take the kids to is Old Uppsala, a small village outside Uppsala. In ancient times a temple dedicated to the Norse gods stood there, and there are several burial mounds, or barrows, from the 5th and 6th century AD. It's also a very beautiful place to go for a walk, or just run around in the grass if it's sunny.

Visby, Gotland, Sweden. Photo by Karl Brodowsky.

2. Gotland
Gotland is a Swedish island located in the Baltic, between Sweden and Finland. It has been an important place in Scandinavian history, and has a rich history going back to the Middle Ages and beyond. I've never been there, but friends and family who have visited say it's a very special, and very beautiful place.

There are beaches for swimming, there's the island's main town Visby with a lot of medieval history still present, roads and trails perfect for biking and hiking, several nature reserves, and more. I think a biking holiday here would be a lot of fun with the kids in a couple of years.

The sailing ship Viking in downtown Göteborg. Photo by p g henning.

3. Gothenburg
Göteborg, or Gothenburg,  is the second largest city in Sweden. It sits on the country's west coast, by the mouth of the river Göta Älv, and also has a large seaport. This is the city where I was born, though I grew up in Skellefteå in northern Sweden. My kids (and even my husband!) haven't visited this city yet, but I'd love to take them there.

Must-sees include the amusement park Liseberg (with an awesome roller-coaster), the archipelago, the seafood market Feskekörka, and much more. I know most people who go to Sweden end up visiting Stockholm, which is also a great city, but Gothenburg is well worth a look too!

Kolmården Wildlife Park entrance. Photo by Zoostar.

4. Kolmårdens Wildlife Park
Kolmården is gigantic zoo, much of it featuring animals in fenced-in outdoor areas rather than cages. There are regular farm animals, wild Scandinavian animals, and also more exotic species like tigers, rhinos, dolphins, monkeys, elephants, wild birds and more. Several of my friends have visited Kolmården with their kids and speak highly of it. This park is located south of Stockholm, and is a popular destination with Swedes and tourists, especially in summer.

Lake Fagertjärn in Tiveden. Photo by EAMan.

5. Tiveden National Park
Tiveden is a protected area of old-growth forest located in the southern part of Sweden. There are 25 km of trails in the park, and lots of stuff to see and do. You can go swimming in one of the lakes inside the park, for example lake Skagern which has a sandy beach and is very child-friendly. There's a cave with a fresh-water spring, many interesting geological features, and a wealth of bird, animal and plant life. This is definitely a place where I'd love to go hiking with my kids!

The Kungsleden trail, seen from its highest point, the Tjäkta Pass. Photo by Nattfodd.

6. Kungsleden
Kungsleden is a very famous hiking trail (almost 400 km long!) in the northern Swedish mountains. It goes between Hemavan and Abisko, and takes you through some amazing scenery with rivers and brooks, mountains and valleys. There are huts and cabins along the way, or you can rough it by camping in the wilderness.

All photos via Wikimedia.

Visiting Granville Island, Vancouver: 12 fun things to do with kids

Granville Island with all its boutiques, public food market, marina, cafes and restaurants, is a must-see for tourists visiting Vancouver. It's also a great place to take the kids if you're a local, and it's definitely one of my family's favorite spots around town.

Here are 12 things we love to do on Granville Island.

View from Granville Island, on a foggy day.

1. Visit the Kids Market - This building is full of very cool shops for kids: kids' clothing, toys, puppets, shoes, crafts of every kind. Some of the shops are a bit pricey, but many also carry items that are worth the extra dollars. There's also an indoor playground with slides, climbing equipment and more.

2. Walk around Granville Island - There's a walkway that goes around Granville Island and gives a nice view of False Creek, downtown, and the marina. On a sunny day it makes for a great walk and some nice photos.

3. Stop at the playground & water-park - Last time I checked out Granville Island's playground with the kids, most of it was cordoned off. Apparently it's undergoing some major renovations and will open again with a lot of new, fun equipment. Right next to the playground is the water-park, which makes for a fun stop in the summer.

