How We’re Preparing for a One-Year Family Trip with Three Young Kids

Planning a one-year trip around the world with three young kids isn’t just about packing bags and booking flights. It’s also all about building a safety net physically, mentally, and emotionally, so we can start the adventure with confidence. Here’s how we’re preparing!

1. Vaccinations: Very fast & efficient

We went back to Tan Tock Seng’s vaccination clinic, the same place we used during previous last year-long trip. It started first with a consultation with the doctor who took time to understand our plan and route, before recommending the suitable vaccinations that we should take. And what we really appreciated was the super speed of the nurses injecting the kids. Each kid had to have 2 jabs on the same arm, and the nurses were so quick that by the time our kids could react, the jab was done.

2. Insurance: Peace of Mind for the Unexpected

Insurance is non-negotiable when travelling. There’s so much uncertainty out there, and having solid coverage helps us focus on the journey instead of worrying about expensive medical bills.

We chose SafetyWing, a provider that specialises in nomadic insurance. Their plans are designed for long-term travelers, and they really understand the needs of families on the move. And the best thing is, kids under 10 are covered for free under the basic package, which is perfect for our three little ones.

3. Self-Defence: Awareness and Empowerment

We wanted to be prepared, not paranoid, but aware. Travelling is eye-opening, but it can also be unpredictable. As parents, we took a course at KAPAP Academy that focuses on street defense skills and worst-case scenarios and how to respond calmly and effectively. It was intense, but incredibly useful.

For the kids, we didn’t have time to enroll them in a full program, so we introduced them to a few trial classes. It wasn’t about mastery, it was about exposure. They learned how to recognise unsafe situations, how to respond, and most importantly, they felt empowered. Knowing that they can do something on their own in an unsafe situation matters.

4. First Aid: Skills That Travel With Us

We took a certified first aid course focused on children, offered by Singapore Red Cross. When you’re travelling, clinics aren’t always nearby and help isn’t always immediate. This course was a great refresher and helped us build a customised first aid kit for the road.

We also joined a family-friendly first aid workshop with the kids. It was a great experience, very hands-on, engaging, and practical. The kids learned basic first aid skills, which could be crucial in moments when we’re not right beside them.

5. Our Safety SOP: Simple, Repeatable, Empowering

We created a Safety Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with the kids. It’s not complicated, but it’s consistent. They know what to do if they get lost, how to identify safe adults, and how to spot red flags. We also taught them a few emergency phrases in local languages to help them ask for help if needed.

We practice it regularly, like a game, so it becomes second nature without feeling scary.

It is also important to not only have a SOP with the kids, but a SOP with both of us parents. When it happens, both of us know what to do immediately without having to discuss or communicate.

6. Planning the Trip: Flexible, Layered, and Kid-Centric

With kids, you never really know what each day will bring. So we kept our plans flexible. So far, we’ve only booked a one way flight to our first destination and accommodation for the first week. We chose a city as our starting point to help the kids acclimatise slowly to the new environment, time zone and life style.

We do have a rough idea of which countries we want to visit, but no fixed dates. Our planning depends on weather, visa requirements, political stability, and kid-friendly activities. If something needs to be booked months in advance, we’ll lock it in, but otherwise, we’re leaving room for spontaneity.

Because with kids, spontaneity isn’t optional, it’s survival. No cap.

This trip isn’t just about seeing the world. It’s about doing it safely, intentionally, and together. We’re not aiming for perfection, we’re aiming for presence.