Getting Kids Excited for a Trip: Countdowns and Travel Journals

For kids, the trip doesn’t start at the airport. It starts the day they hear about it. A little build-up turns waiting into part of the fun and helps them know what to expect.

Young kids don’t think in weeks and months. “We’re going on vacation in three weeks” can mean nothing to a three-year-old, or it can mean asking “is it today?” every morning. Giving them a way to see the time pass, and a way to be part of the trip, makes a big difference. Here are the ideas we like.

Why anticipation matters for kids

Getting kids involved before a trip helps in a few ways. It gives them something to look forward to, it makes new places feel a bit more familiar, and it gives you a natural way to talk about what will happen: the plane, the car ride, the new bed, the food. Kids who know what’s coming often handle change a little more easily.

Make a trip countdown calendar

A countdown is the simplest way to make time visible. Every night before bed, your child colors in or crosses off one shape. When they run out, it’s vacation day.

• Pick the right length. Seven sleeps works well for toddlers; fourteen or thirty days suits older preschoolers and school-age kids.
• Make it a bedtime ritual. Doing it at the same time every day builds the excitement and avoids constant “how many more days?”
• Put it somewhere they can see it, like the fridge or their bedroom door.
• Add the destination and date so it feels like their trip.

More ways to build excitement

• Read books about where you’re going. Picture books about the beach, the mountains, airplanes or a new country help kids imagine the trip.
• Look at a map together. Show where you live and where you’re going, and trace the route.
• Let them pack a small bag. A backpack with a few toys, books and a comfort item gives them ownership. A kids’ packing checklist with pictures helps.
• Try a food from your destination at home before you go.
• Let them choose one activity from a short list. Having a say makes kids more invested.
• Talk through the travel day. “First we drive to the airport, then we go through security, then we get on the plane.” Simple, step by step.

During the trip: a kids’ travel journal

A travel journal gives kids a calm activity for downtime, restaurants and the hotel room, and it becomes a keepsake you’ll want to keep.

• A daily page: the weather, what we did, a food I tried, a drawing
• A “where we’re going” page to fill in before you leave
• A spot for tickets, maps, leaves and other small treasures
• Star ratings for favorite places and meals
• A favorite-memory page with a photo

Little ones who can’t write yet can draw, and you can write down what they tell you. Those words are often the best part to read years later.

Tips to keep the journal going

• Keep it short: five or ten minutes a day is plenty.
• Pack a small zip pouch with crayons, a glue stick and tape.
• Do it at the same time each day, like breakfast or before bed.
• Don’t worry about filling every page. Some days are too full, and that’s fine.

After the trip: keep the memories alive

When you get home, look through the journal together, print a few photos to add, and talk about your favorite moments. It’s a lovely way to close the trip and start dreaming about the next one.

Our Trip Countdown Calendar includes 7-sleep, 14-day and 30-day countdowns plus a bonus “Before We Go!” kids’ packing checklist. Our Kids Travel Journal has daily pages, a postcard to themselves, a tickets and treasures page, star ratings and a favorite memory page. Together they cover the whole trip, from the first “how many more sleeps?” to the last page.

Quick answers

When should I tell my kids about a trip?

It depends on your child. For toddlers, a week or two ahead is often plenty; any longer and the wait can feel endless. Older kids may enjoy a longer countdown and helping with the planning.

What age is right for a travel journal?

Any age can join in. Toddlers can scribble and stick on stickers, preschoolers can draw, and early readers can write a word or two. A parent can always add a caption with what your child said.

What if my child is nervous about the trip?

Talk through each step in simple terms, read books about flying or new places, and bring familiar things from home like a favorite blanket or bedtime book. A countdown can also make the change feel more predictable.

How do we make the trip feel special without spending more?

Small rituals go a long way: a special snack for the drive, a song you only play on the trip, a daily journal page, or a favorite-moment chat at dinner. Kids often remember these more than the big attractions.