Child friendly holidays | Breaks with children (2024)

FAQs

Why kids should have a holiday? ›

Holidays are rituals that help kids manage stress and create belonging. It really isn't about the centerpiece, the gourmet side dishes, or the curated playlist Alexa is DJ-ing. Celebrating holidays is about taking time out of regularly scheduled activities to pause and join together as a family.

It can be stressful for kids, too. Okay, they aren't driving long distances, dealing with office parties, or managing a credit card bill. But it is stressful nonetheless. Routines are off, there are so many expectations, and the ambient stress has a way of affecting children too.

Vacations help teach children to adapt to new situations, build their confidence and give them a broader perspective on the world. Let's take a look at the many benefits that come with planning and taking a family vacation. Adults know that finding time to relax and unwind is a hallmark of a good vacation.

The word holiday originally meant “holy day.” Many holidays are still religious occasions—for example, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Other holidays are not religious. For instance, national holidays, such as the Fourth of July in the United States, help citizens to remember their nation's history.

Strengthening relationships

A family holiday gives you the time and relaxed setting to chat about things other than day-to-day chores, homework or what's for dinner. Although technology means we're more 'in touch' than ever before, nothing beats physical time together.

All the excitement over gifts and traditions can also take an emotional toll on little bodies, causing them to misbehave or become clingy. Many kids experience a kind of anticipatory anxiety before big events, in which they feel excited but also nervous about what to expect.

According to a recent survey conducted by MedStar Health, 74% of Americans said Christmas is stressful – and 55% said it's the most stressful holiday of the year.

Being away from your usual day to day pressures means stress levels reduce. Relaxation drops your blood pressure and reduces the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your blood. So, spend as much time by the pool as you like! The downtime you get on holiday is also great for giving your mind some respite.

How to deal with a dysfunctional family during the holidays? ›

“Five to eight years old is a good time to start, as children can then really appreciate the whole experience,” she says, adding that those under five are “unlikely to remember the holiday” at all.

Alcudia, Santa Ponsa and Cala Millor are ideal for cheap family holidays, with spacious beaches and family friendly hotels and restaurants. Algarve in Portugal is a long-standing tourist family holidays favourite, with a fun, laid back atmosphere and plenty to do for children of all ages.

She told the Mirror: "If they're little enough, try and get a bulkhead seat and request a bassinet (one of the cribs that attaches on to the front wall of the cabin)." This means they will be able to move around or sleep much better than if they were in a normal plane seat.

The best times, most agree, are between three and nine months, when kids aren't yet mobile, and any time after age two or three. The idea here is to bypass the toddler phase, and, more importantly, to avoid flying with young infants. The latter is especially risky says Dr.