4. Browse the rocks and minerals at Crystal Ark - This shop is located right across from the Kids Market, by the pond. If your kids (or you!) are at all into geology, fossils, rocks, shiny stones or anything like that, then this place is well-worth a visit.

5. Buy dinner & dessert - The Public Market has some fantastic produce: everything from vegetables, fruit and berries, bread and pastries, olives and soups, to shellfish, fresh pasta and meat. It's a lot of fun to go shopping for some groceries to bring home and make a meal out of.

6. Have some food or a snack - The food court in the Public Market is a fantastic place to go for a meal or a snack: as long as you can find a table to sit down at! There's a wide variety of foods available: Mexican, Greek, Japanese, Chinese, Ukrainian, Indian... and burgers and pizza too. Restaurants like Bridges and The Keg are great choices too. Prices can be higher than off Granville Island, but it's worth it for a treat.

7. Go for ice cream - There's several places to go for ice cream on Granville Island. Our favorite place for coffee, tea, baked goods as well as ice cream is GI Gelato & Coffee House in Creekhouse.

8. Enjoy the scenery - Watch the water as the boats go by, listen to buskers playing music and watch the street performers do their thing. Let your kids freak out and get freaked out by the sea gulls. Hang out on a bench in the sunshine. These are just some great ways to enjoy Granville Island for free.

9. Head into Dragonspace - This boutique in Creekhouse is stuffed to the brim with all sorts of dragons, fairies, Celtic symbols, and other weird and wonderful things. I avoid this place usually because my kids have very busy fingers, and there are a lot of breakable items, but if your kids are older (or calmer!) than mine, then this is a sweet spot to visit.

11. Try on hats - Edie Hats, located in the building called The Net Loft across from the Public Market, is a very cool little store. You can find hats of every kind (and then some!) in here.

12. Experience Native arts & crafts - Native art and crafts can be seen and purchased at several stores on Granville Island, for example Wickaninnish Gallery. There is also a space near Creekhouse where Native carvers work on things like canoes, totem poles, and wooden sculptures. If you're lucky, you will catch some of the craftsmen in action. Otherwise, you will at least be able to see some of their works in progress.

Flying with kids: 6 great carry-on items

When traveling by plane with kids, it's a good idea to be as organized as possible. This is especially true when your kids are younger, and not yet able to have their own carry-on. This is the time when you may be carrying a lot of items: diapers, bottles, wipes, changes of clothes, baby food, and so on.

Here are 6 items that could make your time on board easier:


1. Okkatots Travel Baby Depot Backpack Bag 
My kids are out of diapers by now, but just reading the list of features makes me wish I'd had this when they were still in diapers on flights:

• Diaper station with soft changing pad, removable wipe dispenser, and dispenser for sixteen diapers
• Insulated pocket holds six full-size baby bottles
• Easy-access Pacifier Pouch keeps pacifiers clean and dry
• Outside pocket securely holds DVD player for viewing then zips and stores easily when done- Note:
• Machine-washable laundry bag locks in moisture to keep everything else dry

And all in a backpack, which frees up your hands. Even now, when my kids are 5 and 9, I definitely prefer flying with a backpack for that very reason: I can carry my stuff on my back, and use my hands to help them out if they need it.

2. SwissGear ScanSmart Laptop Backpack

I travel with a backpack very similar to this one now, and I love it. It has a multitude of pockets inside and out, making it easy to stay organized (or at least try to), and the separate laptop compartment is really nice. I haven't yet met a security screener that would let my laptop stay in the backpack, even though hypothetically they could according to TSA rules, but at least the laptop is nicely protected and easy to access. The backpack is roomy, feels durable and the straps are comfy: I carry enough weight when traveling with my kids that this really matters!


3. Travelon Slim-Line Messenger-Style Shoulder Bag
I like to keep all travel documents, money, and credit cards on me at all times when I travel with the kids. This means I don't even want to put them down in the bathroom: it's just too easy to forget stuff behind when you've got children to pay attention to, flights to catch, and all sorts of things on your mind. So passports, credit cards, money, printouts of e-tickets or my itinerary, and my cell-phone go into a small bag I keep on me all the time. This bag is small enough to be easy to carry, but big enough to hold everything it needs to. It also has zippers so that nothing can accidentally fall out.


