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10 Tips for Making Your Family Holiday the Best Ever

By Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman

The Holiday season is fast approaching and school break is about to begin. Soon it will be time to load the family in the car and head over the river and through the woods to Gramma’s house or to another destination that promises fun for all.

Perhaps you’re thinking of staying home this year and inviting the relatives over to your house. Maybe you’re planning on spending some much needed R & R on a family cruse in the Bahamas. Whether you plan a short trip, a long trip, or no trip, how you prepare the family can make or break this year’s holiday season. The 10 tips below can help you make this year’s family holiday the best ever.

1. Establish a Mutual Plan – Allow every member in the family to have input on the type of holiday and/or activities they would like to experience. Reach consensus on what type of holiday you want to create. Brainstorm all the possible people to visit and the potential activities that would take place at each person’s home. Build a list of things you want to do, making sure that each family member has a personal priority included on the list. When everyone has a say, you build commitment and lower resistance towards the activities.

If your children are younger, establish the basic plan with your spouse and present the various options to the children for discussion. As your children become older, increase their input on decisions.

By allowing every family member input, ownership is established.  Each family member can now look forward to the specific part they desired while allowing other family members to enjoy different aspects of the holiday. Each person can enjoy the part they wanted as well as participate respectfully in the choices of others.

2. Buy Gifts Within Your Financial Means – Purchase gifts (and the number of gifts) that you know you can afford. Stress builds as the money dwindles. If you cannot afford a gift plan to purchase it at a later date. Staying within the family budget models fiscal responsibility for your children and teaches them to work and save for desirable items.

3. Stick to the Children’s Regular Schedule and Routine – The younger the child the more important it is to stick to your regular schedule.  During holiday time, children under the age of 10 need to go to bed, get up, and eat at the same time they normally do. Young children’s bodies are not able to adjust quickly to time changes and schedule adjustments. The more adjustments in their traditional schedule your child is called upon to make the more mood swings and irritability you are likely to encounter. For less stress and a relaxed vacation, keep the changes in schedule to a minimum.

4.  Be Flexible – No matter what the plan, be willing and able to adjust it. No matter how well you planned before hand, surprises and unexpected events will occur. Flexibility allows you to bring variability and energy to your holiday plan.  Stubbornly insisting that the plan be precisely followed when roadblocks occur, can create unwelcome stress and tension. Relax and go with the flow.

5. Don’t Attempt to Do It All – Slow down. The more you and your family members attempt to “fit it all in,” the greater the chance that irritability and frustration will occur. Set a steady pace that attempts to accomplish a little bit of the plan at a time. Do not push to accomplish everything on your list. Remember, a holiday is about enjoying and savoring the time you have with family and friends.

6.  Remember Boredom is A Choice – When traveling (especially by car) bring a variety of games, toys, books and videos to occupy time.  Be creative.  The words, “I’m bored,” or “This is boring” are a cue to make a different choice and change to another activity. Perhaps it is time to get out of the car and run around. It could be time to stop at a new restaurant. A travel center could provide treasures of trinkets, books, and brochures to rekindle interest.

7. Don’t Attempt to Do Everything Together As A Family– Although it’s important to do a lot of things as a family, it is OK to split up on occasion. You don’t have to do everything together as a family all the time. Different people have different interests. Allow for opportunities to explore these different interests without those people who are less interested and prone to “grumble and moan” through the activity. Seek opportunities to have one-on-one time with each of your children. The experiences of the individual will add life and energy to the family as they are shared and talked about later.

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