by Carrie Holmes

Created on: July 03, 2007   Last Updated: April 24, 2009

Getting the kids involved: tips for staying sane while on a family vacation.

Plan on letting your five year old determine where to go for vacation this year? Probably not, but that doesn't mean she can't be involved. By giving age appropriate responsibility to your children you are setting yourself up for success.

Children want to feel involved, love to be included, and go crazy for the opportunity to "be the grown up" if only for a few fleeting moments. What better way to hold a child's attention than the promise of something special coming up. This also works as a great reward-based behavior modification strategy. "Be good and you can help Daddy check into the hotel room and work the key." "If you behave yourself all week you can go to the amusement park and pick the first ride on Friday." Why not? You're doing it anyway - let the kids in on it.

The older kids can research things to do and places to see on your next big adventure. have them select their top three choices, perhaps one each of a cultural, natural, and purely fun destination in your chosen city. You can alway give guidelines such as budget, location, time allowances etc... But you must be prepared to back your offer. If you don't trust your kids with that much responsibility offer them up a few choices to select from - they'll still be more apt to join in and have fun if they are still a part of the process.

Have more than one child? Write down several age- appropriate responsibilities and have them select one at a time from a hat. Some examples: room safe manager, key card holder, room service host, navigator, check in manager, accountant (give them a budget and let them see how far it really goes)... If they argue over who does what assign each child a day of the week and let them do it all. Of course, Mommy and Daddy get their day too and the kids must follow suit.

No one likes being ordered around and you must be prepared to give a little to get a lot in return. Would you rather remember letting Junior pick the restaurant or remember Junior pitching a fit because he didn't like your choice? After all, vacations only occur once or twice a year, you have the other 11 1/2 months to be the dictator.

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