1. Sand Jar
Place a few small toys or household objects such as a button, paperclip, lego, golf pencil, rubber band, etc. in a jar (spice jars work nicely) then fill the jar with sand. The child needs to spin the jar to find all the objects – a stationary scavenger hunt!


2. Presents
Put aside some small toys that your child will not notice are missing or go to the dollar store and buy some inexpensive toys/books/activities. Wrap them up like presents. You can even wrap a present inside multiple boxes so they have to open lots of wrapping and boxes and anticipate the gift even more! (careful, this one can get messy!) Every so often during the trip, give your child a new present to unwrap and enjoy!


3. Don't help!
Make everything last longer. I know this sounds simple, but it really helps. When putting away a toy to take out something new, let your child help. Let them peel the banana themselves – it takes longer – that’s the point! If you are giving your child a wrapped present, don’t help them open it. Let them take time undoing the tape or finding the edge. That extra 5 minutes they are busy, happy and occupied is less time you have to be playing activity director.

4. Stickers
I know, you are thinking this is not unique – here’s what is – make the stickers yourself! Use photographs of your family, place you are visiting or anything else your child loves. Sticker paper can be found at office supply stores, amazon or big chains. Print out a page with small pictures and cut them into fun shapes. You can bring a coloring book and use the stickers to create a story with your family in the scene.


5. Play with your food
Use your best judgement on this one but here’s what I mean… I used to eat slices of cheese. My mom would break it into pieces and we would make letters of the alphabet. So maybe we would make a B using 6 pieces – then eat the bottom piece and you have an R, see if your child can get from an R to an F, etc. You can come up with words that begin with that letter or objects you see around you with that letter. Of course there’s always the stringing of cheerios game too!


6. Water in a Ziploc
Most moms carry plastic bags just in case. Bring a few extra – you can get water on the plane. Put some in a baggie and let your child shake, rub, pat and play! Add some ice to make it interesting! Note: you may want to double bag it to make sure it doesn’t rip or leak or if you are really feeling ambitious, you could bring some duct tape to seal the ends. Plus, water is a magnifier, put it up to your eyes and see what happens!

Characters Everywhere!

Many of us think our kids are quite the characters… but if you are looking for someone a bit more famous, look no further than these caribbean resorts and cruise lines!

Sesame Characters at Beaches Resorts!
You can find your favorite Sesame Street Characters at Beaches in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos. The little ones can high five and hug the characters during character breakfasts and appearances. Families enjoy stage shows with lessons from Elmo and his friends. Don’t forget to get a good spot along the parade route so you can wave to Oscar, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and many others as they sing and dance right in front of you during a musical and colorful Sesame Street Parade! And perhaps the best experience of all, your kids will always remember the time their favorite Sesame Street Character showed up to the room and tucked them into bed, complete with a bedtime story! 

I am currently working with 2 families that want to stay together in a villa in Hawaii. Privacy and authentic expereinces are their main reasons for wanting to be away from a resort. They are seeking a location where the public space such as outdoor dining and pool, will be reserved just for them. The scenic retreat provides opportunities to spend quality time with friends creating lasting memories. The kids can swim in the pool, while the adults cook a savory meal in the kitchen. They are guaranteed a table that accomodates everyone and they are not burdened by a specific restaurant reservation time. 

Villas can be found around the world! Most of my clients visit Mexico, Caribbean, Hawaii and Europe, all of which offer private villas. All Villas through my travel partners have been carefully vetted to guarantee client satisfaction, so you can have peace of mind. A travel professional will help with decisions such as size of home and location. A truly customized vacation experience comes when selecting the amenities to suit the clients preferences. Whether it's a pre-stocked kitchen with personal favorites, arranging for personal chefs, or reserving once in a lifetime experiences like surfing lessons for the whole family!

And if you like the idea of a villa, but don't necessarily want to give up all the amenities of a resort, you can find many villas and condos that are part of a resort. It is nice to have a kids club to fall back on when the adults need a break!