Trekking With Teens

Travelling with adolescents comes with a unique set of challenges

Family holidays when the kids are little are often a breeze. Think lazy days on the beach, buckets and spades, ice creams and kids’ clubs. Okay, so they’re not always idyllic – especially if the youngsters get ill or if their routine flies out the window. But family holidays seem to get trickier as your offspring enter their teens, when they will require different management.

Get buy-in early

Teens have a permanent case of FOMO. They can’t bear the thought of missing out on parties or action while they are away with their parents. Don’t take it personally. Expect a little resistance, especially now that lockdown has eased, and they have other choices of things with which to fill their time. The best way to overcome initial murmurings of dissent in the ranks is to get your teens involved in the planning from the get-go. Holidays are fun to plan. Let your teens explore different routes, consider pitstops and even have a say in the final destination. Excited teens are happy teens.

Balance and boundaries