We have finally broken free from the corsets of Victorian parenting. According to a new survey we now put our kids first on holidays – no more ‘seen and not heard’! In possibly the largest survey of its type, over 7000 UK mothers bared their soul on travelling as a family, letting children have cake and [almost] forgetting who the adult is.
Sponsored by Sea-Band? travel bands, in conjunction with www.netmums.co.uk, the survey shows that over 70% of mums value the family time together that holidays afford, above all the challenges that family holidays inevitably bring: hard work planning and keeping the show on the road (25%), cost (36%), stress and the unpredictability of today’s travel (29%).
Once on holiday, other factors made the experience haphazard and challenging: children misbehaving ranked highest (82%), followed by illness (47%), with tummy-related problems (47%), colds (45%) and travel sickness (34%) among the top health problems likely to scupper meticulously planned activities.
On the topic of which parenting strategy worked best, respondents were split along two schools of thought – for half the key to success is in the precise planning and organizing of every detail [‘plan, plan, plan!’], for the rest flexibility and a touch of free spirit keeps them ready for any challenge [‘don’t sweat the small stuff and relax!’].
Says Siobhan Freegard, founder of www.netmums.co.uk, and parenting author, “Holidays are for the whole family to enjoy, not just the kids OR just the adults and that means, as usual, getting the balance right. It’s fine to let children enjoy the kids club, but perhaps not so great to leave them in holiday childcare all day every day. Choosing a holiday that suits the whole family is key – while a hot, deserted Caribbean beach was perfect for your honeymoon it’s not so great with babies (eating sand and getting burned) or teenagers (“boring!â€). As with all things “parenting†recommendation is the best way to get your information.
The bands are available in fun, fluorescent or new khaki and green, camouflage, coloured bands for the kids, or larger, grey or black bands for adults. These acupressure wristbands are drug-free, do not cause drowsiness or interfere with other medications, and are suitable for everyone, young (from aged 3 years) and old.
Borrowing from the ancient Chinese principle of acupuncture, Sea-Band? works by exerting a constant, gentle pressure on a point on the inner wrist called the Pericardium 6 (P6) acupressure point, long known to relieve feelings of nausea.
Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. When acupuncture points are stimulated, the nervous system releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord and brain. These chemicals either change the experience of pain or trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones that influence the body’s internal regulating system. The biochemical changes may stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well being. Clinical trials have shown that acupressure is also effective in other conditions that induce nausea such as morning sickness or chemotherapy.
Tags: adult, adults, caribbean beach, chemo, chemotherapy, colds, conjunction, corsets, family, family holiday, Family Holidays, family time, free spirit, health problems, honeymoon, kids club, netmums, parenting strategy, schools of thought, sea band, teenagers, travel sickness, unpredictability