This article was written for The Beacon, July 2015
edition.
Why travel with children? Children
need structure, routine and familiarity; all of which are difficult while
travelling. But we (parents) do it anyway, every year, sometimes more than once
a year, and sometimes every weekend. Why?
People are wired for personal
growth. It is our destiny to grow as human beings and engage in personal
development. And the best way to do this is to have children, despite the grim
stats on the subject. Did you know that parenthood actually creates marital
dissatisfaction? Data collected by John and Julie Gottmann of the Gottman
Institute in Seattle reveals this very truth! Two thirds of couples that have
children experience a break down in their relationship. But there is hope! I had the opportunity to study at the
Gottman Institute to bring the renowned “Bringing Baby Home” program to the
North Shore; helping couples with this transition to parenthood.
So it all makes
sense.....really....it's all a journey in self improvement; a journey that
usually involves physically travelling with children.
There are many articles with
wonderful tips about how to travel with children. Google “travelling with
children” and you will find what you need. Start your journey by planning the
holiday together with your children. Plan a list of activities for everyday and
help your children create a scrapbook to record their memories. Buy a Polaroid
camera so the kids can post their photos instantly in their scrapbook. Digital
media can also be useful, but beware. Too many family photos get stuck in the
digital world. They serve no purpose there.
Children love holding and looking at real photo albums; and
it’s important for their development. While sitting together, looking at photo
albums “help your kids talk about their experiences,” Dr. Daniel Seigel and Dr.
Tina Payne Bryson write in the Whole Brain Child,
“Studies have clearly shown that the very act of recalling and expressing an
event .... can improve immune and heart function, as well as general
well-being.”
My final advice for a happy
vacation is to simply remember that happiness requires a lot of work and that’s
okay. Family holidays can equip our children with a strong and happy
foundation. They strengthen families by bringing them together for a common
goal, creating shared meaning, trying new things together and most importantly,
talking about those experiences. Ultimately, your journey isn’t just one of
personal development; you are raising a generation.
So who in their right mind would travel with children? We do
(parents). We don’t want our children just to survive; we want them to thrive. And
family holidays can provide the kinds of experiences that will help raise
resilient, well-integrated, happy children.
