Years ago, a friend of mine with four children told me she was planning 1:1 trips with only one kid at a time. Back then, I was aghast at the thought of excluding other children from a family trip, much less handling everything on my own without help from another adult! But since then, I’ve come to see the benefits of 1:1 kid trips, for both the child and the parent. Here are some terrific reasons you should consider treating your kids to their own mommy/daddy & daughter/son trip!
Fewer Distractions
In families with multiple kids, it’s often hard to pay one special attention. The kids may jockey for position and compete for your attention. But when you take 1:1 kid trips, there’s only one person to pay attention to! You can listen intently to your daughter ramble about her silly friends and play non-stop games of would-you-rather with your son without interruptions.
Fewer Detractors
And there’s always the inevitable squabbles. On a family vacation, dad may be refereeing the sibling squabbles while mom navigates the family around. Everyone is stressed and tired and a little frustrated with each other! But when it’s just two people, it’s easier to get around and communicate. Your kid might see you in a very different light when you can just focus on having fun with them as an individual!
Ability to Hyperfocus on Kid’s Interests
A typical family vacation requires compromise. One kid may love history and want to see the historic site. Another may hate this but would love a fun interactive museum. Even at a theme park, one kid may love roller coasters while they terrify another. And let’s not even get started on food – my kids each profess to hate the foods their sibling loves. But on 1:1 trips, you just have to focus on what that kid loves – and hopefully, you love it, too!
Kid Feels Important/Special
On a 1:1 trip, a kid gets your undivided attention. This is rare for most kids – they share the limelight not only with their siblings, but also their other parent and the other distractions in your life. For just a little while, they get to be the center of your universe. They feel seen and heard, and they learn that they are individually important to you.
Lifelong Memories
1:1 trips will provide a host of lifelong memories for both you and your child. Make sure to commemorate these trips with a special souvenir. I like to make photo books of our family vacations, and I make sure to do one for these 1:1 trips, too. That way the kids will always have a record of a time when they were the center of your world, if only for a few days.
Where do you think are the best locations for 1:1 kid trips?
Let us know below! You can also contact us and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest so you never miss a post!
