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Hey, parents! Are you planning that perfect family vacation for the whole family? Here at John A. Gerling DDS, MSD, we know that summer is the season when many families choose to hit the open road- or catch a flight- to make those memories together. That’s why we want to share a few tips for summer travel from our friends at Shine.
1) Have your teens set the pace—and even the itinerary. No teen wants to be dragged around a city that they have no interest in. By allowing everyone a voice in the trip itinerary, children and parents alike become more invested in the vacation.
2) Everyone offers up a playlist. A trip soundtrack isn’t complete without a hodgepodge of every family member’s favorite tracks!
3) Set a limit on phones/electronics use. This decision has to be specific to your family, but a good rule of thumb is that if you’re setting the rules for minute limits or check-ins that all family members should stick to them- not just teens and tweens.
4) Keep food & drinks on hand. Sometimes a snack is all you need to stay cheery- hunger can oftentimes create unnecessary arguments and tension between families.
5) Don’t make them clean the hotel room. While on vacation, the same rules that apply at home for cleaning don’t necessarily apply while staying in a hotel.
6) Set a gift shop budget. These costs can add up quickly, so be sure to set limits ahead of time!
7) Give them a little freedom. When traveling with tweens and teens, it is important that they are able to have some areas, maybe a five-block radius or even the hotel lobby, where they are able to wander without the whole family.
We hope that these tips are useful for helping plan those family vacations! For more articles on parenting and for the parenting pick of the day, check out Shine. Also, if you have any great family vacation photos, feel free to share them on our Facebook page!
Happy travels!
