International vacations, in the early days of commercial flight, were once reserved for an exclusive few. As depicted in Young Indiana Jones, children rarely got the chance to span the globe; but when they did, exciting situations would unfold. Today, with air fares becoming more affordable and the Internet connecting cultures more readily, young people are being offered exciting opportunities that eluded our parents and grandparents.

In the midst of this excitement, it is easy to forget how your child might be feeling about these grand new experiences. It could be they have never checked a bag through customs or perhaps this will be their first time on a plane. And there might be the truth that the only bag they have ever packed is their own backpack for a day at school.

A lot of things will be happening — and happening fast — before you and your child even reach the departure gate.

The good news is that planning international travel for your child — no matter their age — does not have to become an overwhelming ordeal.  With just a few tips, your trip can be easy and stress-free. Along with your own pre-flight, packing, and “house lockdown” checklists, your kids should also have travel protocols in place. In this three part series, ID Guardian will be providing you with some sound travel tips specifically for your kids.

We start our checklists for kids long before we head for the airport…

Before your departure date:

• Start explaining the travel plans to your kids. How deep you go into the explanation of the trip will  depend on how old your kids are and how many overnight vacations you have previously taken. For younger children, be prepared to explain travel details such as distance, time zone changes, and the like. Having a map of the world and tracing your travel path not only gives them an idea of where you are headed, it’s also a lot of fun.
• Apply for your passport early. You should apply for your child’s passport no less than three months before your departure date. Routine processing time for a passport takes 4-6 weeks, while expedited service takes just under three weeks. There are express services online that may promise you a passport within a week, or even faster; but these services are expensive and require you to provide personally identifiable information (PII) in a rush capacity. If you do need expedited passport services, make sure you use a service suggested by the U.S. Department of State and not some random website offering “the best deal.”
• Take your kids to the airport for a pre-trip visit. If you have the opportunity to see a friend or family member off on a trip, take your kids with you.  It can help give them a perspective of what they will experience when it comes time for their travels. Explain to them what each step of the process means from standing in line at the ticket counter to going through the security checkpoint. Point out other kids traveling with their bags, and explain why people are (patiently) waiting in line. Remember — these are new experiences for them. They will still be excited come travel day; but the fewer questions en route to the gate, the fewer hesitations and delays you’ll have in getting through check-in’s and to your departure gate.
• Make two photocopies or digital scans of your passport identification page. Leave one copy at home in a safe place. Pack the other photocopy in a different bag from where you keep your passports. If you do lose your passports, immediately visit your home country’s embassy with photocopy in hand. If your photocopy is damaged or lost, contact a trusted friend or family member. Let them know where to find your photocopied passport information and have them either fax or email it to you.
• For traveling teens, give them options on how to contact you in case of an emergency. Many mobile phone plans have features that can be switched on and off, with international calling one of them. If your mobile phone does have international calling options, temporarily upgrade their plans to include international calls, but be clear that this is for emergencies only. An alternative to this is giving them a pre-paid calling card, provided the card works for international calls and operates in their destination country. Contact your wireless provider for additional options and recommendations.
• When preparing the house for your absence, take a moment to secure any PII. As mentioned in our previous posting on travel tips, don’t leave any personal information lying out in the open or in easy-to-find places such as nightstands and utility drawers in the kitchen. Secure your sensitive data before leaving. Fireproof safes can be purchased for as low as $40, and in them you should keep items like your Social Security cards, birth records, account numbers and passwords, and any other sensitive data.

You can also find other travel tips and even watch a few videos with your kids on what happens at the airport at TSA’s website.

Now you are all set for travel. The house is locked up, the family’s personal information is secure, and your children now know what to expect and are prepared to head to the airport. Next week, we run down a checklist for the day of departure. We’re one step closer to our destination, but a lot can happen between leaving your home and arriving at your gate. Make sure your kids are ready to fly.

Related posts:

1. IN THE HEADLINES: The Growing Problem of Travel Agents — Identity Theft
2. Why Identity Protection for Kids Matters
3. Be Safe While Traveling
4. Candid Kids Can Be Safe, Too
5. Footprints to a College Graduate’s Social Media Profile (Part I)