Image: OÖG
At the beginning of the holidays, many mothers and fathers ask themselves how a holiday together can be a success. During puberty, young people enter an emotional world that is difficult for their parents to understand. This development phase is an important step on the way to adulthood, which prompts mother and father to rethink.
“Even if parents of teenagers like to look at photos with memories of their first vacation with melancholy, they should now be open to new things. They have to accept that the time of building sandcastles is over,” says Klara Humer-Golmayer, child and adolescent psychiatrist Salzkammergut Clinic Vöcklabruck. Nevertheless, nothing should stand in the way of a harmonious holiday. The expert recommends observing the following tips.
How to prevent an impending fiasco?
Humer-Golmayer: Flexibility and openness are necessary in order to prevent a “zero mood” or an increased potential for conflict. The first step is to acknowledge that the child’s interests have changed. The focus is now on contact with friends, maybe falling in love for the first time, social media, outfits and parties. It can definitely make sense to spend the holiday with a family friend who has children of the same age.
Is vacation the same as vacation?
No. A holiday destination that meets the needs of all family members should be chosen right from the planning stage. The motto here should be a variety of options such as sports, shopping, relaxing and going out. A pure hiking holiday without WiFi access could offer considerable potential for conflict. Maybe a mixture of city trip and beach holiday is possible. It is very important that the children are allowed to have a say in the election.
How should vacation planning be?
There should be enough room for spontaneity in the planning. A holiday week that is planned from A to Z is a “no-go” for young people. Holidays together should leave room for individual freedom. On a city trip, parents could visit a museum while their child is confident that they can spend a few hours in a shopping mall. It’s totally fine if the family isn’t together all day. You could then explore the city together again on a hop-on/hop-off tour.
Do you have to keep your kids happy with action?
On the contrary. Young people also want to be able to relax and sleep in. They also have different sleep/wake patterns due to altered melatonin production and hormonal and physical changes. Teens are more nocturnal than the older generation.
Nevertheless, there is probably no guarantee for a holiday without discrepancies …
Even the most perfect planning cannot avoid this. After all, puberty is part of suddenly finding something stupid. Small quarrels are a kind of developmental task, but they should no longer overshadow the holiday. Tiresome “re-education measures” are out of place, what is needed now is composure and compromises.
Source: Nachrichten
