Holiday Stress and how to avoid it

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Holidays are supposed to bring rest and relaxation, but some families find them horribly stressful. With less time to enjoy, many people try to compensate by planning jam-packed itineraries, which can end up with exhaustion, arguments and disappointment.

Here are some parent tips to consider....

* Ease the 'annual holiday ' pressure, if possible, by planning a few short breaks during the year. That way, the annual holiday won't have the entire weight of your expectations upon it. It is also is a min-rehearsal for family travel, which does need a different kind of organisation than at home.
* If possible, take longer annual holidays, rather than shorter. You have a better chance of feeling relaxed after three weeks away rather than just one.
* Action-packed itineraries could be intermingled with decent spells of 'just bludging around', so you don't need a holiday from your holiday.

Prevent potential problems

Holiday stress can be brought on by bad luck, but you can avoid many potential upsets with forethought, planning and commonsense.
* Research your intended location and accomodation very well.
* Make sure you have adequate travel insurance. Check that it covers the needs of everyone in the family
* Pre-think your location and make sure you have enough sunscreen, insect repellant etc (all the specifics for that location).
* If you're keen to try out adventure sports with a family in tow, use the correct equipment and go with a reputable, well trained professional.
* When travelling overseas, make 2 copies of all important documents (such as passports, travellers cheques and credit cards) in case of theft, keep one at home and pack one separately to the real thing.
* Take extra pre-cautions when eating out to avoid common holiday gastro disturbances. Take a basic first aid kit. (be prepared to deal with basics.)

Travelling with young children

* Ask your travel agent for family-friendly possibilities. Eg, you may prefer two-bedroom accommodation, or a facility with child-minding services, kids club etc.
* Try to balance everyone's needs when planning. The whole family should understand that everyone is there for a holiday so divide your day into adult choices and those more for kids. This definitely helps to avoid holiday stress.

* Keep it simple.

Just spending additional time together can be stressful. It is common to expect to have a good time on your holidays. However, in reality, during the year, most families only spend a few hours per day together because of work, school and other activities. Little habits could turn into holiday stress, even nightmares.

Suggestions include...

* Once again, consider your accommodation options in advance. It may be better to pay a bit more so that an escape is possible and privacy is an option , otherwise 'parent shifts' can give some relief.

* It is not necessarily ideal for every outing or event to be a full family deal. Think about dividing the family into two 'teams' - for example, dad plus one half of the kids and mum with the other - then maybe swap over if it seems a good idea.

* Explain everything to your children before heading off somewhere and give your clear expectations, plus consequences.
* take ample materials for keeping the kids occupied (pencils, scrapbooks and textas usually abandoned for the playstation at home can take on a newfound enjoyment in a car for 8 hours).

Where to get more help and suggestions

* Your doctor
* Your pharmacist
* Travel agent
* Family counsellors.

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