It's been said that a family vacation isn't really a vacation at all for the parent in charge of the trip. Making arrangements, packing, seeing to it that everyone is fed and entertained, keeping up with the itinerary, and then unpacking and recouping - - a vacation from what, exactly?
If you're set on your family having a fun family trip together, here are some things you can do to make it smooth sailing.
Put Together a Toy Bag
The next time you get a free tote bag, let your child personalize it and make it his “trip bag.” Fill it with handheld games, Mad Lib books, puzzles, notepads and colored pencils, a travel-sized Etch-a-Sketch and other small games.
Before a trip, refresh your toy bag with something new – a surprise that will keep your child occupied for the first part of a long car trip or airplane ride.
Add some healthy snacks, so his bag will be all he needs to get him through the trip.
Don’t Let Kids Pack By Themselves
Even teens need some supervision when packing. No one can remember everything, so check your children’s suitcases and make sure they remembered to pack underwear, socks, pajamas, all toiletries, a book, shoes for any occasion, a list of addresses for sending post cards, dressy clothes if needed, a swimsuit if needed, and clothes for relaxing.
Don’t Forget the Meds and the Hardly-Ever-Use-‘Ems
Most people think packing for a trip means going through a typical morning and throwing into a suitcase whatever they use from the bathroom and bedroom. But what about the things you only occasionally use? Seasonal medicines, pain relievers, fever reducers, a thermometer, maps and travel guides, addresses and phone numbers, emergency contact information, cameras, extra film or memory cards, extra batteries, chargers for cell phones and iPods, sweaters, an umbrella – think of all scenarios and imagine your children whining, “I wish we would have brought the –" and beat them to the punch.
Let Your Kids Plan a Day of Vacation
When planning your vacation, let each of your children choose something they’d like to do. If they’re old enough, let them research it, help make the arrangements, and let the rest of the family know what they’ll be seeing or doing. When children have a hand in a vacation, they feel some ownership and they’ll enjoy it much more.
BYO “Stuff” For Restaurant Meals
Mealtime is sometimes the part of a vacation in which the whole family can take a breather, relax and re-energize. Make mealtime just as enjoyable for your young children by bringing along all that you need for a meal.
Don’t rely on restaurants to have a high chair, booster seat, sippy cup, child-sized utensils and bibs. If you travel with any frequency at all, invest in a portable high chair – the type that clamps onto the side of the table is nice, but the table can’t have any obstruction and must be able to support the weight.
Keep Notes and Encourage Your Kids to Keep Trip Journals
You may think you’ll always remember what you did on your second day in Italy. But after a fun-filled whirlwind vacation, you may forget some of your favorite vacation highlights.
At the end of the day, sit down with a journal and jot down what you did, along with funny stories, how the children reacted to new sights and experiences, and any advice to yourself for future trips.
Encourage your children to do the same and they’ll have a vacation keepsake of their own. Leave space in a blank book for photos to add after the vacation is over.
Balance Your Trip With Some R and R
It’s tempting to cram as much fun into your vacation as you can. But remember, kids need some relaxation on a vacation, too. Build some time into your trip for lounging around the pool, curling up in the hotel with a rented movie, or just walking around town with no agenda. You’ll be refreshed and ready to take on your next busy adventure.
Split Up, If Necessary
Sure, it’s a family vacation. But that doesn’t mean that every minute has to be spent in a group, all doing the same thing. If some of you want to hit the shops and others want to walk the beach, don’t hesitate to split up and meet up later.
If your next family vacation includes a long car trip, try some of these family car games to pass the time.
 |
