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Show ProvoOrem Chamber of Commerce Monthly Newsletter Page 9 How can D a successful vacation? June, 2001 plan Answer by: Tom Lee, Utah Stale University Extension Family Fam-ily and Human Development Specialist Spe-cialist The saying that "The family that plays together, stays together" to-gether" has been supported by several recent studies. Strong families are ones that do both wnrW and leisure activities to- 1 gether. This doesn't mean that healthy families do everything together; a balance of shared and individual activities is desirable. In most busy families, however, the leisure time spent together doesn't occur unless it is deliberately deliber-ately planned. The family vacation vaca-tion is an important way for families fami-lies to strengthen their ties. You like the beach and your spouse likes the mountains? The kids want to go to Disneyland? Differing leisure preferences are the rule rather than the exception. excep-tion. In one recent study, 75 percent per-cent of the families reported disagreeing dis-agreeing sometimes about what to do with their leisure time. These differences are more likely as children chil-dren get older. Holding a family council, especially espe-cially with grade-school and teenage teen-age children, is a good way to decide de-cide on the family vacation. A family fam-ily council is not just cailing the children together to tell them what Mom and Dad have decided. It is a way to go about reaching a decision that everyone has helped make. These basic steps should be included: Identify the issue (where to go, what to do on vacation). Brainstorm ideas (without evaluation at this stage, just get all the ideas from everyone). Evaluate the alternatives. Select an alternative. Think about it a few days, gather more information. See if everyone still feels the same about the decision, modify it if necessary. Implement the decision and begin planning. Some families may have a summer sum-mer vacation tradition, an activity activ-ity that they do each year, that has become accepted and "right." That may make the deciding easier. These vacation traditions can be an important part of a family's identity and roots. "Are we there yet? How much further is it?" These are words often heard by parents traveling with young children. A few factors may help them enjoy the family vacation too. Prepare them: discuss how you will travel; what you will see; read some books about vacations. Plan activities: help each child prepare a shoe box with a few selected se-lected toys, crayons, etc.: learn some games to play in the car; take bookstapes, music, to play on the tape player. Re-introduce grandparents and relatives: help the child be ready to see relatives they haven't seen recently by reviewing photos, talking about them, and preparing prepar-ing the child for hugs and kisses with these "semi-strangers." Be kid oriented: adults like to see things, kids like to do things. Both adults and kids will be happier hap-pier if kids are not expected to behave like adults. One paradox about families spending time together on vacations vaca-tions to become closer to each other is that too much time to- Why Subscribe to The OREM-GENEVA ? TIMES Your Best Source for Local News D Serving Orem Since 1932 B Complete TV Guide (Cable Included) Local Sports Local SocietyClub News School Activities (Grades K UVSC) Legal Publications B City Council Happenings fl Missionary & Scouting News B Local Advertising Sales B Local Features fl Local Columns & Editorials B Chamber of Commerce Events For your Subscription Call The Times 225-1340 Bringing comfort to your home. ASS CONOmONIHO TRANS It's Htr4 7i Stop A Tnrne. 226-7878 595 South 1325 West Orem, Utah 84058 gether may create conflict. The family has not been used to being cooped up in the few square feet of car space or spending all day together, when .they ordinarily have been together only at dinner time. Such changes will require adjustments and may create conflicts. con-flicts. That's all normal. It's a good idea, then, to plan some free time and some time for independent indepen-dent activities while on the family fam-ily vacation. Different groups within the family can combine for some activities. For example, Dad and daughters can go shopping while Mom and son look for shells. A travel log, some postcards, photographs, or videos are all excellent ex-cellent ways to preserve the vacation va-cation memories. The recollection of shared, happy experiences can be as important in creating closeness close-ness as was the actual vacation. As children grow and leave home for school, military, or other experiences, ex-periences, these memories will be more valuable than the things vacation money could have been spent on instead. The primary benefit of shared leisure activities, like vacations, may be the resulting enhancement enhance-ment of interpersonal communication. communi-cation. A change of routine allows us to see family members in a new way and to learn more about them. When free from daily pres sures, it is often easier to discuss problems or concerns that began before a vacation. A vacation will provide opportunities for expressions expres-sions of appreciation and for en joyment of one another that wil fill the reservoir of family unit and caring to sustain through drj spells that may come. Oak Furniture Sale 5- Drawcr Chest '189s Armoire 299M 6- Drawer Dresser .'259M Twin Headboards HW 2-Drawer Nightstand 39M 6 Ft. Bookcases ,79M Queen Bookcase Headboards ,199M ' SLEEP CENTER V. 785-2841 ISO S. 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