8 ways to make a family outing fun for everyone

• Be prepared

Taking the family to an amusement park, regional market or agricultural show can be a nightmare. There are too many opportunities for the children to get bored and bad tempered, while your wallet will be emptying all too rapidly. Advance preparation can make all the difference:

 

 

• Make every minute count

Make the journey to the venue part of your outing – with lots of singing and games to help you along. If you arrive at an amusement park just as it’s opening, make a beeline for a favourite ride in an area of the park farthest from the main entrance. That way, you can get the day off to a great start by taking everyone’s favourite ride several times, before the queues begin to build up.

 

Lunchtime queues for food and drink at festivals and amusement parks are often long, so bring a picnic. You’ll avoid a long and tedious wait to be served and probably save some money.

 

Bring books or games to entertain the children during any waiting time that does arise, such as when a 5-year-old  needs occupying while a 10-year-old rides the roller coaster.

 

• Be prepared

Bring a stroller, even if your child is four or five years old. It’s surprising how tired little legs can get during a day out and it’ll save the strain of endless piggy-back demands. When the stroller isn’t occupied, you can use it to carry all your gear. Survival items worth bringing include hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, disposable wipes, insect-bite cream, Band-aids and a change of clothes.

 

If the weather looks unpredictable, take lightweight waterproofs, too.

 

• Avoid car sickness

Children seem to be particularly prone to car sickness, but you can lessen the likelihood of it by keeping them off the fizzy drinks and fatty foods before a long drive.

 

Encourage them to take frequent sips of cold, still water to prevent dehydration and don’t let them read in the car – instead get them to focus on things outside – perhaps by playing some of the games suggested in the box at right. And open the car windows whenever possible to let fresh air in.