It's a fantastic opportunity for teens to enjoy their first summer travel without their parents. To explore and expand their experiences and knowledge of their surroundings is a gift and a treasure but travels can be full of stress, inconvenience and difficulties if the kids do not prepare for it.
Here's what parents need to do to ensure that their teenagers' first trip away, without mom and dad by their side, will be a safe and unforgettable succes:
1. Plan together.
While it's true that teenagers might want to go about planning this trip on their own or with their companions, there will be so many things, paperwork and pre-payments to prepare that some help from mom or dad will likely be appreciated. It won't hurt as well to suggest some key points that they must consider for the trip if they are discussing these with their friends.
Enumerate issues like money, communication, accommodation, food and safety, as well as possible medications or emergency hospitalizations in case an accident happens. They might not be able to cover all the bases because they're too excited about what's going to happen so a parent's input will keep them on track.
According to Kidadl, it will help to research the necessary documents needed for their trip and print out copies of important documents in case these get lost.
2. Talk about their health and safety.
Now might be the best time to open up about vices like alcohol or cigarettes, as well as their sexual health. It's a matter of staying realistic because teens on vacation without their parents will likely feel uninhibited and try just about anything with their peers. Make sure to stress the importance of avoiding risky behaviors if they are not yet ready to face the consequences. Also, talk to them about respecting boundaries and honoring consent.
3. Learn more about the trip.
There are trips that are part of a tour or a group where local meetings prior to the actual departure may have to take place so that the participants can get acquainted, according to Global Summers Academy. Offer to join them on these meet-ups so that you'll have some idea of who else is on the trip and what likely events are going to take place.
Going to these meetings will also give parents more information on what their kids will likely have to pack. For instance, if they are going to a foreign country, they might need to bring adapters so that their gadgets will work.
4. Arrange their roaming fees and preloaded credit cards.
This is more for the parents' peace of mind and assurance that their teens are doing alright away from home. Prepaid roaming fees will allow the kids to update or call their parents anytime. Preloaded credit cards, on the other hand, will ensure that they won't have problems paying for incidental expenses, especially if there are emergencies. This will also prevent them from carrying too much money that might attract bad elements in an unfamiliar neighborhood, per KXAN.
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