A great way to make a family trip go smoothly and for everyone to enjoy the experience is to involve the kids from the beginning, always considering their age, understanding and personality. Here are some ways to make them part of this family vacation.
Have a family reunion
A good idea to choose the destination to travel to is to have a family meeting and have each member propose one or two places they would like to go to. Of course, it is important to define certain parameters that fit the time and budget available. Another option is for the adults to propose some alternatives to choose from.
Organize the budget together
Gone are the days of 'no money talk'. Not only is it okay to talk about it, but discussing the travel budget with your children - in a way that they can understand based on their age - is a great way to introduce them to this adventure and help them understand the real (or unreal) possibilities during the trip. For example, if your children receive an allowance, it's a good idea to explain the equivalent in the place they're visiting.
Everybody pack up!
While adults are expected to pack most of the things, leave some of the responsibility to your children as well. Depending on their age, you can ask them to pack their backpack, their toiletry bag, or if they are very young, to choose and put away the toys they want to take. The goal is for everyone to take some responsibility.
Mission "entertainment"
A great way to involve little ones in the planning and development of a trip is to have them take charge of something they love: entertainment! If you're traveling by car, ask them to make a playlist or bring a game; if the trip is by plane and your family uses screens, they can be responsible for choosing and downloading the programs they want to watch; or if you're going camping or staying at a hotel, they can be tasked with organizing family games for each night.
