As the saying goes, travel forms youth. Allowing your child to travel with their grandparents is an interesting alternative if you cannot accompany them. It will simply be enough to take a few precautions so that these holidays are enriching for both generations and thus make them want to do it again.

What are the advantages of going on vacation with Grandpa and Grandma?

According to a survey carried out by Familiscope , a third of French children spent their holidays with their grandparents in 2013. The reasons which pushed them to make this choice are numerous. Unlike parents, grandparents have time that they can devote to their grandchildren. They are able to spend the day with them without time constraints and without a specific schedule. This availability gives them great freedom of action and allows children to always have attentive interlocutors at their disposal.

Spending a vacation away from parents also generates a feeling of independence in children. This relative autonomy brings balance to their development and helps them to cut, little by little, the umbilical cord that connects them to their parents.

For little ones, traveling with grandparents is more reassuring and represents an opening to a new world. Shopping at the market with Grandma, going fishing or playing pétanque with Grandpa are all experiences that are as interesting as they are authentic. This getaway allows them to gain maturity since they will have to adapt to new eating habits or different waking, nap or bedtimes.

Additionally, going with familiar people allows your child to quickly feel at ease. This way, the vacation can last longer, although a stay of eight to ten days is ideal for a 5-year-old child.

How to make this trip a success?

– If your child goes abroad with your parents, you must ensure the validity of their passport, the date it was issued and the visa requirements of the host country. Even if authorization to leave the country was abolished in 2013, it is often useful to write a letter authorizing your parents to leave with your child.

– For the trip to take place in the best conditions, it is important to take out travel insurance for your child. Not only will this blanket give you greater peace of mind, but it will be of great help in the event of any problems during the journey.

– Carefully prepare your child’s suitcases. Clothing and personal effects must be adapted to the climate and length of stay. Above all, don’t forget the health record and, if necessary, medications with the doctor’s prescription; they must be within reach throughout the trip.

– It is important to inform grandparents well about your child’s eating habits, any allergies, the dosage of medications, etc. without being too demanding with them, because, remember, they were parents before you !

– Finally, you must prepare your child for separation, especially if he is still very young. Talk about this period as a celebration, an opportunity to rejoice and have fun, try to make him understand how much fun he is going to have, make new friends or discover a particular environment. To maintain the link, don’t forget to add that you will think a lot about him during his absence and that he will have a lot of things to tell you when he returns.

Grandparents: how to maintain children’s joy and motivation?

Traveling with your grandchildren is a real source of pleasure but it can also raise some difficulties. To avoid hearing: “I don’t like it”, “it’s too hot”, “I’m bored” and other similar phrases, it is recommended to establish an itinerary according to the desires, tastes of each and the age of your protégés. If you ask them to plan the trip with you, it will be an opportunity for them to get involved in this project while having fun doing research like the adults.

For the trip to take place in the best conditions, you must plan distractions adapted to everyone’s age. Little ones will prefer reading books, songs and games while teenagers will opt for their music player and video games.

The trip can also be used to enrich children’s knowledge if you offer them little quizzes, riddles or crafts on the history, geology, famous monuments and traditions of the country visited. You can ask parents for ideas about their children’s interests to make this step easier.

Whether during rest stops or at your destination, let your grandchildren call their parents. They will be delighted to hear their little ones tell them about their discoveries and their wonder during the trip.