Vacationing with Children

When I hear people talk about vacationing with their children there is always this sense of dread in their voice. They always sound as if it is going to be such a hassle to travel with their kids. They talk as though they aren't going to enjoy any part of the trip. They talk as though it will be stressful and exhausting and nothing like a vacation at all.

While I understand that traveling with children can be tedious, it can be stressful for sure, but I don't understand the view that the vacation is such a terrible experience.

There can be a number of perks to traveling with children. It's definitely worth the hassle, in my opinion, you simply have to be willing to exploit the perks made available to you. You simply have to acknowledge that you are a kid at heart and you will thoroughly enjoy it.

Well, if you're the stick in the mud type of person you'll probably never find any joy in traveling with your kids. It will always be more stress than it's worth. But if you are a fun-loving, kid at heart then you just need to embrace the child-like adventure of it all. Try to see the trip through their eyes and you will find more joy in it.

I'm not saying that you have to abandon all of your parental responsibilities and run wild with your children. You still need to be a parent, that never really goes away. But you have the opportunity to be child-like with your children. You have the chance to show them new things. You have a chance to have fun.

Children nowadays are surrounded by everything they could ever want. They have games. They have internet. They have television without commercials. It is easy for them to get lost in all the instant gratification and technology. It can be easy for them to lose sight of all the little things in life, all the simple things that can bring such joy and amazement.

When you travel with your children you have an opportunity to show them the wonderful things in the world. Whether you are just heading to the cottage, traveling around your country, or flying somewhere else there is always something to be discovered.

Shut the Netflix off, put away the cell phones, and turn off the internet. Take a moment to reconnect with the world. Take a moment to focus on family. Take a moment to be in the moment.

Go for a hike. Go for a canoe or kayak ride. Go swimming. Take a trip to the aquarium. Go to a museum. Go to an amusement park. Go to a fair. Go to a farmer's market.

Wherever you travel to take a moment to unplug, take a moment to be present. Teach your children to laugh at the funny fish. Show them how fun dinosaur bones could be. Make it educational, make it an adventure.

Yes, you have to go places with your children. Yes, you have to watch them and take them to crowded venues. Yes, you may have to carry them or push them or leash them sometimes.

But travel with them. Show them the world. Show them all the wonderful things. Play and laugh and explore. Life is short and childhood is shorter. Make the most of it. Instill a sense of wonder for the world in them. Do not let their access to all the information in the world or the instant gratification of social media and Netflix take away their amazement at the little things.

Make sure they realize there is more to the world than what can be watched on a screen. Make sure they know that life needs to be lived. Let them roll in the mud. Let them swim in the ocean. Let them ride the roller coaster. Let them jump in the puddles. Let them eat the candy.

It may be a hassle to travel with children but it is worth the adventure. It's worth the excitement in their eyes. It's worth a chance to get down and dirty with your kids. And sometimes it's an opportunity for you to do something you never got a chance to do a child.

So, pack your bags and your kid's bags and probably your partner's bag as well and pack up the car. Go on that adventure. Take that road trip. Get on that plane.

It'll be a better vacation than you think it will be as long as you keep an open mind and a free imagination.