It’s spring break time…time for a fun family vacation, right? We’ve got some ideas to make it even better. Including coming into your favorite KidSnips for ½ off kid’s cuts with the purchase of any adult cut.
We’ve all been there. You plan the best family vacation that anyone has ever planned, full of the yummiest food, the most interesting activities, and the coolest sights to see. Everyone spends months counting down until spring break. The day before you leave, the kids are squirming at their desks at school, with one eye constantly on the clock.
But then…you go. And by the end of the week, the kids are arguing with you, you’re arguing with the kids, the kids are arguing with each other… it’s a disaster.
Vacations don’t have to be like this. But for some reason, it’s kind of a standard family vacation thing—at the end of it, you’re all at each other’s throats. And you can’t wait to get home.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder—are we doing vacation… wrong?
We might be. So as you start packing and getting ready to head out on your big spring break trip—or as you settle in for a little week-long staycation—we’ve got some tips to help you get the most family time out of your family vacation.
Give the gift of alone time.
Together in the house. Together in the car. Together on a plane. Chances are, you’ll spend quite a bit of this week cramming everyone into very small spaces for long periods of time.
We’re used to spending at least half the day apart from each other—at school, at work, doing our separate activities. So when we’re suddenly stuck with each other 24/7 for a whole week, it’s no wonder that we’re all irritated by the end of day 1!
When I plan a vacation, my expectations can sometimes be unreasonably high. We have this ONE week with each other, so we need to spend ALL our time doing EVERYTHING together!!! But sometimes we need our own time. And our own space. So when you start getting cranky, or your kids start getting irritable—let everyone have some alone time. Hopefully, you’ll come back together refreshed, recharged, and ready to be together.
Spend time all together—and one-on-one.
You’re going to be spending a lot of time this week with the whole family. But why not spend some time one-on-one, too? Vacation is a great opportunity for quality time alone with each of your kids and—if you’re lucky—maybe even with your spouse. Plus, it will give everyone a break from being with each other constantly (see above point).
Ask everyone in your family what one thing is that they’d really like to do this week. Maybe it’s something specific to their interests—something that the rest of the family would probably complain about doing. Or maybe you go to lunch every day with one member of your family at a restaurant that serves their favorite food. Whatever you do, it will be a fun opportunity for you to catch up with each person in your family—without the distraction of everyone else.
Let them sleep in!
This one might sound like a no-brainer. But I think it might be the most important tip on this list.
It’s as simple as this: We sleep because we need it. We sleep so we’re not grumpy. This goes for our kids—and for us. When you’re trying to make the week as fun as possible, it’s easy to fill every single second with activities. We stay out late, and then we force ourselves to get up early and get on to the next event.
And when our kids are suddenly throwing five temper tantrums a day—well, what did we expect?
Let your kids sleep. And give yourself the rest you deserve. It’ll make a happier vacation for everyone.
So there you have it. Quality time + alone time + rest. A formula for a successful vacation… or at least a vacation that’s slightly less grumpy than normal.
Looking for some spring break inspiration? Check out this video.
If you’re staying home, we’re giving a #KidSnipsShoutout to the American Writers Museum. They have story time every Saturday, a large room full of children’s books, interactive exhibits, and your kids can try typing on a typewriter!
You might also want to check out one of the many children’s museums in Chicago, like Kohl Children’s Museum or DuPage Children’s Museum. The kids will love their interactive, hands-on learning experiences.
And if you’re in need of another fun activity to do over spring break—and a good way to check something off your to-do list—come get your family’s haircuts at KidSnips! We’re offering ½ off a kid’s cut with the purchase of any parent’s cut through the whole month of March. (Just mention this offer when you call to book your appointment.)
Book your appointment at one of our 8 Chicagoland locations, and check out our Stylebook for up-to-date hairstyles and inspiration. Find out more about KidSnips here.
PLEASE NOTE: ½ off kid’s haircut with the purchase of a parent’s haircut valid through March 31, 2019. Not valid with any other offers.
