Conquer Holiday Anxiety: Tips for a Stress-Free Vacation
We all enjoy a holiday in the summer – a chance to get away from the monotony of everyday life and enjoy warm weather in another country. Holidays are supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable. However, for some children, holidays can cause a lot of anxiety.
But don’t worry! This doesn’t mean you have to go cancelling your holiday plans. There are ways to reduce your holiday anxieties.
There are a few different reasons why holidays and travelling may be nerve-wracking for children:
Fear of the Unknown: Travelling often involves new experiences and environments, which can be intimidating for children who prefer familiar routines and settings.
Separation Anxiety and homesickness: Being away from home and familiar surroundings can cause anxiety, especially if they have a strong attachment to their home environment or specific family members.
Disruption of Routine: Holidays can disrupt daily routines, including sleep schedules, mealtimes, and regular activities, which can be unsettling for children who thrive on consistency.
Travel-Related Fears: Specific fears related to the mode of travel, such as fear of flying, car sickness, or fear of trains or boats, can cause significant anxiety.
Expectations and Pressure: Feeling pressured to have fun, behave well, or meet the expectations of parents and others can create stress and anxiety. Perfectionists may obsess over having the “perfect” holiday and making the most of the time away.
Previous Negative Experiences: Past negative experiences related to travel, such as a bad flight or getting lost, can lead to anxiety about future trips.
Having a good understanding of what is causing anxiety in children is the first major step to helping to reduce it. Once you understand why a child is feeling anxious about going away, you can then start giving them advice and helping them to ease the anxiety.
Preparation and Planning: Involve your child in the planning process. Discuss the itinerary, show them pictures or videos of the destination, and talk about what to expect. This can help reduce fear of the unknown.
Pack Comfort Items: Bring along familiar items from home, such as a favourite toy, blanket, or pillow, to provide comfort and a sense of security.
Distraction and Entertainment: Bring along activities and entertainment to keep your child occupied during travel, such as books, games, music or movies. This is especially useful for long car rides or plane journeys.
Plan for Breaks: For long car rides, schedule regular breaks to allow your child to stretch, move around, and take a breather. This can help prevent them from feeling overwhelmed or restless.
Create a Travel Journal: Encourage your child to keep a travel journal where they can write about their experiences, draw pictures, or collect mementoes. This can help them process their feelings and create positive memories.
Involve Them in Packing: Let your child help with packing their own bag. This can give them a sense of control and involvement in the process, as well as building skills for later in life.
With these tips and tricks, you can make your holiday a holiday to remember, rather than a holiday to forget, for your child. But please don’t forget, if none of these work, and your child's anxiety level is dictating your life, then it’s not too late to reach out to us and get the help you and your child deserve.