Traveling with Children - Winter Edition - Many families are finding that vacation destinations can be more accommodating and safer for their children than previously thought. By: Sheri Castello, Daycare.com Chairmom

 Traveling with children can be an exciting and wonderful adventure. It can provide your family with many memories that will last a lifetime. Research, planning and a lot of organization can help make the difference between a vacation that needs a vacation to recuperate, or a vacation that was invigorating, adventurous and restful, all at the same time. Keeping in mind, you want your time spent with your family to be healthy and safe for everyone. Parents are demanding daycare services when they're on the road. In fact, family vacations also mean some special time for Mom and Dad to unwind for a few hours without the kids. Hotel concierges are prepared to arrange for in-room nannies to watch the kids while the parents head out for a romantic dinner or take in a show.

A childcare center may not be the first thing you'd expect at a ski lodge. Small World Child Care center in Mammoth Lakes, California, is equipped with everything you'd find at any daycare facility. There are cribs made up in a separate room for napping, as well as toys, face painting, a play house and other child-friendly amenities. Many moms are able to return to the center and nurse their babies, then go back to the slopes. You can leave your child there all day and know he or she is in a nice, safe and caring environment.

If you are looking for a little fun in the snow, Mammoth Mountain might be the place for you. Mammoth is a very family friendly community. They have activities all year around, it is beautiful and the weather is enjoyable. It’s only a five hour drive from Los Angeles and there are several cute little towns that you pass along the way. They do have an airport, but it is used only by small private planes and charter planes.

With younger children, especially when they are first starting to ski, try to pick times of the year when the weather is mild. You want the sun and the stars all lined up and everything in their favor. You don’t want the snow blowing in their faces and frostbite on their tiny noses. March is the best month. It is beautiful spring time skiing and the weather is warm. Remember to drink a lot of water, and I mean a lot. You need to stay hydrated in the higher altitude.

My family and I recently took a trip to Mammoth to visit Small World Child Care. I wanted to see what it was like as I had never left my children there when they were younger because I had too many reservations and did not feel comfortable leaving my kids with an unfamiliar daycare. I now wish I had visited this center a long time ago. I sat down and talked with Director Debbie Teller, and she really put me at ease. This is a great daycare center. Debbie and her staff were very professional and they made me feel so welcomed. During a tour of the center, I noticed the infants were all playing happily and were very well attended to. "The key", Debbie says, "is her staff". "They are very friendly and understand that they are complete strangers to the children. They know that the children need extra one on one attention and hugs and kisses". They try to get them involved into the program right away. Another key component is that they are one of the few that offer infant care. There are a lot of parents who have children under the age of two who want to ski and they provide that service for them.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when leaving your child with an unfamiliar and/or temporary daycare facility:

- Research on-line about the facility and find out any reviews. Chat with other families about their experiences there. Make sure the daycare facility you choose is licensed, and find out how many staff people are in each classroom.

- Call ahead well in advance to reserve a spot for your child. This will ensure that the facility will be adequately staffed.

- Arrive to your destination early enough to take a tour of the daycare facility, meet the staff and observe the facilities’ cleanliness. This could make all the difference in the world.

Here are some signs of a good daycare:

A good reputation

Established ground rules

A stimulating curriculum

A qualified, caring staff

Clean, safe facilities

A current license

Parents are finding it possible that they can enjoy so many things other than skiing. Drop-in childcare centers are cropping up in a variety of places that you might not expect, from shopping malls to casinos, gyms, grocery stores and country inns among others.

As Chairmom, I hope to bring you many tips and ideas along with some new and interesting places that you and your family might want to visit to help make your experiences more enjoyable.

In addition to reading this article, you should also read our other travel tips sections since many of those tips apply both to children and adults.

Mammoth's state-licensed facility offers age-appropriate classrooms for children newborn to age 12. Combination lesson/child care programs are designed to allow you and your child to choose the amount of ski/snowboard instruction desired each day.

Small World Child Care is open 8am-4:30pm daily. Reservations for daycare are recommended at least three weeks in advance: 760.934.0646

• Located inside the Mammoth Mountain Inn across from Main Lodge
• Slopeside access, steps away from chairlifts and the Panorama Gondola
• Advanced reservations recommended to ensure space

Contact: 760-934-0646
Hours: Opening Mid December
License: 263808343, 263808345
Location: 10400 Minaret Road
Mammoth Lakes, CA
93546

THE VILLAGE AT MAMMOTH

• Located at The Village at Mammoth, next door to The Side Door Cafe
• Steps from the free Village Gondola, which connects to Canyon Lodge
• Perfect for those staying at The Village Lodge or The Westin
• Advanced reservations recommended to ensure space

Contact: 760-934-0632
Hours: Open 8AM-4PM
License: 263808720, 263808765
Location: 100 Canyon Blvd, Suite 233
Mammoth Lakes, CA
93546