Summer is finally here, and vacation planning is in full swing. For families with children, the planning process can become very involved depending on the ages of the youngsters. Some parents want to recreate experiences that they enjoyed as children, while others may want to provide their children with trips that they wished they had. Whatever the motivation, most parents approach planning family vacations with a particular set of expectations. Sometimes, these expectations are not shared with the other parent or the children, and planning occurs without all the needed information.
Why Age and Development Matter
Expectations form the basis of vacation planning and can be very tricky to manage. Choosing a vacation activity that parents want, but their children are too young to fully participate in, is a guarantee of a terrible outcome. Families with children far apart in age also must plan carefully so that everyone will be able to do something they like. Taking an infant or young toddler on vacation requires yet another sort of planning.
Follow Routines for a Smoother Trip
Planning for the best response to the vacation requires careful consideration of the developmental needs and the temperament of each child. The younger the child, the closer the vacation activities should follow the child’s regular schedule for meals, naps, and bedtimes. Young children thrive with consistent, predictable routines; maintaining these schedules as much as humanly possible will make the vacation much more enjoyable for everyone. This also applies to children who have sensory issues with sounds, new smells, too much surrounding action, or too many people. It is important to choose a vacation setting that will not overwhelm a sensory-sensitive child.
Bring Comfort from Home
To help ease adjustment to new settings, parents should bring a few of the child’s “comfort” or ‘coping’ items on the trip. These might be a special blanket or favorite soft toy to snuggle at nap and bedtime to help the child settle for sleep. It could also be a favorite bedtime book, a special light, or music—whatever is familiar and soothing for each child. Packing comfortable clothes is also something that can ease transitions, especially if the child prefers certain textures against the skin. Having favorite snacks available for the child can help reduce the anxiety of being in strange new places. These kinds of preparations as well as bringing familiar comfort items, can help children cope with being away from their home environments.
Start Small Before Going Big
Parents with young children might want to consider shorter vacations, closer to home, until their children reach school age. Research consistently shows that children don’t begin to form coherent memories before the age of 5, so maybe save the big “memory-making vacations” until the child is school age, if possible. If a long vacation is being considered, it is a good idea to take a couple of local overnight trips. A local hotel or motel with a pool is a great place to start. It avoids long hours spent in a car, new sights, smells, and sounds, as well as practicing sleeping in an unfamiliar bed. Parents can bring comfort and coping items for their children and ‘test drive’ the new experience for a brief period.
Realistic Expectations Make for Better Vacations
Having a couple of overnight experiences while considering what sort of vacation to plan can help the children become more comfortable with changes, as well as allow parents to consider each child’s level of adaptability so they can choose the most appropriate vacation. This type of vacation preparation will contribute to more realistic expectations on the part of the parents, which can contribute to less frustration while on vacation. Sometimes we humans fool ourselves that vacations are magical breaks from reality, and when real life happens on vacations, we feel cheated. Realistic expectations MUST be part of every vacation in order to truly enjoy them!
