Going on Family Holidays is something that we cherish, some of our fondest memories growing up are family vacations. Now your child is growing up, you can’t help but notice that they are moody and absorbed in the technology world. Does this all sound familiar? Well here are some handy tips to make the most of your get away.
Choose your destination wisely
Being stuck in the woods with no reception is a teens worst nightmare, this may be a parents dream come true because their square eyed child is forced to return to the real world the likelihood of a teen being pleasant during their digital detox is unlikely. During adolescence we should balance their needs with ours, harmonising independence with family bonding time can be difficult. We recommend choosing a hotel with an arcade, or national park nearby so your teen can have a nice escape where they can be alone then come back for family time. This is why a cruise can work well.
Let your child decide
Remember that your child is becoming an adult and although they may initially respond with a “whatever” type response, deep down they would like to be a part of the process so maybe ask probing questions about destinations, share hotel links, a list of activities and ideas of sightseeing and activities. Having your child involved in the decision process will empower them to have a good time, even if they do not make any decisions at least they were given the opportunity to give their input, so they shouldn’t complain during the holiday – it’s a win-win situation.
Set a budget
If you give your teen their allowance in advance and let them keep the change they are encouraged to be independent and don’t feel restricted. Let them keep the change of anything they don’t spend and they shouldn’t spend it all at once.
Bring a friend
As long as this friend is a positive influence on your child, it can be well worth letting your teen bring a friend on a holiday. The friend should be well mannered because they are grateful for the holiday and a guest on the holiday which should rub off on your teen. Do you have close family friends with similar aged children? It may be worth planning a holiday together.
Sleeping in
Remember that teenagers need just over 9 hours sleep, so if Teens are a little later to bed and later to rise we need to be understanding that they are physically programmed to do so during adolescence. Maybe use your mornings to go for a walk, read a book or do a family activity that your teen wouldn’t be interested in. Remember the more freedom and independence that you give your child the happier they will be, of course you can invite them to wake up early to join in on an activity and they may decide to switch off technology and go to bed early.
Compromise
Strike a deal with screen time, communicating with your teen about the amount of time that they spend in front of technology. Work out periods of time that you think are suitable, after dinner, before breakfast, when commuting? Remember that the digital world can also bring you loser together, having a snap happy teen on holidays will capture memories. Maybe they could join you in a selfie?
Being active
Could you face your fears with your teen or are you an active family? Adrenalin fuelled holidays are proven to be memorable holidays, just remember that it is a family holiday is about spending time doing things that each family member wants to do, you are a team after all. Could this be snowboarding, jetskiing, or exploring caves? This may sound like a bad idea for parent, just remember that teenagers prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed so risk taking is enjoyable. We aren’t recommending to jump off a cliff with your child though studies shows that teens enjoy this, You could seek small thrills involved with being active, why not choose a destination that is close to a volleyball court, surf school, horse riding, or go to the snow mountains.
Remember that Teens need their space and they thrive off sharing their experiences with their peers. The most precious gift that we can give our kids is our time, this is why family holidays are important for your children especially adolescents we want to empower them create a holiday to remember!
