If you are going away with children no matter what age for a weekend, whether you are all staying at someone else's house or hotel, cottage or camper, here are some tips to get you through it and have a blast at the same time!

1.Be organized.

When you are packing, you can't pack long before the trip because you need most of that everyday stuff. Make a packing checklist, here's an example of one:

l   1 or 2 shirts plus the one they wear on the way to your destination

l   1 or 2 pairs of pants including what you are wearing

l   a few pairs of underwear, socks, bras

l   sneakers

l   diapers, baby wipes, pads, deodorant, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, etc

l   activities for the car ride or in case you get bored

l   medicines

l   comfort items

2.Do some packing one or two days before the trip and the rest the morning of the trip. One or two days before the trip, you can pack clothes and maybe some entertainment items. The morning of the trip you can pack the rest like hygiene things.

3.Have the kids empty out their school backpacks and have them pack their entertainment things, comfort items, and their hygiene things like hairbrushes, toothbrushes, etc in their backpack.

This is also a great time for them to have o clean out their backpacks! If you have any toddlers who are not in school yet, get them a backpack or travel backpack so they can also carry their own things in there. If you don't have a lot of room and feel like you can't have all the kids bring individual bags, then have a few big bags, or suitcases not for clothes but for the things listed like at the beginning of this step.

4.Consider the travel time. Some people say travel during nighttime or during kids nap times but it doesn't make much of a difference either way.

Before you leave the house, make sure everyone has gotten some energy out like maybe tell them to go outside for 10-15 minutes and run around this way they hopefully will not mind sitting for a little while.

Make sure they don't get too sweaty though because otherwise they will be uncomfortable. Also make sure everyone has gone to the bathroom. Before you leave, go through the luggage once more to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.

5.For the car ride, have the kids sit with their bags close to them so they won't be climbing around trying to get their things.

Also brinks snacks and some drinks. But make planned bathroom stops so that the kids can know when they should have their drinks so they won't have to hold it for a while. Some entertainment items that kids can bring are iPods/mp3 players, portable DVD players if you have one, books and magazines, snacks will definitely keep them busy too. You can also play easy games that don't have a lot of pieces. You can play car games like each person decides a color and they count how many cars drive by that are that color. There are many other games you can play that I will explain down in the tips and anyone else is welcome to add any games that they know of.

6.Have the kids dress in the same colors so it is easier for you to keep track of them.

7.If you are staying at someone else's house with them:

l   Bring them a gift for being your hosts

l   Before you get there, explain to your kids what you expect of them while you are at their house. The kids will really need to cooperate. Also tell them what will happen while you are there.

l   It is their house so you won't be able to have too much control over what happens and the way you do things.

l   When putting the kids to bed, do the same routine that happens at your house, like if you read a story to them, make sure to do that. Have them do whatever they usually do to get ready for bed.

8.If you are staying at a hotel,

l   Tell the kids what you expect of them while you're there.

l   Tell them what will happen while you are there

l   Bring swimsuits because there will probably be a pool

l   See what amenities the hotel has

l   If the kids are bored or don't want to be in a small hotel room then go outside, get some air, take a walk.

l   Do the same bedtime routine that you usually do with your kids at home.

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