4. Peace Sign Rolling Blue Backpack
My kids love their wheeled backpacks when we travel. For kids, it can often be easier to pull their own stuff than to carry it on their back. It's a good idea to pick a kids' backpack of decent quality, since a carry-on will take have to withstand some handling, squishing, stuffing, and occasionally even some stomping.


5. Alex Car Valet 
This carrying-case with a fold-out table was designed for car travel, but can be very handy on board an airplane as well. Pens, crayons, papers, pencils, and other supplies can all be kept together and tidied up quickly. Put a sticker book and a coloring book in there too, and you have a great activity set for a child traveling by car or plane (or any other way!). It can either be used as a carry-on by itself, or it can be put into a backpack or other bag to bring along.


6. The First Years Deluxe Fold and Go Diapering Kit
Changing diapers on board an airplane, or when you're on the go in an airport or anywhere else, can be a challenge. Sometimes you can't find a change table, and even if you do, you might not feel that great about putting your baby on that bare plastic. Bringing along a diaper-changing pad can make things easier for you and more comfortable for your baby as well. This kit folds up nice and small and can easily be packed into a carry-on.

Photographic memories: Maui with kids

It's been a cold, wet day here on Canada's west coast, and I find myself really, really thinking about warm, sandy places. Like Maui for example. Our trip there in 2009 was one of the best trips I've ever gone on, anywhere, and I would love to go back: the sooner the better!

Here are some of my family's photographic memories from that holiday.

Baby Beach, aka Pu'unoa beach, just outside Lahaina. This was a great beach to take the kids, who were then 6 and 2 years old. My daughter also loved gathering fallen coconuts under the palm trees. On a day of low-tide, we could even see exposed coral in the shallows here!

 Maui Ocean Center, Maui's aquarium. A great spot for a family outing with some spectacular underwater displays. The kids really loved to see all the coral and the sharks!

DT Fleming Beach Park was my favorite beach on the trip. Good facilities (bathrooms, picnic tables, and showers), but not overrun by tourists. Lots of sea-life on the rocks and in the water (I swam with a turtle here). Some nice waves too for bigger kids and adults!

A view and a plate at Mala Ocean Tavern, just outside central Lahaina. Spectacular setting, friendly atmosphere, and fantastic food! Out on the deck, you're sitting right above the water: watch out for splashing waves!

Wildlife! We loved snorkelling to meet the tropical fish, like the Picasso fish above. My kids' favorite critter was "Pooda" one of the big snails that crept by in the shade of our condo every morning.

The Iao Valley made for a really nice family outing. An easy, accessible hiking trail climbs up next to the river to a spot where you can take a picture of the Iao Needle. Beautiful landscape here, and also some informative signs about Hawaiian agriculture and history.

The Haleakala summit. Driving up to the top of the volcano was another great family outing, even though the kids didn't quite appreciate it as much as the adults. They felt a little queasy, maybe from the elevation, or maybe just from the winding road up the mountain. Amazing scenery however.

Our condo at Kaanapali Royal. This was a fantastic place to stay, with all the amenities we needed inside, and a nice pool outside. Wouldn't mind going back there!

The Sugarcane Train. This old-school steam train travels the rails between Lahaina and Kaanapali. The ride is a great way to see some island scenery, and the kids really loved it (especially my train-crazy son!).

Fresh fruit. We had a lot of good eats on Maui, but the fresh fruit really stands out. Fresh mango, seen here growing in abundance on the trees, papaya, avocado, and absolutely delicious pineapple. I highly recommend buying the ripe, boxed pineapples at the airport and taking some of Maui home with you.

The Maui Tropical Plantation offers a guided tour aboard an express tram. Our guide on the tour was full of entertaining information about farming, trees, plants, how to wear a Hawaiian flower in your hair, and how to open a coconut, and much more.

Our trip on Reefdancer, a glass-bottom boat, gave the kids a chance to see some underwater life up close and personal. Divers went in and brought up various kinds of sea-life to the windows, but the best moment was when this turtle swam right by us and went under the boat.