HOW TO HAVE A GREAT FAMILY VACATION

Easter Break is around the corner! This can be a valuable time for the family to spend quality time together. Family vacations can provide some of the best memories of your child's life. Here are some tips and ideas you may want to consider as you plan that time off with your family:

1. If you are taking a car trip, keep it peaceful by having clear traveling rules that you stick to. Reward your child if they follow the rules!

2. Consider a portable DVD player for additional traveling peace.

3. Plan meals. Decide when you will eat out and when you will prepare your own meals at your vacation spot. Have easy-accessible snacks and drinks in the car. Stressing over where and what to eat can spoil your fun.

4. Plan child-friendly events. While you may not want your vacation to be "all about the kids," remember to plan some things that they will enjoy, too.

5. Help your children pack. Making a list of items that every family member should take along is a good idea. Things go much more smoothly when everyone has what he or she wants to bring, and also when there are certain limits on what can be taken. Prepared packing also guards against emergencies and other unforeseen situations. Pack rain gear, sunscreen, sweaters, and those other preparations that can make the difference between fun and disaster.

6. Consider taking a babysitter or nanny with you on vacation. This is especially helpful if you have very young children. Parents can then enjoy some time out together.

7. Give your older children space. Sometimes, just being away from schoolwork and taking some time out is an enjoyable vacation for a pre-teen.

8. Don't have expectations and rigid schedules that will only make everyone miserable. Even though you are preparing and planning, be flexible and willing to laugh.

9. The family that plays together, stays together. View this as a time to get away from it all. Away from work, the phone calls, the children’s activities, the daily to do list. This is a great opportunity to spend time as a family and get to know each other.

10. Teach your children well.Travel is an excellent learning tool for kids. They can have the opportunity to learn about things first hand they may have learned in school, read about or saw on TV. Any destination can offer this learning experience. Family vacations can teach children about different cultures, food, history, geography, climate, environment and so much more. The best part is that it’s way more fun for them then learning it through homework!

Time to kick back and relax. Now this part is the most important part. One of the main reasons to take a vacation is to get some rest and recharge. Scheduel fun activities but don’t over do it. Family vacations are intended to spend together as a family. As far as memories go, we tend to remember the good things; the time spent together as a family, the new things that were discovered, the new friends we made, the places we saw. This is what your children will remember and, the fact that you were there with them to enjoy it.