VACATION RENTALS INFORMATION |
|
Vacationing with Children
Traveling with children will be a memorable event - the question is "What kind?" Your chances of a lifetime memory you will cherish increase significantly with some advance communication and preparation. The book, Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever, outlines a five-step process you can apply to organizing any area of your life - including traveling with children of any age. Make the children a part of the trip by letting them help you plan. Your children will enjoy the trip more if they feel they have some say about the agenda. Get books from the library, or do an Internet search, on the area you plan to visit. Give them some options of what to do and actually use some of their suggestions. Who knows? You may enjoy their suggestions more than you think. Here is a guide to vacationing with children, using the 5 steps: 1. Design your vision. The first step to happy memories is good communication. Start scheduling family meetings to plan - the earlier the better. At the first meeting, ask each member of the family to describe what he or she would like to have in order to have a wildly successful vacation. It's a great idea to put some structure into this discussion. Use a flip chart and have family members take turns recording answers. Subsequent meetings can be used to work out each of the next steps. 2. Eliminate your obstacles. Mark Twain is credited with saying "Progress starts with the truth." Certainly that applies in this situation. For example, some teens simply do not think it's "cool" to travel with mom and dad. If you want your teens to enjoy their travel experience, make sure you understand what they like and dislike. With young children, keep in mind "less is more." A swim in the hotel pool may be a much better choice than another two hours at the theme park. 3. Commit your time. There could be several issues here. If your teens are working, they may resent having to miss work - or they may be delighted. In either case, find out their preferences, and see what you can do to accommodate them without jeopardizing your own needs. One of the issues likely to come up is the daily travel schedule itself. Young children need naps, teens may want to sleep late, while parents relish the idea of "getting an early start." Compromise is probably the best solution here. 4. Select your tools Growing up on a farm in Nebraska, one of the things my daddy taught me was "Half of any job is having the right tool." While you may think it's ridiculous to think about "tools" for a vacation, it is really essential. For example, if it is impossible to reach a compromise about the music on the car CD player, headphones for individual players could be a godsend! Tools can also include systems for the way you handle situations. One of the major keys to success in organizing any activity is focusing on individual strengths - if one child is particularly adept at photography, make them the official family photographer, while another might be a great navigator. 5. Maintain your success At the end of each day, take a few minutes for a "Check-In" session. What was the best thing that happened that day? Why? How can we make sure we have more like it? What didn't work? Why? How can we eliminate the situation in the future? Make sure you use this process at the end of the vacation - make some notes and put them in your GO System File (LINK HERE to http://productiveenvironment.com/index.asp?name= GO%5FSEMINARS&new=true&leftnav=true&lid=66) for next year's planning. Here are some general tips you can use to ensure a great vacation: ? Choose age appropriate destinations. This doesn't mean every trip has to involve a theme park or sports event; it simply means keep the trip's educational value at a level they can comprehend and appreciate. If your children's ages span a wide range, have at least one activity geared to each child. Picking a hotel with a pool can make a big difference! ? Lay the ground rules early. Before you even leave the house, make sure your children know what is and isn't acceptable behavior on the road. As elementary as this may seem, if you don't tell your children what you expect, how can they oblige? ? Let the children pack their own suitcases as much as possible. Make sure each child has a small carry-on bag for which they are responsible. Include things they can do on the road or in the air--a walkman and tapes, comic books, handheld video games, etc. ? Decide ahead of time about seating arrangements and make contingency plans in case requested seats are not available. ? Establish a meeting place at each stop. Nothing could be worse that having a child get lost in an unfamiliar environment. Whenever you visit a location, identify a spot where the family can meet if you happen to get separated, or carry cell phones or pagers. ? Carry current photos of your children. That way others can help you locate your lost child. If your child can tell time, make sure they take a watch! ? Pack a first aid kit. Face it. Kids will be kids. That means scraped knees, bug bites, and cuts and bruises. When traveling with children, always keep a first aid kit handy. ? Check for children travel specials. Pre-planning can save you lots of money. Many airlines, restaurants, and hotels offer discounts for children, whether it's a "kids stay or eat free" deal or a "half-off children's rate." Let Internet-savvy children put their mouse to work for a happier vacation. The most important thing to remember - flexibility. Traveling with children of any age is always a challenge. Spend more time enjoying the precious memories you will be creating and less time fretting over what could go wrong. Keep your sense of humor in full swing and happy traveling. © Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com
MORE RESOURCES: |
RELATED ARTICLES
