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As the school year draws to a close the long summer break approaches. Are you one of the many parents hoping to drag your internet-obsessed teenagers outdoors over summer? When they were younger a trip to the park might have kept boredom at bay, but it’s unlikely to impress your teens now. For many, the ideal family holiday is about getting away from screens and spending some quality time together. If you’re nervous about taking your kids on a trip in the open air fear not! Here are my top tips on adventuring with your teens. Feed Them Yes, this is tip number one! We are talking about growing (and often emotional) teens. Make sure they are getting the right fuel for the day, especially if you’re doing lots of physical activity. Treat them (and yourselves) to big bowls of pasta, yummy pizza, chocolate cake, whatever they like. You’d be surprise at the moods which can be cured by a good meal. Never leave home without plenty of snacks. Whilst things like nuts and fruit are the sensible choice, always have some chocolate tucked away for an emergency! Give Them Some Freedom Of course, you’re on this trip to spend time together, but you also want to encourage an adventuring spirit. If you’re camping or staying in the great outdoors, why not let them explore the area (always with an emergency mobile obviously!). If they have an interest in white water rafting or rock-climbing, let them try it out without breathing down their neck. Don’t worry about being left out – they might be excited to introduce you to their new passion. Negotiate! When working with teens, negotiation is necessary! Whether that means no early morning starts or a day or two relaxing in between activities, chat to your kids to see what would make the holiday enjoyable for them. They’ll be more invested in the trip if they have a hand in planning it. You may want to reduce screen time and increase real-life interaction with your kid, but a total tech ban is bound to end in sulks. Why not have a set amount of tech time each day? Encourage your children to document and share their adventures on social media. They’ll appreciate the view more if they can Instagram it and they’ll have a sense of pride in their accomplishments. Do Something Wild Don’t be afraid to do something different. Tell your kids they are going on a walk and you’ll probably be met with groans and excuses. Take them kayaking, mountain biking, or snowboarding and you might get more positive reactions. Of course, this all depends on where you’re located which leads to my next tip… Chose the Right Destination Do your research – and get the kids involved – before you arrive to make sure there are plenty of things to do. It’s all very well having a week’s worth of beautiful hiking paths, but if your teens won’t enjoy them you might as well be at home. I’d recommend somewhere with a real variety of activities so that everyone in the family can find something they love. How to Get There The key to a successful family getaway is a smooth, well-planned outward journey. You don’t want to waste time faffing at the airport and risking hormonal sulks in the queue for the taxi, starting the holiday on the wrong foot. If you plump for Europe or North Africa for your family getaway, make sure that you book your airport transfer with Shuttle Direct. With an easy-to-use booking system and a driver guaranteed to be waiting for you at the airport, transfers have never been so simple and stress-free! Author Plate Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private transfers to and from airports, cruise ports, train stations and hotels all over Europe and northern Africa. If you're planning a holiday, pre-book your airport transfer before leaving home to ensure a smooth start to your stay. Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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