Family time is essential. Period. Yeah! We understand that in order to provide the best for your family, you might be busy with your work. But connecting with your family helps you know each other better and strengthens your bond.
And what’s the best way to nurture your bond with your kids? Yes, you guessed it right! It’s taking some breaks from your hectic schedule and taking everyone for an exotic vacation.
Imagine this: you are on vacation with your family. The members have gone their separate ways to do whatever interests them. Obviously, that’s not going to help you in any way to bond with your kids.
So, if you are planning to go on a vacation in the near future, here are some tips that can help in nurturing your parent-child relationship whilst on a gateway.
Make your kids a part of the planning process
Kids love when they are asked to put in their suggestions and opinions for something important. So, you need to start the bonding process even before leaving for your vacation.
Taking their suggestions will make them feel like they have a voice in the house. They might also want to participate in other household decisions.
Ask your kids about where they want to go and what they want to do on their vacations. Even if you disagree with their opinions, try to incorporate their ideas as closely as possible in your vacation plans.
Suppose your kids want to go for a road trip to Durango, but you might not feel like driving for the whole trip. In that case, you can opt for a road trip for a short distance and then take a flight or train to the destination. This will help you all meet at the midpoint- everyone wins.
Establish a No-electronics rule for EVERYONE
Phones, the internet, and social media might be able to connect the whole world, but it has widened the gap between parents and kids. There is no point in going on a fun trip when everyone is glued to their cell phones and tabs.
And even if you manage to convince your kids to give up their phones and tabs for a certain portion of the day, you need to do the same as adults. This will create harmony amongst family members as everyone will be following the same rules.
But swearing off electronics on the trip and doing nothing can be boring for everybody. That’s the reason why you need to play some games, solve puzzles, read comics and do everything that keeps you all together.
Although sightseeing is a great way to explore the world, spending time with your family will help you explore each other. You can also plan some other family fun outdoor activities to keep your kids interested.
Speaking of…
Plan some family activities on the trip
Suppose you took your family to Colorado for the vacations. Now the adults have wine-tasting plans, while kids want to go lie and explore the beaches. That’s going to be a problem for everybody.
Plus, being on vacation is the best way to show your fun side to your kids. It passes a message to your kids that it’s not their hovering parents they are on vacation with; it’s their friends with whom they’ve come to enjoy.
So, you need to make sure that the adults are interested in the activities their kids might love and enjoy. For instance, if you all are in Colorado for your vacations, you can try visiting Durango for some family fun.
Speaking of enjoyment, there are several family activities in Durango that you can enjoy together. From walking North on Animas River Trail to paddle boarding and e-biking, there are so many family fun activities that can help you all bond.
Caution: Make sure your kids are above 6 years of age to try such adventurous activities.
Also, if your kids want to lie on beautiful beaches and make sandcastles, let them have what they want for a day. In fact, you can even teach them how to make pretty and giant sandcastles on the beach. You can also go hiking, fishing, camping, and picnics with your kids and just have fun.
The motive behind all this is to let your kids remember you as parents interested in their interests. And they would surely have fun on their family vacations.
Eat meals together
Family dinners provide a safe environment where everyone can talk about literally anything. It’s one of the best ways to get inside your children’s heads and know about what’s going on in their lives.
So, when on vacation, try to have at least one or two meals with your kids. In fact, eating with your kids is something you must do even if you are at home.
Anyway, make everyone come out of their hotel rooms, take them to a restaurant nearby, and chat over dinner. Or you can even take them for late-night ice cream treats or let them cheat on their regular routine for once.
After all, it’s a vacation; everyone should be able to have fun, even if it means sneaking them out for dessert before dinner.
Give everyone some space
Any relationship can thrive only if there is a healthy breathing space in it. Even if you are on a family vacation, it doesn’t mean that you all HAVE to stick with each other ALL THE TIME. Hovering around your kids on their time off can be a bit annoying.
Also, doing everything together on the trip can turn a fun vacation into a boring one.
So, make sure you plan your vacations in such a way that everyone gets to do whatever they want to do. If adults want to go shopping in a mall while kids want to chill in the gaming section, let them have it. Or if your kids want to visit an adventure park to spend their whole day, take them to the best one in town.
You might feel like you are spoiling your kids with this, but hey, it’s vacation time; everyone should get what they want for a day.
Wrapping up,
Everyone wants to have a healthy relationship with their kids. But sometimes, your responsibilities and work deadlines might end up stealing you from your children. And that’s where family vacations can help. It gives you a chance to nurture your parent-child relationship effortlessly.
