During family vacation, parents and children spend time away from the usual daily grind of school, work, household chores and other obligations to bond and have fun together. This quality time outside the normal routine helps to strengthen the family relationship, and research has found that people return from vacation happier and more relaxed than when they left.
It is important to make a plan for your family vacation before you leave. This allows you to choose destinations that will cater to everyone’s needs, interests and budget. It’s also a good idea to communicate with the entire family about their hopes, desires and expectations for the trip. This ensures that all members of the family will enjoy the vacation and can participate in activities they will enjoy.
A family vacation provides a unique learning opportunity. For example, if you decide to take your kids to a new city on the other side of the country, this is a great opportunity to teach them about geography and how different cultures may differ from their own. Likewise, traveling to an ocean for a beach vacation gives your children the opportunity to learn about sea life and how the tide goes in and out.
Another way a family vacation can help your child learn is by visiting a museum or other attraction that promotes learning through play. Whether it’s at the zoo, aquarium, children’s museum or other fun learning venue, visiting these places on your family vacation can allow your child to engage in activities that will expand their knowledge and boost their confidence.
Lastly, family vacations can help your children develop coping skills for dealing with stress in their lives. Throughout the day-to-day grind of family life, it’s easy for children to become overwhelmed and stressed. This is why it’s important to provide them with the opportunity to escape from their everyday stresses, even if only for a short time. During a family vacation, your child can practice resetting, refocusing and re-energizing, skills that they will use in their future.
So, the next time you hear someone tell you there is no such thing as a family friendly vacation, remember that it is important to plan ahead and be flexible. While your kids will probably be happy most of the time, you might encounter some tough moments during your trip — like long museum lines or unexpected rain. But if you stay positive and encourage your children to keep going, they will learn that they can overcome any challenges on vacation. And that’s the best lesson of all.
