Family School Holiday Harmony

With the school holidays here there is no better time to plan a caravan or camping trip with the family. This is the season when many grandparents, kids and the generation in between take off for some quality time together, away from busy lives.
Travelling with your extended family can be a magical time of bonding, relaxation, forging family traditions, and lazy days spent bushwalking, swimming and story-telling, but it can present a few challenges too.

Whether you have a favourite holiday destination or you’re off to explore somewhere new, some thoughtful planning will go a long way to ensure everyone’s needs are catered for and an enjoyable time is had by all.

 

Here are a few tips when embarking on a multi-generational getaway:

Learn from past experiences

If you have holidayed together before think about what worked well and what didn’t. Consider sleeping arrangements, distance to destination, meal times and camping facilities.

Do your research

If you are visiting somewhere new make sure it is suitable for all members of the family. Are the bathroom facilities close enough? Is there a playground? Will you be able to stock up at a local store or will you have to carry everything? Is it family friendly and in quiet area away from partyers?

Pay your way

Avoid resentment or awkward conversations about money by setting a budget before you go and deciding who will pay for what.

 Create family traditions

Do things together that create lasting memories of your family holiday, whether it’s an annual beach cricket game,  story- telling over roasted marshmallows, fishing competition, crafting a holiday picture journal together, or playing board games.

 Remember you’re on holiday!

If you are holidaying somewhere new it is easy to fill your itinerary with full days of sightseeing and activities. Try to keep every second or third day as a rest day by the pool or at camp, or you run the risk of needing a second holiday!

Share the load

Designate each family member, including the kids, something they are responsible for each day so no one person feels like they are carrying the load. Setting up and packing up camp are especially big tasks and a good opportunity to work together.

Make sure everyone gets a break

It’s nice to be together but everyone will get a long much better if each person gets a little ‘me time’. Go for a solitary walk, throw a line in, or stay back and read a book while the others go off sightseeing. Take turns watching the kids so each adult get some child free time. Don’t keep leaving the kids with the grandparents though, keep it fair.

Share the responsibility

In big family groups it’s easy to think that someone else is watching the little ones. If you have young children it’s important whoever is responsible for supervising knows it’s their turn until someone else takes over. Kids tend to wander off in caravan parks and bush camps where the boundaries of their play area are undefined.

Down time

Many young children and grandparents need an afternoon nap. Designate a quiet time for your camp when those not resting go off exploring, shopping etc.

Attitude of gratitude!

A few days or weeks living with your children and grandchildren in confined quarters has the potential to fray a few nerves. Take a deep breath and remember how lucky you are to have family that love you and to be on holidays!

This article was written by me and recently published in Caravan & Motorhome magazine