Involving kids in trip planning
"I'm bored!" "This vacation sucks!" "I want to go home!" Do you fear hearing these words on your family vacations? If you involve your kids in the trip-planning process, you probably won't. Kids who help develop a vacation itinerary can't complain; they have to take some responsibility for the vacation. Plus, involved kids will get more excited about going on a trip, not to mention learn a lot more while you're there. Here's how you can include your kids in planning your next adventure.
Tykes, ages 2 to 7
Kids at this age aren't ready to make a destination decision-that should be left to mom and dad. But after you pick a vacation spot, you can educate them. Going to Hawaii? Show them YouTube videos of hula dancers, ukulele players and surfers tearing through the waves. Cross-country road trip? Get out a map or buy a puzzle of the United States. Headed for Paris? Read them children's books, such as Eloise in Paris and Madeline, which are set in the City of Lights.
Once your child becomes acquainted with the location, you can start to ask her what she wants to do there. Come up with a list of three things that she wants to do and carry it with you on the trip. After you visit the Eiffel tower or build a sand castle, let her check it off the list.
Tweens, ages 8 to 12
An opinionated 10-year-old has interests and hobbies. He or she knows whether they like playing in the waves at the beach or hiking through the woods so let your tween decide on the type of vacation. You can offer up category possibilities-beach, theme park, mountains, big city-and allow them to pick one.
Next step: Offer up a few destinations in that category and they pick one. But don't allow them to instantly make up their mind. Get some guidebooks from the library and make them do the research.
Teens, ages 13 to 18
Give teens a budget and a time frame and see what they come up with. Encourage them to use maps, the Internet and books. You can even suggest that they talk to friends who have visited the destination. Set up a special time for them to present the itinerary. You have the authority to veto anything but try to be open-minded. Once you approve the itinerary, you can even let your teenager make the reservations. If you're not ready to give up total control, give them two or three destination options and let them research and pick one.
You might also consider allowing your teen to invite another family friend to come along since teens usually prefer their friends over their parents. Your teen and their friend can plan the trip together ? a great exercise in teamwork.
More than one kid making the decisions?
Hold a family meeting, discuss options, and vote. Or switch off. Let your oldest plan the first trip and your youngest plan the next one. And there's always the lottery system. Everyone writes down some possibilities on paper. Put them in a hat and let someone pick the winning vacation.
|
|
 |
|
|
