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A BBC news presenter turned child therapist has revealed her five tips for traveling with children this summer.
Kate Silverton, 53, enjoyed a long television career presenting a number of BBC news programs and performing on Strictly Come Dancing.
But she qualified as a child therapist in 2023 and published a parenting guide called “There’s Nothing Wrong” earlier this year.
As the summer holiday season approaches, he has revealed his five tips for traveling with the family – from ditching the smartphones to careful planning.
Kate Silverton, 53, who you may recognize from her series of BBC presentations, has teamed up with lastminute.com to teach parents the best way to travel with children.
Kate has revealed her five tips for traveling with children this summer (file image of a family)
1. Leave the screens behind
Kate’s first piece of advice isLeave the screens behind and travel with a small bag or backpack filled with coloring pens, a word search book, a family game like Bananagrams, picture books to color together, or books to read side by side.
When we travel, we want to engage the curious, searching part of our children’s brains.
Otherwise, boredom can lead to behavior that unconsciously creates “drama” for the child to feel engaged.
2. Plan your luggage
Kate’s second tip has to do with packing your bags. She stressed that although the decision to take a few days away may be last minute, it is not necessary to pack your bags.
Think carefully about everything your children might need while you’re away: whether it’s medicine, a first aid kit, games, water bottles or appropriate clothing.
3. Manage your expectations
Kate’s third tip relates to managing your expectations when on a family holiday, as being overly ambitious about what can be achieved on a short trip can ruin the feeling of spontaneity.
Pick one or two things you all want to do as a family and let the magic of being together do the rest.
4. Finance
The former announcer said that you should choose a trip that does not affect your finances.
She said: The beauty of spontaneity lies in the quality time it allows you to spend with your family, not in the worry it brings to your bank balance.
‘Some of my fondest memories are of packing up our tent and setting off on a camping adventure in the UK.
“What really matters is the spontaneity and the precious moments with our children.”
5.BA confident ‘leader’
‘Whether you’re alone or team parenting, things will happen, like missed flights, delayed trains or cars breaking down.
‘It is often difficult times that offer us rich learning experiences, allowing us to show that it is okay, that things happen and that we can still get ahead.
“These are the experiences that help build resilience and will make our children accept change later in life and also be spontaneous.”
According to research from Last Minute.com, up to 79 percent of parents, based on a sample of 2,000, feel there are certain things they want to enjoy with their children before they leave the nest.
They also found that 59 per cent are currently working on a family bucket list to make sure they see all the places they want, with the whole family sitting down and working together to decide where to go next.
One in three Brits want to swim in the crystal-clear lagoons of the Maldives, while a further 31 per cent would love to dive in and explore the Great Barrier Reef with their children.
On average, Brits take four family holidays a year, with a budget of £2,200 per trip. More than half (56 percent) say they have to budget more now than they did five years ago.
And when it comes to choosing where the family goes on vacation, it has long been assumed that mothers are the ones driving the decision-making. Today, however, 45% say the whole family does it together and 20% say everyone contributes.
Reigo Eljas, Director of Dynamic Packaging at last Minute.com, said: ‘It’s clear that British parents see the value in traveling with their children and showing them the wonders of the world.
“However, as we get older it seems less likely that we will make the decision to fly and explore the world.
‘Our latest booking data shows that families tend to be the most advanced planners, with almost 50% booking between 5 and 12 weeks before travel.
‘This year, our top five family destinations range from traditional sun, sea and sand to a big dose of culture, with the Turkish Riviera taking the number one spot, after Tenerife, Mallorca, Marrakech and Paris.
Kate added: ‘Change can often be unsettling, which can often get in the way of spontaneity! But showing our children that change can be exciting, and by discovering the wonders of the world as a family, we give them a gift that will last a lifetime.
