{"id":98895805,"date":"2018-08-29T16:13:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T20:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/?p=98895805"},"modified":"2023-08-30T08:50:46","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T12:50:46","slug":"mistakes-parents-make-when-traveling-with-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/mistakes-parents-make-when-traveling-with-teens\/","title":{"rendered":"The Worst Mistakes Parents Make When Traveling with Teens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you recently suffered from TWT syndrome? Traveling with Teens<\/em> can be tough and result in undo anguish. But it certainly doesn\u2019t have to turn out that way. Odds are things could have gone a lot more smoothly if you\u2019d been a bit more proactive and aware of what could go wrong.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our look at a few mistakes you might have made last time you traveled with a young adult with tips on how to avoid these pitfalls next time around.<\/p>\n

Not Setting Guidelines Before the Trip<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Friends<\/p>\n

Before setting off on your trip, did you let your teen know the rules of the road? If you didn\u2019t, was it because you weren\u2019t up for the confrontation? Did some sort of confrontation occur anyway but as a clash over something unexpected during the trip? Laying down the law (in a kind and fair way) can ease tensions, align expectations, and keep molehills from metastasizing into mountains.<\/p>\n

Not Making Your Goals Clear<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One step better than setting guidelines before a trip is to include young people in the conversation about what those guidelines should be and why such rules ought to be set. Letting a teenager know that it\u2019s important for you to have plenty of family time when traveling should send a signal that they can appreciate and be mindful of. Having such a conversation also presents an opportunity for teens to express their goals as well.<\/p>\n

Leaving Them Out of the Planning<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"mother<\/p>\n

Setting guidelines and establishing goals are important parts of planning for any trip \u2013 whether there are teens involved or not. No matter how well-intentioned, surprises can sometimes backfire. More so, informing someone (from whatever age group) that they\u2019ve got to go away for several days can lead to feelings of resentment. This is especially the case when it comes to young adults \u2013 particularly during school breaks and when it might mean not getting to be with their friends. If spending quality time with the teens in your life is so important to you, why not involve them in the planning stage of your trip and encourage them to offer input.<\/p>\n

Asking the Wrong Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Questions that merely require \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d as an answer probably won\u2019t get you far if you\u2019re traveling with a teen who doesn\u2019t open up easily. But maybe a question like, \u201cWhat was the weirdest thing you saw today?\u201d might do the trick. Engage with your younger traveling companion, speak to their interests and on their level and you may find they start sharing all sorts of revelations with you.<\/p>\n

Not Paying Attention<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"teenager<\/p>\n

Is your teenage child into a particular TV series, game or type of music? They might be sending you clues all the time about where they\u2019d like to travel without ever explicitly saying so. For example, if your kid is really into Game of Thrones<\/em>, maybe a vacation in one of the show\u2019s locations \u2013 such as in Northern Ireland<\/a> or Croatia<\/a> \u2013 would be a dream trip for them. If they\u2019re hardcore fans of hip-hop, a history of rap walking tour of New York<\/a> might be just thing to fuel a few days of fun.<\/p>\n

You Might Also Enjoy: Tired of the Constant Eye-Rolling? Read These Tips for Traveling With Teenagers!<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Forgetting What It\u2019s like to be a Teenager<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"parents<\/p>\n

Obviously, you were once a teenager too. Even if it was longer ago than you care to remember, you should be able to get back into that frame of mind and sympathize with the cares and priorities of young people. Would the sixteen-year-old you have rolled your eyes at some of the things the fully-grown-up you do and say? Probably, right? Chill out, put things in perspective and don\u2019t get too upset when your teenager acts like a teenager!<\/p>\n

FAQs: <\/em><\/h1>\n

Q: How can I involve my teen in trip planning?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Involve your teen in researching destinations, activities, and accommodations. Encourage them to share their preferences and interests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Should I set restrictions on using technology?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Rather than strict restrictions, establish guidelines for technology use that balance connectivity with meaningful interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: How do I ensure my teen’s safety during the trip?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Set clear safety protocols and guidelines for exploring new places, using public transportation, and handling emergencies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: What if my teen wants to spend time with friends back home?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Allow your teen to maintain communication with their friends through messaging apps or social media to provide a sense of continuity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: How can I encourage my teen to embrace the local culture?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Encourage your teen to interact with locals, participate in cultural activities, and learn about the history and traditions of the destination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: What’s the key to a successful family trip with teens?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: The key is finding a balance between respecting their independence and staying engaged, along with open communication and flexibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have tips for traveling with teens? We would love to hear how you handle mixed age situations and have fun with the younger members of your entourage.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you recently suffered from TWT syndrome? Traveling with Teens can be tough and result in undo anguish. But it certainly doesn\u2019t have to turn out that way. Odds are things could have gone a lot more smoothly if you\u2019d been a bit more proactive and aware of what could go wrong. Here\u2019s our look […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":98895812,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98895805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips-intel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98895805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98895805"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98895805\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98914746,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98895805\/revisions\/98914746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98895812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98895805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98895805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98895805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}