Holidays for single parents can be a stressful time. Whilst we delight in spending time with our children, it can be a lonely experience without adult company, not least to have someone to share the planning and anticipation, the driving and the details, but also for the evenings alone whilst the children are a in bed.
Children make friends wherever they go, for single parents it's not so easy - there's nothing like being surrounded by a sea of traditional families to make you want to hide your head in a book. That's if you're not entertaining your children every single minute of course.
Single Parent Holiday Survival Tips
1. Plan Your Journey
If you're travelling by car make sure you've checked the route in advance, it's also worth looking at your final destination in Google Earth so you know what you're looking for, as well as identifying any landmarks nearby. When you're travelling alone you don't have another person to take over if you get lost or stressed, or when the kids get fraught because of the long journey.
Air travel can also be smoother if you're well prepared. Don't take too much luggage as you'll be anxiously counting cases at every stop, do pack a few essentials for entertaining the children in case of delays - Nintendo DS games tend to come up trumps here, but simple card games for older children can help while away the hours. Dress the children brightly so you can easily spot them (especially in busy airports) and make sure you have passports, tickets and money easily accessible so you don't have to unpack half your hand luggage each time you need them.
2. Research Your Itinerary
Whatever you want from your holiday - fun, relaxation or adventure, then do your planning in advance. Visit travel forums for ideas if you're travelling overseas (TripAdvisor has an active community), in the UK there many sites specialising in days out for the kids. This not only saves you time on your holiday, but can save money too as you can often save money by buying tickets on the internet in advance, or alternatively printing off promotional vouchers.
3. Time Out
Even on holiday the children appreciate a little time to wind down to recharge their batteries ready for the next day's adventures. Bring along a couple of their favourite toys and give them a little space. Their favourite book, or for the technology fans, half an hour on their Nintendo can help calm them down after an excitable day.
4. Friends or Family?
It can be lonely without another adult, and if the children are particularly young, logistically quite difficult too. Consider holidaying with family or friends for company but also in the hope of a little time out for you during the break too - single parents more than most are in need of a little 'me' time to recharge their batteries.
If you don't have family you'd be able (or like!) to share your holiday with, consider a holiday for single parent families. Specialist breaks are now available where you'll spend your time with others in similar circumstances, giving the children a ready made set of friends, but making sure there's much needed company for the adults too! Go camping if you want to keep costs low, alternatively for a well earned, luxury break, there are single parent holidays abroad too!
5. Have Fun!
It's all to tempting to try and aim for perfection for your first holiday after separation, sometimes as single parents we feel under pressure to over compensate for our circumstances. Don't. Relax and focus on spending quality time with your family, making memories.
Children make friends wherever they go, for single parents it's not so easy - there's nothing like being surrounded by a sea of traditional families to make you want to hide your head in a book. That's if you're not entertaining your children every single minute of course.
Single Parent Holiday Survival Tips
1. Plan Your Journey
If you're travelling by car make sure you've checked the route in advance, it's also worth looking at your final destination in Google Earth so you know what you're looking for, as well as identifying any landmarks nearby. When you're travelling alone you don't have another person to take over if you get lost or stressed, or when the kids get fraught because of the long journey.
Air travel can also be smoother if you're well prepared. Don't take too much luggage as you'll be anxiously counting cases at every stop, do pack a few essentials for entertaining the children in case of delays - Nintendo DS games tend to come up trumps here, but simple card games for older children can help while away the hours. Dress the children brightly so you can easily spot them (especially in busy airports) and make sure you have passports, tickets and money easily accessible so you don't have to unpack half your hand luggage each time you need them.
2. Research Your Itinerary
Whatever you want from your holiday - fun, relaxation or adventure, then do your planning in advance. Visit travel forums for ideas if you're travelling overseas (TripAdvisor has an active community), in the UK there many sites specialising in days out for the kids. This not only saves you time on your holiday, but can save money too as you can often save money by buying tickets on the internet in advance, or alternatively printing off promotional vouchers.
3. Time Out
Even on holiday the children appreciate a little time to wind down to recharge their batteries ready for the next day's adventures. Bring along a couple of their favourite toys and give them a little space. Their favourite book, or for the technology fans, half an hour on their Nintendo can help calm them down after an excitable day.
4. Friends or Family?
It can be lonely without another adult, and if the children are particularly young, logistically quite difficult too. Consider holidaying with family or friends for company but also in the hope of a little time out for you during the break too - single parents more than most are in need of a little 'me' time to recharge their batteries.
If you don't have family you'd be able (or like!) to share your holiday with, consider a holiday for single parent families. Specialist breaks are now available where you'll spend your time with others in similar circumstances, giving the children a ready made set of friends, but making sure there's much needed company for the adults too! Go camping if you want to keep costs low, alternatively for a well earned, luxury break, there are single parent holidays abroad too!
5. Have Fun!
It's all to tempting to try and aim for perfection for your first holiday after separation, sometimes as single parents we feel under pressure to over compensate for our circumstances. Don't. Relax and focus on spending quality time with your family, making memories.