Destinations

Many people travel because they enjoy seeing the destinations. The long trip is just something to be endured until they arrive. It isn't unusual to find that these are the same people that see the glass as half empty.

There are other people out there that are all about the going. They enjoy the trip as much as the destinations. They look for opportunities along the path of their adventure and consider detours and adventure not a nuisance.

Training children to enjoy the trip as much as the destinations is not all that difficult – if there is a glass half full member of the family. Showing them how to enjoy the trip is half the battle. Planning for them is the other half.

1. Let the kids create their own map from home to the destination. With just a little research they can include points of interest that they might want to visit during their adventure.

2. Pack low sugar snacks and drinks. Nothing will ruin a trip quicker than being hungry or hyper.

3. Include games or activities to keep the kids occupied while making your way to your destination. Distractions like a movie can easily earn you a couple hours of quiet (especially if you have headphones that they kids can plug into the DVD player).

4. Play games with the kids along the way or have a sing-a-long. It helps if both parents are the glass half full types, but if you are traveling with a partner of the other variety then you might need to limit these activities for his sanity.

5. Find some interesting things to do BEFORE you get to your destination. It will give the kids something to look for along the way and help to take their focus off the end of the trip.

It only takes a little effort to raise kids who enjoy going as much as they enjoy the destination.