With preparation and organization traveling with children can be a pleasant experience. Here are some organizing ideas and organizing tips to make your holiday traveling easier and less stressful.

Pack everything the child will need or want in a carry on bag that can be used in the airport and will clear security. It might be a favorite toy, simple electronic gadgets, and favorite foods. If they are old enough to understand explain what to expect when arriving at the airport starting at the ticket counter, proceeding through security and then the wait before boarding the plane. Because many airlines charge for checked bags make the best use of children’s carryon bags by using a larger ones for them. By doing this you may be able to check fewer bags.

If your child is old enough let them have their own carry on with treats, books, music, phone etc. This will be their personal item that is allowed?like a lap top or a purse for an adult. It will be most helpful to you if their carryon is a backpack that the child carries. Bring an empty water bottle for liquid, juice, water etc. that you can fill up after you leave security and before you board plane.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has the following tips for easy and safe travel with the minimum of hassle:
Parents or guardians of children with disabilities should…
Inform the Security Officer if the child has any special needs or medical devices.

Inform the Security Officer if you think the child may become upset during the screening process as a result of their disability.

Offer suggestions on how to best accomplish the screening to minimize any confusion or outburst for the child.

Ask the Security Officer for assistance during the process by helping you put your and the child’s carry-on items on the X-ray belt.
Know that at no time during the screening process will you be separated from your child.

Know that if a private screening is required, you should escort and remain with your child during the private screening process.

Tell the Security Officer what are your child’s abilities are. For example: can the child stand slightly away from equipment to be hand wanded, walk through the metal detector, or needs to be carried through the metal detector by the parent/guardian.

Know that all no time should the Security Officer remove your child from his/her mobility aid (wheelchair or scooter). You are responsible for removing your child from his/her equipment at your discretion to accomplish screening.
Know that if your child is unable to walk or stand, the Security Officer will conduct a pat-down search of your child while he/she remains in their mobility aid, as well as a visual and physical inspection of their equipment.

TSA can even pat down children. This is something that could be practiced at home in anticipation of your child having this experience. Role play with the child doing a pat down so they will know what to expect if it happens to them or a family member. With organization and planning you can have a happy and pleasant travel experience during this busy holiday season.

The TSA is currently allowing 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume) in carryon luggage (go to tsa.gov for updates). You can have as many 3 ounce or less bottles/containers as will fit in a quart size zip plastic bag, but do not exceed 3 ounces per bottle/container.

Exceptions to the 3 once rule:
Declare larger liquids: Medications, baby formula, breast milk and food, are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

The TSA offers the following guidelines you can choose to follow that will speed up the security lines.

3-1-1 for carryon = 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.

Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.

If you are in doubt, put your liquids in your checked luggage.
Remember to call the airline to find out what time they recommend you check in at the airport. Each airline and airport may vary.

Happy and safe traveling!

Marilyn’s Bio

Marilyn is a professional organizer who works with women and seniors in clearing clutter and providing organizing tips. Clearing clutter helps those she works with to have less stress in their lives and feel more joy in living.
Marilyn invites you to visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com where you can find organizing solutions. You will find fun stories and free organizing tips in her blogs, articles and videos.

Marilyn is a professional organizer who works with women and seniors in clearing clutter and providing organizing tips. Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com for free organizing tips on her blogs, articles and videos.

