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tips for vacationing with your teenage kids

Worried your teenager will wreak havoc on the family vacation? Here are a few suggestions to help ensure your family trip is animosity-free and as fun as can be \ By Nirit Zuk

04 Screen time One of the main reasons animosity may arise between parents and teens on family trips, is the matter of screen time. Some families choose not to purchase WiFi deals for their kids when on holiday, so that they only use their phones in the hotel, while others opt for banning phones at mealtimes. Whatever strategy you choose, make sure you talk about it with your kids before the trip so that they know what to expect. 05 21 st century quality time Let us not forget screens and social media also have positive sides to them. Family selfies and videos are memories to cherish forever, so don’t be too strict and let your teens have fun with them and share their experiences with their friends online. 06 Flexibility, patience, and privacy Even if you planned every single moment of your trip in advance, always remember unexpected things can occur – for instance your teenager may suddenly decide to stay in the hotel for the day. Make sure you remain flexible and patient, and accept their need for privacy.

01 Involve them in the planning phase This generation of teenagers, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, wants to feel independent and separate from the grown-ups, but also wants to have their opinions listened to and their voices heard. This is why it’s so important to involve them when you’re planning the details of your trip, from where to go, to when, to with whom and how long for. 02 Consider their likes and dislikes When picking which sites to visit it’s best to let your teenager choose one or two sites and attractions that particularly interest them. It’s a great opportunity to get them to read about the city or country you’re going to visit. Perhaps

you can even get them to plan an itinerary, check opening hours of such and such a museum or monument, look for recommendations, etc. This way, your teenager feels involved and that they’ve got something specific to look forward to. 03 Set a budget Deciding on how much shopping money to give your child on your trip, can lead to anger, disappointment, and frustration. In order to avoid tempers conscious consumerism, best set a shopping budget for the whole trip so that they can plan what they want to buy and be more careful with the money they receive. rising and to teach your child financial independence and

Nirit Zuk is a youth culture researcher and lecturer, and CEO of the "EserPlus" web portal for parents and teens

10 ATMOSPHERE APRIL 2023