Grand Travel

Traveling with the Grandchildren
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time with each of my grandparents.  Some of my fondest memories of them are the trips and outings we took together.  I remember one time my paternal grandparents took my brother and I to Washington D.C.  We drove from Ohio to the D.C. area and then took a bus tour of the city. 

My maternal grandparents spent most of their free time camping, and they would often take us with them for the weekend.  It was special time to spend with each of them (without our parents) on these little trips.

Of course, that was over 30-something years ago.  Nowadays, grandparents traveling with their grandkids (with or without the parents) has become so popular that it’s earned a new term—multigenerational travel or grand travel. My own kids have traveled with my parents to such places as Ohio Caverns, to festivals, horseback-riding stables, historic sites and even to Guatemala.

Amir Eylon, State Tourism Director for Ohio says that this kind of travel is a trend that has been growing both nationally and in Ohio over the past decade.  “There are a few reasons why this is happening,” he explained. “First of all, parents are working longer and the grandparents have more discretionary income (pre current recession) and the flexibility of time to travel. Also, today’s grandparents are more mobile than any generation of grandparents before them, so they have a thirst to show their grandchildren the world if they can. And lastly, travel is an easy way for generations to connect, as they rely on active shared experiences versus passive activities.”

Sometimes grandparents want to expose their grandchildren to new cultures and experiences.  Seniors today are more travel savvy and may enjoy taking their grandkids on a foreign adventure. This type of travel works best with grandchildren at least eight years old.
Christina Woycitzky, travel specialist with Barefoot Travel says she is seeing more resorts catering to multigenerational travel. “We see more families traveling together (grandparents, parents and grandkids) and the travel industry is recognizing that,” she said. “Many resort hotels and cruise ships are converting their rooms into suites so that there is room for these larger groups traveling together. The big parks like Disney even offer multigenerational travel programs called ‘grand gatherings’ so that the grandparents and their grandchildren can experience the fun together.”
Tips for a Successful Grand Travel Experience.

Whether it’s a day trip or a weeklong adventure, here are a few tips to help create a memorable experience:
1. Plan carefully, considering your own limitations and the child’s age, energy level and interests.
2. Include the grandkids in the planning process. Show them pictures of where you plan to go and explain what the travel will be like (plane, car, train, etc.).
3. Have an emergency plan in the case of a lost child and take along a parent’s notarized authorization for medical care.
4. Pack children’s acetaminophen and cold medicine, ointment for bug bites and wounds, bug repellant, sunscreen, and a first aid kit.
5. Take their favorite snacks, games, toys, books and music.
6. Resist the urge to do too much. Try to have some down time and be flexible.
7. Start out with a short day trip before embarking on an extended trip.
8. Discuss rules in advance such as spending limits or how much time they are allowed on their DS or on their cell phone.
9. Include recreation time for the children.
10. Build memories by working together on journals and taking photos.

Invite Kids Into the Kitchen

 

Have you ever wondered how to get your kids or grandkids to help you more in the kitchen? Teaching my kids to cook and letting them help me in the kitchen has always been a high priority of mine. It usually takes a lot longer and makes more mess, but the skills they acquire and the memories you share are well worth it.   

When I was growing up, both of my grandmothers would let me help them cook. It was such a treat to get to do something grownups did and to feel useful. I know my own kids have felt the same way, especially when they were very young. I remember one time when my son, Maxx was about four-years-old and we were making cookies. He looked up at me and said, “This is fun, Mommy, especially since I’m making cookies with you.”   

I’m sure he would never admit that now (at age 16) but it’s definitely a cherished memory of mine.   

One of my favorite blessings is having my daughter, Maggie, age 11, and my son, both helping me fix dinner. There is a bonding that occurs as you all work together toward a common goal—a delicious dinner. Everyone wants to puts their unique, tasty mark on the meal. What a joy! And they are learning valuable skills along the way. At least I am pretty certain that when they leave home they will at least know how to fix their own healthy meals.   

Everyday Family Meals   

A friend of mine, Brenda, has four young daughters and she involves them all in preparing homemade dinners. She and her husband are both physicians. She finds that by having her girls help prepare the healthy meals, they are more likely to try and enjoy the food.   

Brenda feels it’s a good idea to get kids interested in cooking and eating healthy meals at home when they are young, instead of falling into the trap of eating so much fast food. She says that hitting the drive through instead of preparing a healthy meal at home is one reason why our society has such a problem with childhood obesity.   

 

They try to have at least one sit down dinner together as a family each day. In our own household, we try to do that, too, but it can be tough when our lives are so busy. But sitting down together to a meal allows us to show how to set the table, share about our day, and model appropriate table manners.
    

    

    

Kitchen as Classroom   

I have always told my kids, “When you know how to read, you can learn how to do anything!” And that is exactly what happens in the kitchen. Cooking with a recipe teaches kids how to: 
• Follow Directions
• Read
• Use Measurements
• Learn About Fractions
• Chemical Reactions
• Builds Confidence and Self-Esteem   

Steps for Success:   

Your kids can make their own loaf of bread.

Some great recipes for you and your kids to attempt:  

 

• Cookies (drop cookies are a good choice for starters) We make a lot of Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies using whole wheat flour for more nutrition.
• Salads – let kids tear up lettuce and (if old enough) cut up vegetables.
• Homemade Bread – kids love to knead the dough and it’s good exercise, too. They can even make their own little loaf.
• Homemade Pizza – We often have ‘make you own’ pizza night. Each person gets their own piece of pizza dough, flattens it out and then tops with their own choice of toppings.
• Meatballs – or anything kids can roll – they love to roll things. Just be sure to have them wash their hands thoroughly after working with raw meat.
• Quesadillas – Flour tortillas (or Multi-grain ones) make great pizzas or quesadillas. Have your kids butter one side of a flour tortilla. It is then placed on griddle and they can top with their choice of cheese or other toppings. Then place another buttered tortilla on top.   

What cooking successes have you had with your kids?
Send in your ideas and we’ll post them for others!