Family Vacation Survival Tips
Avoid Meltdowns, Tantrums, Trouble and Stress on Family Vacations
Family vacations can be stressful times filled with tantrums and trouble, but it doesn't have to be that way. Use these tips to survive your next family vacation.
While travel is fun, family vacations introduce challenges, stressors, long stretches of boredom and days of over-stimulation. These tactics will reduce the stress and increase the enjoyment of your vacation.
Keep Routines on Vacation
This is easily the most overlooked, yet most crucial, aspect to keeping things sane and calm on your family vacation. It's so easy in the excitement of sightseeing and travel activities to throw routine out the window. It's also easy, since you're in a strange place without the comforts of home, to think routine cannot be maintained.
You can keep a routine, even if it's done by following the simple things. Bring favorite toys and books. Maintain the same bedtime routines. If your child always naps at noon, it isn't fair to expect him or her to behave in a boring museum at that time. Go back to the hotel for lunch and a nap, and return to your day's activities afterwards. If your teen likes watching the Simpsons each evening, bring a DVD of the show and a portable DVD player.
Set Standards of Behavior
Your child may not be used to spending time in fancy restaurants or stuffy art galleries. Make it clear before you go that you expect good behavior on the trip. You can use the fun kid stuff as incentives.
If your child acts up during your family vacation, remove the child from the situation or give a time-out on the spot. Do not allow a tantrum to dictate your behavior or result in a reward just for the sake of peace.
Plan Ahead, but Be Flexible
While it is wonderful to be spontaneous on vacation, planning ahead can avert many meltdowns. If you know you want to see a certain attraction, it is best to head out first thing in the morning if you will need to return for a midday nap. If there will be long lines on Saturdays, visit popular spots on weekdays.
Even so, with children it is best to be ready to alter those plans at a moment's notice. Don't be so married to the idea that your road trip should last 6 hours that you don't give your children enough of a chance to stop and stretch their legs.
Be Realistic
Kids will only tolerate so much, and they do not have the capacity to cope that adults have. Put yourselves in their shoes. If you would get antsy visiting a stuffy museum, imagine how they will feel spending the afternoon shopping. Keep the activities that clearly will only interest adults to a minimum, or book a hotel with babysitting services so you can have some parents-only time.
Keep Them Entertained
The best thing you can do to keep the peace is to always be sure the children are entertained. Bored kids get grumpy, which leads to parents who get grumpy. Pack a family travel tote bag for the road with easy-to-access items. Let them pick out favorite items to bring along for the trip.
Share your tips. What are your secrets to surviving family vacations?
