You spend years trying to get them as independent as possible. Only to be severely punished for that as soon as they go on holiday without parents. Has your son or daughter already completed their first parentless holiday? Then you know the tension. And not only for your teenager, but also for you. It can lead to sleepless nights. Letting go of your not-so-little man or woman (for more than a sleepover at grandma's) can be quite nerve-wracking for parents, too. But hey, who said getting older would get easier?
There will be a holiday where you know:this is the last time away with our teenager. And you probably already have a suspicion (read:doomsday scenario) about what will come next…
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It's a milestone in your teen's life, and yours too. The first vacation without parents. And probably also your first holiday without an adolescent. You might like the latter. But will your son or daughter be okay with their 'good friends' without parental supervision?
Of course it remains exciting. In any case, try to avoid programs with drinking young people and their concerned parents. It probably won't make you feel any better. You also try to make good agreements with your son or daughter. For example, to have regular contact. Imposing real rules will probably be of little use:things that are not allowed are, after all, very tempting. Especially if you are not there to check compliance.
No, it is better to move from rules to creating awareness. Or at least make an attempt to.
Teenagers are not talkers. Especially not when it comes to your concerns. “Hey mom, don't whine like that ” you get to hear with some regularity. Still, it's smart to have certain conversations. About drink, money and sex, for example. Because don't kid yourself:your adolescent is also thinking about it. So don't let them leave without condoms. That's better than having to look for a pharmacy for the morning after pill in that strange destination. In any case, never think:“ours don't do that”. Realize that a good conversation before departure can contribute to your adolescent's sense of responsibility.
The first holiday without parents, that is not nothing. At what age do you think your teenager is ready? And are you (then) ready for it yourself?
Often, on the very first holiday without parents, an all too strange destination is not chosen. Many parents find a holiday in our own country - but without parents - exciting enough. But hey, what does your teenager think about that? Below we discuss the options. Such as a youth holiday in the Netherlands or on the Costa del Sol. And have you ever thought about a language trip?
If you go on holiday without parents, it is useful if you can make yourself understood in some way. In your own language might be an advantage. Because checking in at the campsite, shopping and ordering a drink:you really have to do it yourself. Moreover, it is a great idea for many parents if they are still 'close to' their child in an emergency. Certainly the first time. Renesse, Texel; it is also a good place to be in the Netherlands. As long as your parents are not standing next to you on the camping site.
However, many young people are now enjoying their holiday further and further away from home. This may be due to the shift in the permitted drinking age from 16 to 18 years.
Young people clearly have more to spend than in the past. And a cheap scheduled flight to Spain is easily booked. So, if your parents are okay with it, why not book a youth holiday abroad? The first holiday without parents is exciting in itself. But if you add the foreign factor to that, it just gets a little tougher! The most popular holiday destinations abroad for young people are:
Do you think your son or daughter is actually ready for a holiday abroad? But is it still very exciting for you as a parent? Then you can also propose an organized youth holiday. Guidance is available. This way your child does not have to look for the route to the hotel himself, for example. And if something does go wrong, you can always contact the tour guide. But make no mistake, it is no guarantee for a peaceful trip.
Not bad, those cocktails and that beach. But you can also go for a more serious interpretation of the holiday. Have you ever heard of language travel? It may sound a lot less exciting than two weeks in Hersonissos, but it will probably help you more 😉 .
Two weeks of English learning in Cambridge. Dull? Or learn English in Miami? They have a beach there too! The purpose of language trips is to master a foreign language. And where better to do that than in a country where they speak that language? Then learning English, French or Japanese really becomes something different than a boring school lesson. Moreover, there is of course also a lot of fun during the language trips. Because it is also just a holiday without parents. In addition, you will probably get through this more easily if your parents don't really want you to go on holiday alone!
Whether you go for a two-week course or for six months 'abroad':learning a foreign language is best done outside our national borders. So you can also use that holiday without parents in a different way. By the way, you don't just learn to speak a foreign language. Because apart from a great language lesson, you also get to know the culture of the country where you are staying. So you actually get to know an entire country! Something different than just 'The Strip', the beach and the souvenir shops.
Looking at it that way, I actually don't think it's such a bad idea after all. The experiences will be all the greater. And you will probably have an extra holiday address for later.
