Stepfamily Holiday Travels
Here are suggestions for a more effective parenting relationship before and during the holidays. Booklet includes tips for parents in the receiving household, parents in the departing household, communication with children, packing hints, and ways the receiving household can help children relax and "settle in."
IF YOU ARE PARENTS IN THE RECEIVING HOUSEHOLD
Provide to the other parent and stepparent:
- Calendar of scheduled activities
- Transportation options
- List of clothing and special gear needed
- Suggested schedule for absent parent to talk with children
- Packet of information for the children
(maps, public transportation schedules, places of interest and things to do)
IF YOU ARE PARENTS IN THE DEPARTING HOUSEHOLD
With the Other Parent and Stepparent
- Acknowledge travel plans and coordinate schedules and gift giving
- Provide informaiton about children's changes or new idiosyncracies
- Provide contact information for reaching you
- If needed, arrange for the children's passports and pre-paid international phone cards
- Prepare "Consent to Travel" documents
Together With the Children
- Prepare for environmental changes
- Make written itinerary and put in children's room
- Provide calendar so children can mark off days until trip
- Identify and prepare appropriate clothing and medications
PACKING
- Write a checklist of items being packed AND to be re-packed for the return trip
- Provide recipes for food allergies
- Prepare luggage tags for both home addresses
- List of family's and friend's addresses and phone numbers
- "Consent to Travel" documents
WHEN CHILDREN ARRIVE IN RECEIVING HOUSEHOLD
- Let departure household know about safe arrival
- Help children unpack
- Create the start of an arrival day ritual