Holiday abroad - what to get for 8yo dd?

[charliewww]

I wasn't sure where to post this!

I'm taking 8yo dd on her first holiday abroad for a week in the summer. We are going to Greece all inclusive with a swim up room, and it's right on the beach. We won't be doing much, just relaxing for the week.

It might be a stupid question but what do I need to pack for her? Obviously the usual clothes, swimming costume, sun cream etc. but is there anything I wouldn't necessarily think of? I'm going to buy her a towel poncho and some sliders for around the pool.

DS is 9 and an avid swimmer, he can entertain himself for hours with sinkers and similar small pool toy - you can buy there ofcourse but depending on your luggage allowance it's easier and cheaper to bring with. Sand toys too but there are bulky and I do normally buy there.

He loves a treat magazine for the plane and quiet times in the hotel room - like a national geographic or whatever she is into. We also bring care games like uno, dobble and similar for the evenings. Have a great time!!!

Reins?? 🤣🤣 for an 8 year old? 🤣🤣
Fucking hell I've heard it all now!!

Check to see if your hotel supplies pool towels, ours did and then we just took smaller micro finer towels for the beach.

colourful zinc is quite fun for their faces if they are reluctant to wear face sun cream!

goggles or one of those immersive swim/scuba masks are great!

Medical stuff for bites and headaches, plasters and a book for her to read,

Headphones for the plane, so she can watch something in peace.

She wasn’t 8yo and she wasn’t with her parents!!

Nor did she wear a harness and reins

If she'd worn harness and reins she'd still have been kidnapped as they'd have been neither use nor ornament with no parent at the other end...

There are far more age appropriate ways to keep an 8 year old safe than a harness and reins.

Why chance it then!

I believe statistically, women in their late teens and adulthood are more likely to be victims of a stranger abduction than an 8 year old. What age are you planning to stop using reigns? Maybe once she has a child of her own?

Look, I understand the desire to be cautious. But all you are doing by putting reins on an 8 year old is teaching that 8 year old that the world is an insanely scary place and that they cannot ever be trusted and that they can't trust you to look after them either. It's not just that it's paranoid, I genuinely believe that kind of behaviour is bad for your children.

Reins... for an 8yo.. WTF is this? The fact the two posters are doubling down on this rather than having misread the OP just makes me even more flabbergasted!!

She was left in a hotel room by herself not walking along a street holding an adults hand.

I lived in that part of the world with children aged 2-6. Never saw a child older than a toddler in reins. Do you use them in the UK too? I mean... train stations get pretty busy...

How good a swimmer is she? If not confident, I recommend swim jackets. Lots of flexibility of movement. If they are confident, diving toys are fun. Or even just some small coins.

Afternoon, insect cream, plasters.
Baby wipes come in useful.

Check your mobile roaming. If you are worried about her getting lost, one of those wristbands with your phone number

Enjoy your holiday.

That's a bit OTT for an 8 year old. I would hold her hand crossing roads, especially with traffic coming from a different direction from the UK, bit that's about all. Imagine how your DD would feel, attached to reins.
A few children are kidnapped, but many millions are not.

It isn't a bad idea to give your dc a card with your contact details for them to slip into a pocket when traveling.
They do not need reins aged 8

Also Uno suggested by pp is a good idea, we always play that on holiday in the evening.

Light backpack for her to carry a drink when you are out and about.
Camera a great idea for her to record her holiday.
Comfy sandals.
Oversized soft t shirt to throw on.

Where do you even get reigns to fit an 8yr old and how on earth do you convince them to wear them?? I couldn't even get a 4yr old to use the buggy on holiday cos it was "for babies"!! Seriously, if you're that worried you'd probably find it more relaxing staying at home than going on holiday.
Dobble is good too as it's small and easy to pack.

Reins for an 8 year old is hilarious 😂 have you actually taken an 8 year old away? They're perfectly capable of staying close without bloody reins!

We took an inflatable to leave there as they are so expensive there. Dobble and Monopoly cards were a good family thing to have for the evenings

harness and reins as you don’t know the towns or surroundings and neither does she

This is surely not a serious suggestion?

Diving toys for pool
grown up colouring book/ pens - you can get postcard versions
swim shoes if rocky sea and beach
headphones for on plane if iPad/ music

I don’t understand the backlash this comment is getting. OP asked for suggestions and got one. Reigns may not be for everyone but they certainly have their uses, especially in these developing countries.

My suggestions:-
A small bag of those little bouncy balls - fun to dive down and collect from the pool
A deck of cards - perfect age to learn Patience, Go Fish etc.
A book of puzzles for the flight or ferry her to do while you are showering etc.
Pack of dominos for you to play at dinner
A couple of books.
If she still likes toys, how about a vintage polly pocket set off ebay? The newer sets are massive and less fun.

Greece is not a developing country....