How to Beat the Boredom on Family Holidays

As every parent knows all too well, children tend to get bored very quickly. While this is a problem that plagues mums and dads more so when at home, the unfortunate reality is that the boredom is likely to return at some point even while away on holiday. So, what can parents do in order to help beat the boredom while visiting a new destination with their kids in tow? Here are some helpful pointers to keep in mind.

Opt to stay in a villa

Your children will have more freedom when you opt to take advantage of family villa holidays as opposed to simply choosing to stay in a busy hotel. The leading benefit of this is the fact that you won’t have to worry about them wandering off or getting lost. Instead, you can all relax inside a comfortable home away from home. In most cases, family villas promise two amazing extras – firstly, you will usually get your own private pool in which the children can swim and splash for hours (and you can enjoy working on your tan in the sunshine). Secondly, you will also usually get to enjoy the endless benefits of free Wi-Fi so that the kids can watch their favourite shows or stream their favourite videos any time they are feeling bored. In short, when staying in family villas, boredom is sure to be in short supply.

Plan your itinerary carefully

While you shouldn’t be focused on only visiting tourist hot spots that the kids will love when planning your holiday itinerary, you should do your best to ensure that everyone has at least one activity or destination to look forward to each day of the holiday. You should also encourage everyone to take part in every activity or sight-seeing adventure that you embark upon – it is a wonderful way in which to teach your kids not to be afraid of trying new things. Who knows? They may even discover some new interests that they didn’t know they had.

Head outside

If the kids are bored inside your villa, it is the ideal opportunity to get them to spend a bit more time outdoors and to reconnect with Mother Nature. Rent a few bicycles and cycle around the area, head over to hike on a scenic trail, or hit the beach for a swim. Most holiday destinations will offer access to numerous outdoor activities that will be suitable for children and parents alike. Think snorkelling, surfing, and more. If the kids are young, simply building a moat or a couple of sandcastles on the beach can often be more than enough to satisfy them for a little while longer.

Come well-equipped

Be sure to bring along some of your children’s favourite toys and/or board games inside your suitcase. Anytime the dreaded boredom rears its head, you can pull one of these out and put a stop to it immediately. Board games are particularly great because they allow for some more family bonding time and tend to take quite a long time to complete.

Get cooking

The good news is that you will be able to prepare and cook your own meals within your villa. What better way in which to beat the boredom than by encouraging your kids to help you in the kitchen? Bake a batch of chocolate cupcakes or try your hand at emulating a few local dishes – at least you know that the ingredients will be easy to source! Not only will baking or cooking help to keep them busy, but it will also make it easier for you to get them to try some new flavours. Picky eaters may be hesitant to try something different at a local restaurant but will be all too keen to do so if they have made the food themselves.

Go see a show

Enhance the cultural and educational content of your holiday by visiting the theatre while on holiday. The children will enjoy the experience regardless of their age, and it offers the chance to get away from the crowds for a short period of time, all the while enjoying being out and about.

Volunteer

Another incredible learning opportunity for children while on holiday is having them volunteer at a local charity or non-profit organisation. This could involve working with other kids or animals and doing a good deed. Some older kids may be reluctant to get involved at first but are almost guaranteed to leave with a big smile on their face and a warm feeling in their heart.

Talk

These days, many households are inundated with technology and devices. Often, this can interfere with how family members communicate with one another. Think about it – when was the last time you sat down with your kids and had a conversation that lasted longer than a few minutes? If the weather allows, grab a blanket, some popcorn, and sit under the stars for an hour or two. Enjoy talking about anything and everything interspersed with relaxing quiet time and snuggles.

Don’t stress about it

If, despite your best efforts, your children still tend to feel bored more often than you would like, new research has shown that boredom on holiday can actually be good for them. Think about it. While we continually jump to entertain them whenever they announce their boredom, in the real world, this is unlikely to happen. Children need to learn how to tolerate boredom and how to make the most of any situation in which they find themselves. It is also a great opportunity for them to get a little bit creative and craft something fun to do.

Often, kids mistake relaxing for being bored. It is important for them to learn how to savour down-time and simply enjoy some peace and quiet.

Ultimately, beating the boredom while on holiday doesn’t have to be the daunting experience that you anticipate. With the help of a carefully planned itinerary, a comfortable villa, and a few impromptu activities thrown in, everyone is sure to have a wonderful time.