Hannah Korkow-Moradi, Marriage and Family Therapist: *SUMMER VACATION* Should we take time off? Yes. Always, yes.

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…

http://advantagebehavioral.org/wellness.php?nId=27

https://eatandplaycard.com/studies-prove-there-are-real-health-benefits-to-going-on-a-family-vacation/

http://www.yourmindyourbody.org/3-reasons-youll-benefit-from-family-vacations/

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/benefits-taking-vacation-1755.html

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.

Couple Project. When was the last time you and your partner got to plan something together? The wedding? The nursery? The insurance policy (ha!)? This is an opportunity to plan something you look forward to, get excited over, to anticipate wanted change, from the every day monotony that work-life can present. Your partner and you have an agreed upon outcome for the vacation-A FUN GETAWAY.

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.