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I remember the first big vacation we took together with my son
in Israel. On a beautiful summer day, we drove for an hour up
a steep cliff to see one of the most beautiful sites in the area,
the valley in which David slew Goliath. As we stood looking at
the breathtaking view, I held up my three-year-old and said to
him, "Mordechai, isn't it beautiful?" He looked at me
and said "Mommy, now can we go home and watch Barney?"
Sometimes the key with young
kids is to "Do Less and Enjoy More."
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While to adults vacation fun usually includes
new, exciting and different activities, what young children often
want most is what they are used to.
Does that mean that we should not bother
taking young kids on vacation? Of course not. What it does mean
is that it's worthwhile taking your child's needs and interests
into account in order to make a trip fun for the whole family.
Here are a few tips and issues to consider
in planning a trip with young kids.
Consider your Child's Schedule
Don't plan a non-stop day of touring and
expect your young child not to get cranky. If he is used to taking
a nap, plan a time in the middle of the day when you can go back
to your hotel room. Occasionally, he can miss a nap. After a week
of missed naps, though, you will have one cranky child on your
hands.
Look for Child-Friendly Activities
Look for fun playgrounds, petting zoos
and small amusement parks. While you may want to see the main
tourist attractions in an area, remember that if you also plan
something fun for your child, she will have more patience for
tourist activities.
Bring Along A Little Piece
of Home
Bring along some familiar favorite objects
on your trip. Your child's favorite book, toy and stuffed animal
should be going on your trip too.
Consider Splitting Up
Even during a family vacation, the whole
family does not have to do everything together. If there is a
great art museum you want to see, then split up. Let one parent
take the young children to a park and the other parent can go
to the museum. Later on or the next day, you can switch.
If there are older children in the family,
divide into two groups rather than listen to older children complain
about being bored. You can meet for supper and share the experiences
of your day as a family.
If you are a single parent, try and choose
locations that will have a park for your children and an interesting
historical site for you.
Plan for Healthy Meals
Family trips are notoriously times when
children eat junk food, McDonalds' children's meals and ice cream.
One week of poor nutrition will probably not have a long-lasting
effect on your child's health. But remember that the kind of foods
your child eats affect how he feels and, therefore, how he behaves.
A child who is stuffed full with sugar and carbohydrates is not
likely to stand in line quietly waiting for his turn.
Consider taking along some whole-wheat
bread and peanut butter and jelly, so that you can always whip
out a sandwich instead of running to the ice-cream stand when
your child is hungry. Pack some healthy snacks in your bag so
that you don't always have to resort to buying what is behind
the counter. Bring along a canteen of water to make sure that
your child drinks enough without filling herself up on soda.
Be Flexible
Plan in advance and know what you are doing
each day. But don't feel an obligation to stick with your plans
if they are not working for your child. If you plan a whole day
of traveling and your child wakes up that day in a cranky mood,
then consider switching to a shorter activity.
If you are in the middle of a tour and
your child is hungry or thirsty, take a break.
Sometimes by sticking too closely to the
"plan" you end up having a less enjoyable time. Sometimes
the key with young kids is to "Do Less and Enjoy More."
Don't Forget to Laugh
I don't know about you, but no matter how
well I plan my family trips, there are always surprises. So while
it is understandable to be a bit upset when things don't work
out as planned, try and keep a sense of humor. Give your child
(and spouse) a hug and kiss, take a step back and try to laugh
at the situation.
In fact, when I look back on that day on
the mountain, what I remember with most fondness is not the beauty
of the view (although it was beautiful), but our laughter over
a three-year-old whose priority was Barney.
So try and keep in mind that what counts
on a vacation is not always how many things you see, but how much
fun you have doing things together.
HAPPY VACATION!
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