You’ve planned the perfect family day out, and is all set to have a great time with your family. However, on the actual day, you’re thrown into a frenzy because your children started acting up, your spouse is upset with you because you forgot the tickets, and so on.

Sounds familiar? Especially with young children in tow, a family day out could be trying on you and your spouse. Good news is, there are some things you and your spouse can do to stave off such hiccups:

Pre-Outing

Plan
Start off your planning with by a thorough research on suitable types of activities for your family, the latest event in town, the best deal for the week, etc.

When planning your itinerary, it’d be best to take note of your children’s nap or feeding time to avoid any crankiness or meltdowns. Decide on the best travel routes (to avoid unnecessary delays), find out where the rest stops for toilet breaks and refreshments are, and so on.

Pack
You may wish to pack the night before to avoid the mad rush in the morning!

• Keep your list light with essentials, such as wet wipes, plastic bags, etc.
• Depending on the location of your outing or types of activities, you may like to opt for either a lightweight stroller or a sling.
• Pack snacks and water, especially for fussy eaters.
• As children’s attention span is short, bring along some on-the-go entertainment to distract them. Some suggestions are:
  •   Younger ones: entertainment can be in the form of small puzzles, colouring books, kid-friendly movies, portable drawing mat with water-filled pens, etc.
  •   Older ones: they may be interested in travel-sized games like Hangman or Memory Game, mini magnetic board games like chess, iPad games.

Prime
Get everyone in the family ready and excited for the outing by letting them know they can expect. Also, ensure that everyone has an early night to be well-rested for a full day’s outing.

During the Outing

Sometimes, things will not go as planned. So, keep an open mind in the face of unforeseen situations, and enjoy your time together. You can also consider discussing your specific roles with your spouse beforehand should something cropped up. For example, one can manage the children, while the other think of an alternative solution. It is essential to maintain an on-going communication with your spouse.

Post Outing

Sit down with your spouse to evaluate the outing. Share feedback to see how things can be improved at the next outing. Don’t forget to compliment your spouse too!

Tip: Apart from having fun as family, see these outings as opportunities to deepen understanding and intimacy with your spouse as well!