Think travel with the mellow child is a walk in the park? Read on... — Think travel with the mellow child is a walk in the park? Read on…

If you’ve been following the Temperament and Travel series so far, “Travel with the Mellow Child” may sound like a walk in the park. You might even be thinking to yourself now THAT is a temperament trait not even worth featuring in a post. But if you have a mellow child in your brood, you should think twice and read on before your next family vacation.

“It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil” is the expression to keep in mind here, and mellow travelers rarely squeak. But it’s not to say a quiet traveler doesn’t experience her own fair share of challenges, anxiety, frustration–and low blood sugar along the way. It may just take longer for those feelings or needs to build up to whistling tea kettle status.

This makes it easy to stretch the mellow child too far during travel, especially if you and/or your partner are fast-adapting , unpredictable, or high-energy temperaments. Whichever are your dominant temperament traits, here are some tips to help ensure happy travels with your “mellow child.”

Advice for Travel with the Mellow Child

Similar to the Low-Sensitivity Child (coming soon!), you will need to check in regularly to make sure she’s getting what she needs in the way of food, drinks, and temperature control—enough clothing or too much?

Illness can creep up on her quietly as you likely won’t hear much complaint until it surfaces full-blown, so don’t overlook the possibility of an ear infection or other illness developing as you travel if other clues are presenting themselves.

Watch for signs of discomfort in new social settings, such as the family reunion, the kiddie pool at the resort, a kids club, or even in the dining room on the cruise ship, and help her give voice to those feelings.

Remember, she’ll likely be the last child on the tour, on the beach, in the kids club, or in the natural history museum to let you know if she needs social intervention or a snack, so watch for her subtle cues and never hesitate to ask.

Otherwise, she’s an easygoing traveler in most respects—enjoy!