The family holiday is usually good for a full roller coaster of emotions over a one to two-week period. Mostly positive of course, but when there’s kids involved, you can usually expect a few tears at some point as well. As your children get older, the dynamic on the holiday changes, and therefore so does the challenge to keep creating a family holiday that’s enjoyable for all.
By the time they’re teenagers, you’re less worried about infantile tantrums (well…) and more concerned about hormone-fueled arguments with these angry part-adults. Tougher to please, for sure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still nail your adventure away together. Here’s how you do it.
A destination for everyone
It’s generally a given that the parents pick the destination, but perhaps a little more consideration should be paid to what the kids might like as they get a bit older. You could ask their opinion if you want, but then you risk getting an answer you can’t afford, or just don’t want to do.
The best destination is one that has something for everyone. That means no isolated wine villages in the South of France that will destroy the kids’ souls, but don’t feel the need to go to the sharp end of Ibiza where you’re not going to get a good night’s sleep.
Get the balance of activities right
There is a fine balancing act to be had when it comes to the entertainment of teenagers. They’ve probably got more tolerance in them than young children when it comes to a museum trip or a guided tour, but don’t push your luck too much. At the same time, an ice cream is a less effective bargaining tool than it once was to keep them happy should something not sit right.
The good news with having older children is you’re more likely to find activities that suit joint interests. Just make sure you don’t go for anything way too young or far too grown up.
Offer a little more independence
Teenagers yearn for a sense of independence. With all due respect to your parent-child relationship, any moment they can get spent away from you is one they’ll treasure. Nothing personal – just a teenage thing.
Showing a little trust in them to do a few bits alone while they’re away will go a long way. Whether that’s letting them go to the pool or explore your hotel complex on their own, or even take a stroll around the local area, it’ll give them a chance to do their own thing and make your time together even better. By the way – it gives you some alone time as well.
You’ll need to choose a suitable location or hotel, so that’s worth bearing in mind when picking a destination.
Spend a little
Don’t try and get away with the world’s cheapest holiday – teenagers are smart enough to notice. At the same time, you don’t need to move heaven and earth financially, but your holiday should have a little something to it, so the kids get a sense of doing something special.
See if you can organise a trip outside of peak times, then you can bag a great location at a reasonable price. If you have to go away during school holidays, you might have to suck it up and pay the extra – you can even get a little help to afford it – but it’s better to enjoy a good quality holiday than struggle with a bare bones one.
When it comes down to it, nailing a good family holiday with teenage kids is all about respecting the fact they’re a little more grown up now, which you can do by picking the right destination and the right activities. Follow the tips above, and you stand a good chance of making some great holiday memories.
*collaborative post
