How to travel safely with children and teens

Start conversations about a week before the journey, take a family photo at the start of each day, and label bags and clothes

- DANIELLE GELFAND

A FEW MONTHS ago, my family was in the crowded Brussels Airport. Though I'd put an AirTag in my then 7-year-old daughter's knapsack, made a bracelet with our contact information and even taught her my phone number to the tune of 'Happy Birthday to You, I had a sudden fear of what might happen if we were separated.

What would she do? What would we do? I tried to do the right things, but there are other measures a family can take before and during a trip to help keep children safe. Here are a few.

Get the family in travel mode before you go

Start the safety conversation about a week before departing by reviewing the itinerary with your kids: destinations, length of stay and how you'll be getting there. Pace your conversations so they hear each detail more than once and in multiple ways.