The Survival Kit

Part 2 - Air Travel & More
Into the Wild Blue Yonder
Many of the same things we pack in our car kit accompany us when we fly - especially the moist wipes, handheld games, healthy snacks, and bottled water. Here are a few extras.

A cassette player and headset can help pass the time. We include books on tape (record your own favorites, and you can even add background music), as well as their favorite music.

Each child carries a backpack for personal items. The size of the backpack should be appropriate and comfortable for the child who wears it. Don't overstuff them because there will undoubtedly be souvenirs to carry home from the trip. A stuffed animal or favorite doll can provide comfort on a trip, but it can also provoke anxiety about its possible loss. We have offset this concern by having special "travel buddies," whose main job is to be available to the child during a trip. Great friends, they do not have quite the status of the "home buddy."

Any trip that counts as a vacation deserves a travel journal. We choose a small, unlined, hardbound book in which everyone can contribute. The unlined pages allow for illustrations and for all ages - I still recall the drawings of the youngest, then three, of Yellowstone Park and its bison. Each day has its own page(s) for each person, and we encourage the children to enter their experiences. While we urge them to focus on the positive, we realize that negative things happen, too, and exercise careful guidance regarding entries so that others' feelings are not hurt when remembering the day's events. We adults contribute to the journal as well. We rarely read each others' entries right away but save them, perhaps for when the photos return from developing.

Professional Props
This is my professional survival kit. It includes boredom busters, a collection of children's literature, and professional books and materials. I share my children's library with any child who needs special one-on-one time, whether it's a challenging day or just something the child will learn better from the book than directly from me.

Building a library takes time and research. Children's book clubs and the children's section of your favorite bookstore are your best sources.

Developing a professional library is important to a nanny's professional growth. Books on discipline, creative activities, health issues, nutrition, child development, and parenting are waiting at book stores large and small. You may wish to borrow a book from the library before investing in it. Some books with interesting segments don't merit the full purchase price. Don't forget good magazines with current child rearing theory as well as ideas for everyday and special occasions.

Finally, to the boredom busters: prop boxes, costumes, recipes for success, and a few unusual games. These live apart from everyday playthings, emerging for the moment and disappearing again for next time. Props and costumes go to dramatic play. Recipes for success reside on index cards: for clay, goop, face paints, art projects, songs, finger plays, creative activities, party ideas, and fun with food. The file grows with magazine features and the successes of my friends. I never add a recipe I haven't tested with measurable success. The games come from museums, book fairs and specialty shops. Items are not to be found at Toys-R-Us or the local discount store: I look for games of strategy, interaction and imagination that build children's skills in a variety of areas.

Your uniquely personal survival kit can make for smoother travel, enhanced experiences, and treasured memories. Being prepared for emergencies increases your confidence and reduces the potential for problems. Next time your gang heads out on an adventure, remember your survival kit. Never leave home without it!