We're taking a family road trip this summer and want to keep the kids engaged during the drive. We've asked each of our children to look at landmarks along the route we're going to take. That will give them something to look forward to as we drive across the I-70 and will make the trip more memorable since they had a part in the planning.
Children participation in planning the family trips gives them an opportunity to realize their power and creates a dose of anticipation because they wait for the coming trip. My kids don’t like to plan travel; here is one interesting and fun way I’ve involved them in the planning: we made a “Vacation Vision Board” together. The process starts with a family meeting where we sit down and consider destinations for the coming vacation. Every member of the family and tarves around them gets a chance to lay their preferences and must-haves for the trip. This discussion ensures that whatever type of activity, one is interested in whether it shall be enjoying a beach adventure or engaging in a mountain retreat, no person will be left out. We then collect magazines, travel brochures and downloaded versions of possible destinations. Equipped with scissors, glue and poster boards, we begin our trip towards the recreation of our Vacation Vision Board. The children excitedly toss through magazines, trim pictures of areas, exercises, even certain attractions they would like to see. The Vision Board can then function as a symbolic embodiment of our common expectations that involve our holidays. It is a dynamic mosaic that brings out enthusiasm and curiosity for the new fascinating journey. Cutting out the images and pasting them, however simple, brings about a hands-on element in the planning process that helps cultivate the kids’ decision-making abilities. Our Vision Board is prominently displayed in the largest part of our home as a daily reminder of the approaching beach escape. It is not only exciting but also helps the children develop a feeling of responsibility for their plans for their vacation. Notably, this strategy ensures that the planning process does not only involve the children but also transforms it into a fun and creative family activity. It is a stepping stone to collective enthusiasm and long-lasting moments that are created for the vacation even before you start your journey.
When planning a vacation, I Google the name of the city we're visiting and let the kids explore the different things to do there. We'll look at websites, photos, and Facebook pages together to see what our options are and how we want to spend our time. Each kid gets to pick one or two activities, depending on the cost of the activity and the length of our trip. Giving them some control helps them feel excited about our trip.
No family vacation is ever the same as the last one. Certainly one key reason is that our kids continue to grow, expanding their interests, re-defining their food choices and increasing their level of energy. Also, we feel comfortable offering them greater input when reasonable choices are available. We love to include our children in the planning process for family vacations as it really helps them feel they had an impact on the overall trip. We often give our two little boys one small aspect of the trip, like one evening or one afternoon, to make the "important" choices. Even if you just give them some options, like "Italian" or "Mexican," your kids will feel invested in the trip and it usually results in better behavior and happier little ones. Another angle that has proven to be a winner is to find activities that complement their current school studies, sports or hobbies. We have found that when they are showing a new interest in oceans or fish, for example, then we readily suggest a view to the aquarium. We also let our kids get excited by making "decorations" for the trip -- maybe it's a sign that says "Happy Birthday" or something small, but it can have a big impact of your children feeling seen and put an imprint on the trip, hanging the sign in the hotel for all to see.