A friend of mine is doing the family trip thing this holiday season - and she's trying to "sell" it to her kids as the Christmas gift. She says the kids (they're about 6 and 10) get the idea, but she's of course going to have some backup gifts under the tree. We've also known other families who have done the big family trip in lieu of a birthday party. My family has not ventured into those unchartered waters yet. What do you all think of the trip-as-a-gift approach? If you've tried it, how'd it work out for you? (Geez, I sound like Dr. Phil. Which reminds me: is anyone else missing that nighttime showing of Oprah that they cancelled recently?)
gabgirl
For my son's 8th birthday,
For my son's 8th birthday, he opted for a trip to Universal Studios instead of the big backyard party, where he is guaranteed to get lots of gifts. It was wonderful! We went out for dinner on the night of his birthday with family and then left the following weekend. We had a great time. And, to be honest, I think it was cheaper than a party. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he does it again this year.
Karina Bland is raising her 9-year-old son in Tempe with a lot of love, humor and support from her friends and family. A longtime journalist covering child welfare and education issues for The Arizona Republic, she blogs about raising good kids.
Well - I think you have to
Well - I think you have to keep the age of the children in mind and see it from their point of view.....a trip to Universal Studios or something like that is appealing to kids, so they would probably think of that as a cool substitute for a birthday party............but honestly a trip to Telluride sounds more like a Christmas present for mom and dad than for the kids...unless the children are avid skiers, and even then it's probably still a huge disappointment in their eyes. When you were that age, would a trip to Telluride have been appealing to you in lieu of a traditional Christmas at home with presents? Hopefully once they all get there they will have a nice time as a family and the children will get some enjoyment out of that, and the fact that she is bringing "back-up" gifts will lift their spirits, but I can't really see going to Telluride as something small children would want to do. I guess the parents will enjoy it, though.
I am sure that if they had said they were going to Disneyworld or something like that that is more tailored towards children for Christmas the kids would have been overjoyed.
One year we took a family trip to Disneyland for a week instead of giving our son a birthday party, and he really loved that, but there again that was something that he actually wanted to do, and Disneyland is a fantastic place for family fun. If we had said, hey we are going to Belize for your birthday, I doubt he would have been very jazzed because in a small child's eyes that proabaly doesn't sound like much fun. If you are going to sub in a trip for a birthday or Christmas, I think you have to make it something the children will enjoy and something they want to do.
My friend and her famliy did
My friend and her famliy did this last Christmas...although the trip was to Hawaii....
She bought some gifts and among those gifts were presents geared for the trip and a few books about Hawaii so they, the children were really excited......
They live next to us and the kids came running over Christmas morning....Look...Look...this is where we are going....
Yeah, I think as long as the
Yeah, I think as long as the trip is one the kids are excited about, it's fine......Hawaii probably sounds more appealing to kids because they love the beach....Telluride sounds kind of boring to me........if I found out I were going to Hawaii I'd probably run around saying looks where I am going, too....although I hate flying and that much flying over water would require a lot of alchohol and dramamine!
Disneyland cheaper than a
Disneyland cheaper than a party? Kindahotmom, I want YOUR travel tips!
gabgirl