How to Generate a Family Vacation

Vacationing is good for family life and mental health.

Time spent together as a family on vacation is often what adults remember most about their childhoods. Unfortunately, the family vacation is disappearing as the work week expands.



Families are stressed. Parents are exhausted. The 40-hour work week has ballooned into 50 or more hours. Kids are worn out too. School activities and homework piled on to an already hectic school day means there's little if any free time left over to play together as a family. Families need vacations to hang out, play together and bond. Sadly, family vacations are slipping away. According to a Harris Poll, only 14 percent of Americans will get a vacation of two weeks or longer. One quarter of Americans receive no paid vacation at all--and that means that many American families never have time off together.



A family vacation is a way to pull everyone closer by spending relaxing time together. Here are ways to reclaim and generate the family vacation.

Things You'll Need

• Seven days off from work
• A vacation plan

Instructions

1. Commit to a Full Week Off.
   If you are fortunate enough have a paid vacation from work, instead of taking your vacation one day at a time to catch up on errands, designate an entire week off to be with your spouse and children. Whether it's splashing in a lake, wading in a river, sitting at the top of a mountain or visiting grandparents in another city, a family who spends a week having fun and new experiences creates happy memories.

2. Coordinate Vacation Plans in Advance.
   Consult with your spouse about what week to take off. Make vacation requests far in advance. Check the kids school breaks. Decide on the week that fits with everyone's schedules and then mark it in red ink on the calendar.

3. Hold Vacation Planning Meetings.
   There are so many family vacations to choose from. If everyone in the family gives input on where to go, everyone will be invested in making the vacation successful. Make sure that there is something for each family member to enjoy. Some families go to theme parks, some go to see historical sites and others take road trips. It depends on the interests of your family, how long you have for your vacation and the types of activities you enjoy doing as a family. Make sure all of the family members have a say.

4. Change Scenery.
   Staying at home means you'll find chores to do. If you live in the city, vacationing in the country might be the perfect change of scenery to renew the family spirit. In the winter, perhaps your family might like to vacation in a sunny spot. If you've never played in the snow, a vacation in the mountains will be filled with new experiences that you can reminisce about for years.

5. Focus on Family.
   Taking time off is not about slacking; it's about relationship building. If you feel guilty about taking time off, remember that vacationing is good for family life and mental health. When parents are relaxed and having fun, so are the children. Children who vacation with parents feel more connected to their siblings and to their parents.

6. Pledge to Leave Work Home.
   Leave your cell phone, laptop and "to do list" at home. Don't roam the Internet. Studies show that one-third of people who do take vacations, take their work with them. This is a vacation to play. Remember: all work and no play makes the family dull.

7. Be Flexible.
   You don't have to travel in first class to bond with your family. Try camping and pick spots within driving distance. Try new things and keep plans flexible. Taking time to hang out with the family has more to do with happiness than how much money you're spending. When families spend fun time together they feel happier and more satisfied with life.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan activities that everyone enjoys and is willing to try.

• Pack lots of snacks, games and books.