7 Tips To Avoid Costly Surprises When Travelling Abroad ==> Try to buy your vacation travel package from a business you know.If possible, deal with businesses that belong to professional associations such as the American Society of Travel Agents, the National Tour Association or the United States Tour Operators Association. All Inclusive Resorts - Sunscape The Beach Punta Cana Sunscape The Beach Punta Cana is located on the north east coast of the Dominican Republic & 50 minutes from Punta Cana airport. With one of the finest oceanfront location on the Caribbean island and protected by a coral reef, the all-inclusive Sunscape The Beach Punta Cana provides the perfect escape to turquoise blue water, white sand, and a forest of palm trees. Oceanside Vacations on Hilton Head Island The largest barrier island on the Atlantic coast between New Jersey and Florida is Hilton Head Island. This beach paradise is 12 miles long and 5 miles wide. Is An All Inclusive Resort Right For You? Destinations such as Aruba, Cancun, St. Thomas, and Bahamas have an infrastructure that is well suited to all-inclusive and not all inclusive resorts because there is a wide election of restaurants and amenities for tourism. Vacation Rentals on Lake Tahoe's South Shore South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals are particularly in demand with those folks who crave the excitement of being near the variety of entertainment choices and the abundance of recreational facilities for which the area is well known. Here at South Lake Tahoe you have your choice of world class hotels with all the amenities, beautiful houses for rent, condos, cabins, apartments and the smaller, less crowded facilities popularly known as boutique resorts. Travel Journals - Preserve Your Travel Experiences Traveling is a great way to escape the rat race and experience new cultures and places. Alas, your experiences can fade with time. The Natural Beauty of Havasu Falls Three major cascades at Havasu Creek create a landscape that is both beautiful and entertaining. At the base of these falls, one of which is Havasu Falls, is a travertine pool filled with cold turquoise water. Orlando Vacation Accommodation - Unforgettable Accommodation As a family, we have been visiting Orlando since 1998, where we have stayed in numerous hotels on the US192 in Kissimmee. Anyone who has visited Orlando will know that there is never a shortage of affordable and clean accommodation in this area. Customized Services is What makes a Vacation Rental the Best The home away from home but a little bit more better is what the vacation rentals should be. They should be a lot functional and provide you with a lot of facilities and amenities that you would find in your home and a little bit more. Lodging and Entertainment Deals in Orlando Florida Disney Area Lodging DealsThe Orlando area communities of Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee and Davenport all leave you very close to the Walt Disney World community, as well as offer you diversity in lodging deals for your vacation. Many times, through the use of booking your lodging in advance using the world wide web, you can find great lodging deals and hotel rates. How to Plan a Cheap Vacation in the Bahamas A trip to the Bahamas does not have to also mean a trip to a loan officer. The beautiful islands offer vacations for every budget. A Closer Look at Pigeon Forge Real Estate Those looking to invest in real estate should not overlook Pigeon Forge, TN. Though the 2000 census estimates the number of permanent Pigeon Forge residents at just over 5,000, the population during the popular summer months can soar to tens of thousands. Guide to Choosing the Right Disney Vacation Accommodations for Your Family The secret treasure of Davenport's and Kissimmee's townhouses.Though usually Orlando is thought of as being a big city with bright lights and lots of hotels, Walt Disney World and Universal, and more tourists than you can count, most people don't know about the secret treasure of Davenport's and Kissimmee's townhouses. Review of Car Rental Abroad Are you thinking of travelling Abroad?You will surely want to get about easily and quickly and will not wish to be restrained by public transportation and taxi services. You could take your own vehicle or rent one there. Pigeon Forge Hotels Hotels are a large component of Pigeon Forge lodging. As with any major tourist destination, there is a wide array of hotels to choose from. Come to Orlando and Vacation Like You Never Have Before in a Town Home! Of course you are anxious to take a vacation this year, to enjoy time with your spouse and kids and to have a great time away from work and the daily grind. So why not come to Orlando, Florida where you can relax and enjoy time away from home while having a great time at theme parks such as Walt Disney World and attractions such as Universal Studios and Sea World?The best way to do this, of course, is to first find a great accommodation to stay. Florida Beachfront Rentals - Finding Florida Beachfront Vacation Homes Florida beachfront rentals are a great way to enjoy a Florida vacation. Florida beachfront rentals and Florida beachfront vacation homes can be found in all the most popular beach areas year-round. Desiya - Smart Travel Engine Making Indian Sojourn Memorable India has always been an irresistible tourist destination for people from around the world. The diversity of India and the element of mystery associated with some of the most exotic locales in India makes it an ideal getaway. All Inclusive Vacations Most of the time, when an individual is planning a vacation, they have to consider all aspects of the time they will spend away from home. The lodging, the transportation, the meals and so on are all things that have to be thought of. Orlando Vacation Homes - Comparing Homes to Hotels When staying in Orlando, you really do have a lot of choices .. |
home site map eu-urlaub photography Women at Jeunelle |
© andrea.com-archives 2006-2007 |