Tips for Dealing with Kids Who Misbehave on Vacation

March 2017 Chicago trip with the family while Daddy was in work training :-)

Planning a vacation is no easy feat, especially if you’re traveling with children. From making sure you’ve packed everything they’ll need to planning the right activities, it can feel like a full-time job! It’s even more difficult the further you travel from home. For example, if you decide to travel to Laos, you’ll also need to apply for a Laos eVisa application.


After you’ve spent so much time planning the perfect vacation for your family, the last thing you want is for it to be ruined due to misbehavior. Unfortunately, it’s likely to happen at least once during your trip.


Don’t let it ruin your whole vacation! With these tips, you can deal with misbehavior, even in the most public, unfamiliar places.

Don’t Make Threats You Won’t Follow Through With

A popular parental go-to is the threat. For example, if your child is throwing a fit at Disney World, your instinct might be to threaten to go back to the hotel, but you probably won’t. Not after you made it to the park and paid all that money to get in!


Empty threats aren’t effective. If you have no intention of leaving the park, don’t tell your children that you’re going to. They’ll quickly figure out that you aren’t serious, and they’ll just keep misbehaving.


Instead, only discuss the consequences that you will actually follow through with. Mention that they can’t go on the rides they want if they’re throwing a fit, or tell them they’ll have to take a break in the car if they don’t stop. That way, they know you’re more serious, and if you have to follow through, you can.

Find a Distraction

Distraction can be an effective way to discipline a child, especially very young children. It can be especially effective on vacation because they’re surrounded by new and exciting things!


For example, if your child wants an over-priced ice cream cone that you don’t want to pay for, and they start throwing a fit because they aren’t getting it, redirect their attention towards something that is just as much, if not more, fun. That might be a different slide at the water park, a ride at a theme park, or an animal at the zoo.

Separate Squabbling Siblings

Traveling with siblings takes dealing with misbehavior to a whole other level. At home, it’s probably something you’re used to dealing with, but in public, it can be embarrassing.


The best way to deal with sibling fighting when on vacation is simply to separate them. For example, one parent can take one child out on a kayak, while the other stays on the beach, or one kid can go on a ride while the other rides something different.


If you think the problem can be easily solved, go ahead and give it a try after the separation. Otherwise, let the issue go and only address is later in private. That way, it doesn’t cause more distractions to your day.

Rest or Take a Nap

Did you know there are multiple benefits of taking naps? They are a great way to boost brain power and increase mood. That’s true during the week while the kids are in school, and it’s true while you’re on vacation.


It’s easy for everyone, kids and adults included, to get tired on an exciting vacation. It can fray nerves and make kids more irritable than usual. If you notice that one or more members of your family are starting to get crankier than normal, it’s time to take a break.


Head to the hotel so everyone can take a quick nap. If the kids aren’t up for sleeping, watching a movie can be helpful.

Assess Their Needs

It’s possible that the kids are misbehaving because their needs aren’t being met. A few causes of misbehavior that are easily remedied include:

·        Getting a snack if your child hasn’t eaten for a while.

·        Getting something to drink if they’re thirsty.

·        Spend some time in the shade if you’ve been in the sun all day.

·        Find an air conditioned place to relax if your child is overheating.

·        Provide them with a few snuggles if the day has been too busy.

Children are going to misbehave, and they’re going to do it whether you’re at home or halfway around the world. That doesn’t mean it has to ruin your day or your vacation! With these tips, you can get to the root of the problem and move on quickly to the next exciting vacation adventure that’s just around the corner.