Three Family Trip Tips for Dads

So, you’ve decided to use your vacation time to go on a trip with your family. Taking a trip with your family to Disney World won’t be quite as relaxing as taking at trip with your spouse to Hawaii or as fun as taking a trip to Vegas with your buds. However, it can be very enjoyable. Here are three tips to help you get the most out of your family trip:

1. Buy each of your children a new toy before you leave – Being able to bring new toys with them on the trip will help captivate their interest, so they focus less on how boring the car ride is or how turbulent the flight is. Plus, it will increase their excitement about the trip, which means they’ll be a little less likely to complain when things go wrong.

2. Be consistent – No means no, not maybe. Lay down the ground rules for the trip, and stick to them. Your kids will try to get away with a little more than they try to at home on the trip. You probably don’t want to spend your vacation time disciplining your children, but it’s sometimes a necessary evil to keep them safe. So, enforce the rules, and make sure you and your spouse (if your spouse is traveling with you) are consistent about what you both expect. If the kids know you’re a softie, they’ll ask mom if they can ask ice cream, and when she says no, they’ll ask you. Don’t give in!

3. Think quality, not quantity – Try not to fill up the days of your trip with too much sightseeing. Go at a leisurely pace, and try to enjoy your family’s company as much as possible. Your vacation will be over in the blink of an eye, so it’s best to spend your time well. Go to the water park with your kids, and take the whole family to a fancy restaurant. Spend time talking and really listening to each other. Before you know it, your kids will be all grown up. The memories they have of your family vacations will matter to them!

Bonus: Take pictures, make memories, and enjoy your family trip!

      - Logan B.

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Logan B. is a guest blogger who writes for a number of online sites on the subjects of traveling with family, traveling comfortably, and traveling on a jetcharter.