Winter break is almost upon us. For lucky Canadian families, that means an escape to somewhere warm, if not downright hot. It also means a trip to the airport. And that's the downside. Getting kids through the airport can be challenging, so we turned to our friend at Travelocity, the ever-helpful Roaming Gnome, for some help. [caption id="attachment_650" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Roaming Gnome really rocks! (Travelocity Canada)"] [/caption] Compliments of our friends at Travelocity, here are three tips to take make the airport experience for you and your children a little less stressful:

Consider flight times: A 6 a.m. flight may not be suitable for younger children. Consider booking non-stop flights, rather than changing planes with your kids and carry-on in tow.

Speed-up airport check-in: Whiz through airport check-in by gate-checking bulkier items, such as strollers, and preparing effectively for security check-in points. If you’re travelling internationally, have your kids wear comfortable and easy slip-on shoes as opposed to sandals or lace up runners as they will have to remove them for security. And don’t forget to take advantage of web check-in when it’s available.

When travelling think about food and hydration: The last thing you want is a cranky youngster on your hands. To avoid tantrums, pack an empty plastic drink bottle ahead of time and have the flight attendant fill it up during the flight. And keep a supply of snacks like Cheerios and fruit rollups with you, in case the kids get hungry.

(Source: Travelocity Canada)

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