Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

5 ways to incorporate bonding time with your kids on a getaway

family vacation
Family vacations create fond memories for a lifetime when done right. TravnikovStudio/Shutterstock

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Include kids in planning the vacation if they're old enough.
  • Keep some aspects of your family's routine like shared meals, but decrease phone use.
  • Take unexpected hiccups in stride and try not to get too stressed.
Advertisement

When Rachel Sussman's daughter was little, she ate gelato three times in one day on a family trip to Italy. Even now that she's grown, they still reminisce about her insatiable taste for the frozen treat.

It's memories like these that make family vacations worthwhile. Sussman, a licensed clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist in New York City, told INSIDER that there are "tremendous benefits" to traveling together.

"When I think back on all the family vacations that my husband and daughter and I took, even to this day, we make jokes about it," she said. "You're away from all the pressures of your day-to-day life and you're just freed up to have these great experiences."

Here's how to get the most out of your next trip as a family.

Advertisement

Include kids in planning

family water slide
Waterpark? Check. Poznyakov/Shutterstock

Where do your kids want to go on vacation, and how do they want to spend it? If they're old enough to have an opinion, incorporating them into the planning process ensures that they won't be bored and instills confidence by showing them that their input matters. 

Once the planning is done, Sussman recommends having another meeting to talk about expectations and set some rules for the trip.

Establish no-phone zones

parent kid selfie texting phone
Smartphones are fun, but distracting. Don Arnold/Getty Images

One such rule might be reducing everyone's phone use. (Yes, parents too!) Smartphones are addictive, so it might be tough at first, but the whole point of a family vacation is to spend time together away from everyday distractions. 

Take advantage of limited phone service on international trips by unplugging for a bit. Even if you're not traveling overseas, Sussman recommends blocking off a few hours where everyone puts their devices away and focuses on being present.

Advertisement

Eat meals as a family

family
You can still do family meals on vacation. Sean Gallup/Getty

Family dinners provide structure and give everyone a chance to talk about their days. While vacations provide a welcome break from your everyday routine, Sussman says eating meals as a family is still a valuable practice to maintain.

Divide and conquer

mom and daughter
Get some mother-daughter bonding in. Flickr/Still Vision

If different kids want to do different activities, there's no reason you can't have it all by splitting up for a day and having each parent do something else. That way, everyone gets what they want — including more individual quality time for parents and kids to bond.

Expect the unexpected 

Flight canceled
Try not to stress out. REUTERS/Mike Segar

"Traveling can be stressful," said Sussman. "Your flights can be delayed or canceled, you might lose your luggage, maybe your hotel room isn't ready, maybe your hotel room isn't there. So just prepare for the worst and make a pact that you're all going to join together to make it the best time you can no matter what."

Read the original article on INSIDER. Copyright 2017.

Follow INSIDER on Facebook.

Follow INSIDER on Twitter.
Family Vacation Travel
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account