How to Involve Your Kids in Travel Planning (And Make It Fun)
Family travel is about more than just exploring new places—it’s about creating lifelong memories together. But let’s be honest: planning a trip with kids can sometimes feel like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. You want to keep everyone happy, entertained, and safe while also ensuring the trip runs smoothly.
Here’s the secret, though: when you involve your kids in the travel planning process, the experience becomes richer for everyone. Not only does it teach your children valuable life skills—like budgeting, decision-making, and cultural awareness—but it also builds anticipation and helps avoid mid-trip meltdowns.
Let’s explore how to make travel planning a fun, family-wide adventure, step by step.
- Start with Inspiration
Before jumping into logistics, get everyone excited about the idea of traveling. Kids thrive on imagination, so start with inspiration.
Use Maps and Globes
Spread out a world map or globe on the table and let your kids explore. Ask questions like, “Where do you think it’s warm right now?” or “What kind of animals live here?” You might be surprised where their curiosity leads you!
You can even make a game out of it—spin the globe, have someone stop it with their finger, and research that destination together. Even if you don’t end up going there, it’s a fun way to introduce geography and spark wanderlust.
Watch Travel Videos or Read Books
Turn your movie night into “travel night.” Watch kid-friendly documentaries, family travel vlogs, or animated films set in different parts of the world (like Encanto for Colombia or Moana for the Pacific Islands).
Pair it with storybooks or picture books about the destination. For example, if you’re considering Japan, read All About Japan by Willamarie Moore to give your kids a cultural taste.
- Let Them Help Choose the Destination (or Parts of It)
While adults usually make the final decision—based on budget, time, and logistics—it’s empowering for kids to have a say in where you go or what you do once you’re there.
If your kids are old enough, shortlist a few destinations that work for your family and then let them vote or rank their favorites. For younger kids, you can give them choices like:
- “Would you rather visit the beach or the mountains?”
- “Would you like to see animals or visit a big city?”
- “Would you prefer to go somewhere hot or cold?”
For longer trips, let each child pick one major activity or city stop. For example, maybe your older child wants to see historical sites while your younger one just wants to visit the world’s biggest zoo. Incorporating both makes everyone feel included.
- Involve Them in the Budgeting Process
Teaching kids about money while planning a trip can be an eye-opening experience. It helps them understand that travel takes planning and trade-offs—and it can even make them more appreciative once you’re there.
Make It Visual
Use a chart or visual board to show how much things cost: transportation, accommodation, food, activities, and souvenirs. You can make it into a challenge—“If we skip eating out one night, we can afford to go zip-lining!”
Give Them a Personal Allowance
Let your kids have a small travel budget of their own. They can use it for souvenirs, snacks, or special experiences. It gives them responsibility and a sense of control—plus, they’ll think twice before spending all their money in the first gift shop they see!
- Plan Together with Travel Apps or Games
There are plenty of kid-friendly tools that can make travel planning feel like playtime.
Use Interactive Apps
Apps like Google Earth, TripIt, or Roadtrippers can help kids visualize the journey. They can trace the route, zoom in on landmarks, or explore street views.
For younger children, drawing or using stickers on a paper map works just as well. Have them decorate your “trip board” with printed pictures of your destination, airplanes, and fun icons.
Create a Countdown Calendar
A countdown calendar helps build excitement while keeping kids engaged in the lead-up to the trip. Each day, they can mark off one square or open a little envelope with a travel fact or challenge (like “Learn how to say hello in Spanish!” or “Draw what you think our hotel will look like.”).
- Assign “Travel Jobs”
Kids love responsibility—especially when it comes with a fancy title. Give them travel-related roles to help them feel like part of the team.
Here are a few ideas:
- Navigator – Keeps track of maps, helps spot road signs, or announces the next stop.
- Snack Manager – Chooses and packs healthy snacks for the road or plane.
- Photographer – In charge of capturing fun moments (great for older kids).
- Memory Keeper – Writes or draws in a travel journal each day.
- Activity Director – Researches fun things to do and helps plan free time.
This not only keeps kids busy but also builds independence and ownership over the experience.
- Research Together
Turn the pre-trip research into an educational adventure. Encourage your kids to learn about:
- Local culture and traditions – What are the customs? What do people eat? How do they greet each other?
- Wildlife and nature – What kinds of animals or plants might they see?
- Landmarks – What makes this place special or famous?
You can assign each child a topic and have them present it “family meeting” style. For instance, one might talk about the country’s national dish, another about a famous landmark, and another about its weather or wildlife.
Make it fun with videos, crafts, or even cooking a traditional dish together before you go!
- Let Them Pack (With Guidance)
Packing is one of the most practical ways to involve kids in travel preparation. Give them a checklist—either one you make or a printable online—and let them gather their clothes and essentials.
For younger kids, use visual lists with pictures of items like shirts, socks, and toothbrushes. For older ones, teach them about packing smart—rolling clothes, choosing versatile outfits, and keeping things light.
Letting kids take responsibility for their own suitcase gives them independence and a sense of pride. Just double-check before you leave to make sure no one forgot the essentials (like shoes!).
- Build Anticipation Creatively
Half the fun of traveling is the countdown! Channel your kids’ excitement with creative activities in the weeks leading up to your departure.
Some ideas:
- Create a destination scrapbook – Fill it with photos, magazine clippings, and maps.
- Cook meals inspired by your destination – Make homemade pasta for Italy, tacos for Mexico, or crepes for France.
- Learn a few local phrases – Kids love showing off new words like “thank you” or “ice cream” in another language.
- Do themed crafts – Make paper airplanes, beach scene collages, or travel badges.
These small touches make the trip feel like a grand adventure long before you’ve even left home.
- Keep Them Engaged During the Trip
The planning doesn’t stop once you’re on the road! Continue to involve your kids by letting them help make daily decisions—like where to eat, which attraction to visit first, or whether to take a detour.
Encourage them to:
- Mark places they visit on a map or in their travel journal.
- Collect postcards, tickets, or small souvenirs for a scrapbook.
- Share their favorite parts of the day during dinner or bedtime.
You can also create a “Family Travel Challenge” with fun daily goals—like trying a new food, learning a local word, or finding something shaped like a heart.
- Reflect and Relive the Memories Together
When you return home, keep the adventure alive by reflecting on the experience as a family.
Make a photo album or slideshow and let the kids help choose the pictures. Ask questions like:
- “What was your favorite part of the trip?”
- “What was something new you learned?”
- “Where do you want to go next?”
If your kids kept journals or drew pictures, turn them into a printed memory book. Revisiting these moments reinforces how special the experience was—and keeps the travel spark alive for next time.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with kids is an incredible opportunity to see the world through their eyes—full of wonder, curiosity, and enthusiasm. When you involve them in planning the adventure, you’re not only easing your own workload but also giving them a sense of ownership and excitement that lasts far beyond the trip itself.
From choosing destinations and packing bags to creating maps and journals, each step becomes a learning experience disguised as fun. So next time you’re planning a getaway, pull your kids into the process. Watch their imaginations ignite, and you’ll realize the journey truly begins the moment you start dreaming together.
Because in the end, family travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how you get there, and who you become along the way.