| Teenagers are adults-in-training. They crave | | | | holiday, give your teenager(s) a feeling of |
| independence, but they still require | | | | autonomy, space, and privacy: consider |
| guidelines. Vacation planning can be a | | | | reserving adjoining hotel rooms instead of a |
| daunting task for any parent of | | | | family suite. Don't get frustrated if your |
| adolescents.Make your job easier - involve | | | | teens want to sleep in! Instead, make use of |
| your teenagers in the planning process. | | | | the time to go shopping, swimming, or for a |
| Arrange a family brainstorming session and | | | | walking tour of the neighborhood.Most teens |
| decide on a holiday that everyone will | | | | nowadays are very internet savvy. Don't |
| enjoy.A vacation plan should take into | | | | isolate them from their friends. Allow them |
| consideration each teen's likes and dislikes. | | | | to remain in contact via cyber cafes, hotel |
| A teenager who participates in science fairs | | | | guest-computer systems, or laptop computers. |
| may enjoy touring scientific exhibits. A | | | | If they must leave the hotel to access a |
| history buff will enjoy museums. A budding | | | | computer at a cyber cafe, insist on a buddy |
| musician might like a tour of Graceland. Ask | | | | system. Teenagers should never venture out |
| for specific feedback. Teenagers sway from | | | | alone.Not the hotel-room type? Family camps |
| requiring guidelines and curfews to believing | | | | are like traditional summer camps for kids - |
| that they know everything - and insisting on | | | | but they have activities for the entire |
| doing everything their own way.Here is a | | | | family. Some operate all summer. Others |
| partial list of activities that you might | | | | provide functions on selected weekends |
| want to use as a springboard for your initial | | | | throughout the year.Some teens will feel more |
| vacation-brainstorming session:* Laser tag* | | | | comfortable if they are permitted to invite a |
| Paint ball* Arcades* Amusement parks* Theme | | | | friend. Of course, there will be budgetary |
| parks* Skiing* Snowboarding* Snowmobiling* | | | | concerns involved with such a holiday. Invite |
| ATVing* Skateboard parks* Adventure tours* | | | | the other teen's parents to pay for their |
| Dude ranch vacations* All-inclusive family | | | | teen's expenses.Older teens who insist on a |
| resorts* Horseback riding* Mountain biking* | | | | vacation by themselves might enjoy a |
| Whitewater rafting* Hot air ballooning* | | | | backpacking/biking escape - travelling with a |
| Kayaking* Scuba experience* Water skiing* Jet | | | | friend and staying at hostels along the way. |
| skiing* Houseboating* Factory tours* Farm | | | | Hostelling is very popular in Europe, and |
| vacations* Mountaineering and hikingFamily | | | | what better way is there to experience a |
| cruises are frequently cost-effective. | | | | country than by bicycling through its |
| Everything is included - and parents can | | | | countryside? Another activity an older teen |
| relax knowing that their teens are involved | | | | might enjoy is a language immersion program |
| in nearby activities. Some cruiselines even | | | | abroad.When the vacation has finally been |
| sponsor special youth clubs. Recreational | | | | arranged, the rooms have been reserved, and |
| opportunities may include arcades, bungee | | | | you are ready to pack, prepare a list of |
| trampolines, and outdoor movie theaters. Your | | | | necessary clothing and accessories - but let |
| teens can associate with other teens and | | | | your teens pack their own suitcases.Utilize |
| participate in the family vacation - while | | | | your vacation as a time to reconnect with |
| retaining a degree of independence and | | | | your teenagers - both during the planning |
| freedom. Try to locate a cruiseline that | | | | phase and the actual vacation itself.* More |
| provides walkie-talkies so that you can keep | | | | travel articles, and hostel bookings: Also |
| in touch.If you decide on a land-based | | | | visit: - with over 1000 travel tips. |