Just as with any other event, planning a holiday party at your home, or at a restaurant or banquet hall is an exercise of creativity and organization.
Like all events, your holiday party can be as simple or as lavish as you wish. Holding a party at your home can be a little easier on the wallet than a restaurant or banquet hall party.
When to hold the party depends largely on your guests schedules and need to be taken into consideration when planning the time and day of your holiday party. Events welcoming spouses and significant others are best held on evenings and weekends. Events on a Saturday night tend to be more formal and lavish.
Planning a Home Holiday Party
A Holiday party at your house can be a lot of fun. It can also be pretty stressful.
At-home holidays parties have a “warm and cozy” feel to them, and can make socializing more comfortable and enjoyable.
Whether you serve brunch, lunch, dinner or cocktails, be sure the quality and taste of the food and drink is superior; this will add considerably to the party experience.
When deciding who to invite, take into account the size of your place and the fact that some guests will probably bring a friend or two without asking you. Do all your inviting at once so no one feels like they were an afterthought.
Try to make provisions for parking in advance. If you will be allowing guests to park on the lawn or in the back yard, let them know in your invitation.
Choose your finger snacks carefully. Choose foods that complement each other. Try setting a theme for the food in each room or on each table. Allow 4 to 6 hot hors d’oeurves per person. Don’t serve gooey, drippy sauces near expensive rugs or furniture.
Create items you can prepare in advance. Select what you can make from scratch, but don’t be afraid to use takeout. Also, a restaurant may be willing to fill your casserole dish with your favorite choice from their place.
Use shortcuts, like bagged lettuces for salads and bottled dressings. People feel that they have to be the ones to make everything; it’s not important who does, just that it’s done.
Create a festive party atmosphere with decorations, scents and music. Use scented candles or fill the house with a delightful aroma. However, don’t use scented candles at the dinner table. No matter how pretty they are, you do not want to mix the smell of one thing with what you’re eating; it can throw off the whole taste.
Choose your favorite music and have it playing softly in the background when guests arrive. Consider unplugging or removing your television if it’s located in the party area. Nothing spoils the interaction of guests quicker than a group of people huddled around a television set.
A scented candle in the bathroom is a nice touch. Leave an extra roll of toilet tissue in easy view.
Consider removing all the chairs from the party area. This will create more room for people to mingle.
Be sure to have plenty of hot coffee and snacks on hand for late in the evening. A coffee bar is a simple but elegant touch. Along with hot coffee, offer a bowl of whipped cream and an assortment of liqueurs (Kahlua, brandy, rum) so guests can create their own coffee drinks.
If you choose to have alcohol served at your home holiday party, don’t offer a full bar. Serve one specialty cocktail, and then offer wine and water. Make food available when the alcohol is served. Hire a professional bartender to serve drinks. Consider putting the alcohol away an hour or two before the conclusion of your party. Have a back up plan for people unable to drive home safely.
Note: The social host law, passed by the New Jersey legislature in 1987, says that if one of your guests consumes too much alcohol and injures someone in a car accident after the party, the injured person can recover damages from you. In some ways, the social host law runs counter to our natural impulse to please our guests. As hosts, we want to be generous; we want to have more than enough food and drink on hand, so that our friends will want for nothing. But it is through this natural generosity of spirit–and of spirits–that we might expose ourselves to lawsuits.
Whichever way you choose to go, — keep in mind that if you do serve alcoholic beverages, this could lead to some unpleasant, unsafe or litigious consequences: embarrassing or inappropriate behavior, unsafe driving, accidents or claims of sexual harassment. Avoid liability and keep workers safe by keeping a watchful eye for any over-indulgers and having designated drivers on hand if needed. Be sure to serve non-alcoholic drinks as well
Be sure to give yourself enough time to get ready. You want to be able to shower, do your hair and put on a nice dress. If you’re working right up until when your guests come, you’re going to look as frazzled as you feel
Restaurant and banquet hall parties
A benefit with the holiday season is that Christmas and holiday decorations are available almost everywhere you look, and if your event is being held at a restaurant, the facility may already be decorated for the holidays.
Another benefit in hosting a holiday party at a restaurant or banquet hall licensed to serve alcohol is the availability of professional bartenders and waiters that can monitor alcohol intake and politely cut off anyone they perceive has had enough to drink.
Luncheons are typically less expensive than dinners. Many restaurants offer a number of party menus to choose from; i.e., lower priced menus featuring less expensive foods such as chicken and pastas, or higher priced menus featuring entrees such as steak and shrimp.
Those plans including unlimited wine and beer are also considerably more expensive.
Because holiday parties are so popular, December is one of the busiest months of the year for the special events industry. That means hotels, restaurants, caterers, D.J.s, entertainers, are running at peak capacity. They book up quickly. So if you are planning your holiday party during this time of year, extend your time-line.
Hint: Consider moving your Holiday party to January or February. Facilities are in less demand and providers are able to be more flexible. Plus, during the middle of winter, people will welcome a chance to celebrate.
The holidays should be a festive and fun time, a time of good will and as much generosity as one can muster.
Frank Dalotto is a freelance writer and travel consultant. His specialty is writing articles about New Jersey travel, including attractions, events, and restaurant reviews. Frank works in New Jersey and is the owner and editor of New Jersey Leisure Guide http://www.new-jersey-leisure-guide.com and a travel consultant for Leisure Travel Mart. He is a member of ASTA (American Association of Travel Agents) and CLIA (Cruise Line International Association).
His academic credentials are:
MBA, Pace University
BSEE, University of Missouri