9 Tips For A Successful Family Day Out
Family life isn’t always a bed of roses. Between toddler temper tantrums and teenage stroppiness, you may often feel as though you’re fighting a losing battle. That said, spending quality time with your loved ones, stressful though it may be, is good for the soul. Bonding together as a family is a great way to make memories and improve relationship dynamics. And what better way to bond than to organise a fantastic day out together? Here are some tips to ensure your next family outing goes as smoothly as possible.
Plan Ahead
Although you may have once loved being spontaneous before your children came along, last-minute plans can be disastrous for large families. Grand days out with the whole gang can mean a myriad of moving parts, so planning ahead is vital to ensure you have every basis covered and everybody is fully prepared.
Take Everybody Into Consideration
Considering everybody’s individual needs is part and parcel of being a parent. Toddlers and babies may require regular feeding and naps, whereas older family members may need plenty of opportunities to rest. Of course, trying to please every family member is near impossible, but ensuring everybody’s basic needs are met is the first step to a successful family outing.
Consider Your Budget
We’d all love a spare pot of cash to blow on holidays and other family excursions. However, due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, budget trips may be the way forward. While saving up for a trip to a nationally renowned theme park or zoo is a wonderful way to treat your family, smaller, more manageable outings to a local park, nature reserve or museum could be equally as memorable.
Check The Weather
Organising a magnificent outdoor family picnic seems like a fabulous idea…until you notice the ‘torrential rain’ forecast. Granted, weather predictions are never exact, and a standard seven-day forecast is only accurate around 80% of the time. Nevertheless, if you suspect miserable weather, it’s better to be safe than sorry and organise some indoor activities instead.
Dining Options
Eating out as a family can amount to eye-watering sums. If you don’t feel up to forking out, explore alternative options, such as packing lunch to take with you, along with plenty of snacks to satisfy hungry mouths throughout the day. That being said, many cafes and restaurants offer family deals such as ‘2-for-1’ or ‘kids eat free’. Research the different eateries in and around your destination in advance to avoid disappointment, as you may have to book a table.
Pack The Essentials
Families with babies and young children understand the importance of having all the essentials on hand - baby bibs, nappies, wipes, snacks, bottles and more. Particularly if you’re planning a trip far from any convenience stores or public facilities, a large changing bag with plenty of compartments for easy access to your various bits and pieces is vital.
Don’t Overplan
Planning your day down to the very last detail may be an effective way to reduce the risk of disaster, but there is such a thing as overplanning. Attempting to cram in too many activities and sticking to a strict schedule could ruin the fun entirely. Allow your day to run its course naturally, take advantage of spontaneous opportunities, and everybody will have a marvellous time.
Ready Your Transportation
Imagine you’ve organised the perfect day. You’ve rallied the troops, and you’re all sitting in the car, raring to go until you realise - the battery is flat. A surefire way to ruin a day before it’s even begun is with a transport malfunction. Allow yourself plenty of time to double-check train schedules or ensure the car is full of petrol and in good working order.
Bring Entertainment
Even the most exciting day out could involve having to sit or stand around for long periods of time. Lengthy queues at theme parks and chilled sit-down meals are invariably boring for young children, and there is often only so much you can do to keep them good. To avoid any tears, you may want to pack some entertainment for your little ones, for example, tablets, crayons or books.