When kids get ready to go on vacation, all they have to do is dream about the fun they’re about to have. But for parents? It’s a whole different story —juggling logistics, planning each day's activities, and packing all the essentials. And in today’s world, our tech and gadgets are usually at the top of that essentials list. So consider this guide as a helpful digital packing checklist for families to ensure you have what you need for your next adventure with your kids. Let’s jump in!
The Gear and Gadgets
We all know that sinking feeling when your phone is low on battery and you reach for your charger — only to realize it’s not with you. You left for a nice, long trip, but your charger is sitting miles away on your nightstand. Yeah, we’ve all been there. To avoid this fate, here’s a list of all the family vacation tech essentials you’ll want to double-check before you head out the door.
- Phones, tablets, and computers (don’t forget devices for both the kids and adults!)
- Chargers for all devices
- Portable charging banks
- E-readers
- Headphones or earbuds
- Smartwatches
- Cameras
- Travel adapters
- Bluetooth speakers
Must-Have Travel Apps
Did you know that over 850 million people used a travel app in 2023? There’s an app for just about everything, and everyone is looking for some kind of shortcut to make traveling more convenient. To make life easier, here’s a brief list of apps that may be helpful to have pre-downloaded before the traveling fun begins.
- Navigation apps (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, etc.)
- Location sharing to keep track of family members’ whereabouts
- Hotel and rental apps (AirBnB, Vrbo, etc.)
- Flight and transportation apps
- Entertainment apps (Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, etc.)
Bark’s Top Picks for Kid-Friendly Travel Entertainment
Tons of families have their techs rules for being home, and tech rules for traveling, and they usually look pretty different. For long car rides or flights, there isn’t much for adults to do to keep themselves occupied, let alone young kids with shorter attention spans. So here are some family-friendly recommendations that you can allow for your kids during those moments of downtime on vacation.
Games
*These include mobile games, as well as ones available on portable gaming consoles such as Nintendo Switch.
Movies
Podcasts
Safety Tips
To round out the checklist, we have a few safety tips (both digital and real life) just to make sure you and your family are safe on whatever adventure you find yourselves on!
- Set up or update parental controls before you leave.
- Make sure your kids know what to do if you get separated from them.
- Have them memorize your phone number (or write it down on something they’ll always have with them).
- Don’t forget important medications and allergy pills.
- Talk to your kids about your family’s expectations for behavior, including digital expectations such as screen time and what is okay to post on social media.
Bark As Your Digital Safety Travel Companion
We want to make sure you have peace of mind about your child’s digital safety no matter where your family is. That’s why we’ve created a suite of safer tech options that allow you to manage your child’s online world with healthy boundaries and communication. Check out Bark’s variety of products, including the Bark Phone, the Bark Watch, the Bark app, and the Bark Home, to see which one is the best fit for your family.
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Bark helps families manage and protect their children’s digital lives.
