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Parents with children often postpone vacations with their kids or at least plan vacations at hotel resorts that offer a bunch of activities such as water sports, clowns, billiard tables, tennis and soccer grounds and many more such as basketball courts and swimming pools. But this is the not the most appropriate way to go about things when you have children. In fact, it's harmful. A child needs a vacation just like an adult but you need to use that time to bond with your children on different levels than you would when at home.
Here are the three most important things a parent should do when they go for a vacation with their kids:
1) Travelling is not just a time where you reenergize yourself, but you must try and re-energize your relationship with your children. Find out what they like and then go with them and take an active part in their activities while making sure not to cross the parent-child boundaries that you have already set. Some things you could do is swimming or playing fetch in the pool using a rubber ball. You could also take them to a billiard table or tennis court and teach them how to play. In any case, prefer the physical sports over the computer ones.
2) Take along a few board games and set up a time to play them outside either by the pool, by the seashore or on the grass. The best time for such a thing is in the early evening at around six or seven. This is usually the time when the activities are about to take a break and people will be going to get ready for dinner which is usually served at around eight. In any case, arrange it so that you have at least an hour of playing time and then stop when you finish the allocated period. Do this and your children will wish you didn't stop and won't get tired.
3) Do not head for the dining room immediately but rather go when it's about a half-and hour before the end of the meal. The children will have less time to fool around and most of the tables will be empty thus saving you any embarrassment even if they do make a mess.
At all times, please remember that you are on vacation so lax the rules a tiny bit but not too much. Once your children realize that all the behavioral rules still apply, they will act accordingly and won't start misbehaving. But never make a scene when their friends are around. Instead. Wait till they return to their room and then explain why their actions were harmful and why you will not accept such behavior. If they refuse to listen, discipline them. Remember that a vacation is just a short time, but your kids are forever.
Priya Nehra writes about online blackjack games, tips and strategy for a living, but as a mother of five children aged 4-16 she also freelances for offline and online magazines on parenting. |
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