Tis the season…of family vacations! Now that school is
officially out for the kids, family vacations are underway. Many factors must be considered when planning these vacations:
cost, time of travel, featured entertainment, taking vacation days off of work,
dog-sitters, stress, stress, and more stress…just to name a few. But the
benefits are immeasurable.
This commercial does a great job at selling the importance
of vacations from a child's perspective…
But is it true? Are
the children in the video credible sources? Well I did a short Google search…
Many benefits are mentioned, ranging from the behavioral advantages,
to the economic gains of family vacationing.
The foreseeable benefits from a Marriage and Family
Therapists’ perspective are just as important (biased,
obviously). So here are a few of the many family
benefits as I see it.
Learning
Moments. Schools, camps, swim lessons, tutoring, etc. all teach our
children specialized skills. Who teaches
them family function and development?
Who teaches them what a “normal family” does? FAMILY.
These are times where you are taking moments of fun and entertainment
and teaching them through modeling compromise, manners, civility, and respect. For the kids, and for each other as a couple dynamic. Sure, they will learn the
layers of soil in the pretty rock formation at the Grand Canyon.
I am talking about the foundational benefits
of interacting as a family here. The
skills and biopsychosocioemotional benefits of just being part of a family. Just don't leave them in the trash, like our poor friend Joe Dirt here.
Memories. Memory-making is a benefit that was mentioned in the other links, but I think it is important as a
family therapist to mention again. It is
so important to build these memories with your children.
They will talk about these vacations for
years, purely based on the emotions that are experienced at these fun times.
That being said, pack up the station-wagon, make a fun vacation playlist, and be safe!
Here are some recommended places to visit.
Love,
Hannah Korkow-Moradi, Ph.D., LMFTA
