With Chunjie right around the corner, many Beijing families are gearing up for their chance to go home and visit family, travel somewhere new, or perhaps take in their favorite beach getaway. While parents with older children eagerly await the much-needed break, parents with younger children may be feeling the opposite. From issues like keeping them entertained on the plane ride to refusal to take naps, there’s no doubt that traveling with young children can be stressful. But on top of that, many parents wonder if it’s worth it to start the family vacation tradition at a young age. Will kids even remember it? According to a poll by the US Travel Association Survey, they will.
"We assumed there would be a connection between memories and vacations, but it was surprising to learn that some of people’s most vivid childhood memories are of family vacations that happened when they were as young as 5," says Regina Corso of Harris Interactive, who conducted the poll of more than 2,500 adults and 1,100 youth.
The study outlines the following key findings.
- “Family vacation memories last a lifetime: Most adults surveyed (62%) said their earliest memories were of family vacations taken when they were between ages 5 and 10, and they remember childhood trips more clearly than school events or birthday celebrations.
- Like their parents, children cherish family vacation memories: Youth surveyed strongly agreed that they get to see and do things on vacation that they’ll remember for a long time (64%) and that vacations bring their family closer together (53%).
- Parents underestimate the value of including grandparents on family vacations: Children who traveled with their extended family reported that they get to spend quality time with their grandparents (78%), they feel closer to them (60%), and they like to remember stories about what they did with their grandparents (65%).”
The survey offers the following tips for making your next family vacation, hopefully, one to remember.
- “When on vacation, do activities as a family. While parents and kids often don’t spend quality time together at home and plan separate vacation activities, more than half of children say that vacations are a time to make up for that – and that they get to spend quality time with their parents.
- Consider including your children’s grandparents. Contrary to conventional wisdom, children are enthusiastic about traveling with their grandparents. More than half the children questioned reported feeling closer to their grandparents after a family vacation together.
- Do something adventurous or try something new. For kids, a meaningful vacation is one where they get to do interesting things – and this is more important than where they stay or where they go. More than two-thirds of the children surveyed believe that a family vacation is an opportunity to try activities that they cannot do at home.”
Photo: fbisurfschoolkonahawai’i (flickr)
