We just got back from our out-of-town summer vacation trip, and we have several traditions that make these opportunities special and set-apart.  The kids love “vacation rules” and the little things that have become expected on vacation.

Current Traditions

When we have an opportunity to stay in a hotel, suite, resort, etc. one thing that comes with us is a puzzle.  We open it up and it stays out all vacation long, providing an opportunity to be “played with” throughout our away-from-home stay.  It is a great way to fill slower moments, something to appease both those who feel vacation is a time to relax and those who feel vacation is a time to “do-it-all” (we have both of those types in our family).  It may not always get completed, but it sure is fun to try.

I am also sure to pickup one of those “magic towels” from the Dollar Store for each of the kids which they seem to love.  The one year I didn’t get one they were very disappointed, so obviously for them that cheap-growing-rag signifies VACATION.

 

Vacation Rules

Now, “Vacation Rules” are their favorite thing about these excursions.  Normally we are a very low-media household – no real TV time, limited and earned time on tablets, game consoles and the like (soon to be added cell phones – ugh).  Often where we stay there is a TV – in each room no less.  So,

VACATION RULE #1 – TV, as much as you like

(parent approved channels of course, and positive participation in all other family activities).

 

With kids who had ADHD, one is also Type 1 Diabetic, and sensitives with sugar (often seen in behavior challenges), our household is also a non-cereal home (although to be honest we have Cheerios in the house thanks to baby).  Believe me, as odd as it sounds, it makes a huge difference in the morning brain functioning of our kids, not to mention on the budget – cereal is expensive and hubby can go through a box a day, probably two!  However,

VACATION RULE #2 – cereal in the house!!!

 

And for the last,

VACATION RULE #3 – No bed time.

(bet you are having the same reaction our daughter did the first vacation we told her this – “Is that for real?”)

As with the other rules, if attitudes are affected and we need to bring back a bed time then we do.

 

New Tradition

During the summer our kids do “practice” each day, some academic homework so they can hopefully not lose too much ground in the scholastic learning.  M being in middle school and frankly losing a lot of ground in her studies with time spent in psychiatric hospitalizations and residential facilities, I was quite concerned about how to encourage participation and what kind of content she was needing.  I came across Brain Chase, an online learning challenge where kids unlock clues to find a real-life-buried treasure by completing learning goals in reading, math and additional subjects.  It was just what we needed and she was very excited about it.

Being her first year, having lower abilities with working memory and processing, and suffering from anxiety, at times she did get discouraged that she “was behind”, didn’t always understand how to decipher information or apply it to discovered clues.  We reminded her that others who won didn’t win their first time either and encouraged us to look at this as a learning “how it works” kind of opportunity.  As it became clear she was losing some steam, together we made the deal that if she completed the work we would do our own hidden treasure while on vacation, clues and all.

As I wondered how we could even plan something like this, I almost thought we dodged the bullet as vacation time approached and assignments were still incomplete.  But, M pushed past her frustration, showing off that persistent spirit that I know lives inside, and completed all the tasks.

Creation of a Vacation Treasure Hunt now needed to occur.

Hubby is more spontaneous, and I am more of a planner, so we did our usual approach – I mulled things over, scheming and planning and once on location, hubby executed.  M had been learning about different codes and ciphers.  We decided to use a book cipher directing her to coordinates on a map.  The resort had a rec room that had an over-sized checker board, a small library of books, and upon check in we were given a map of the area – all the ingredients we needed to formulate this treasure hunt.  We also had discussed what might be a good treasure and decided on a new wallet – she didn’t have anything to keep her money in (hates purses and anything “girly”) and added some money inside.

She woke up to a note:

A clue led her to the rec room where we were staying and the riddle identified another instruction could be found under the checker board.  That led her to a specific book with cipher instructions.  She spent the next 30 minutes or so looking up page numbers, counting rows of sentences, finding specific words and identifying letters that, put together hinted towards coordinates on the map.  She figured it out, and a trip was added to the day’s activities.

Now, hubby still had the treasure, so there was no need to worry that it would be picked up by someone else.  The plan was to follow her lead, and once in the right location distract and place it where it ought to be – which he had scoped out the night before in order to be prepared.

Worked like a charm, and the joy when she found it – priceless!  Even brother had fun tagging along – which is when I realized this – doing a Treasure or Scavenger Hunt – needs to be a new family tradition.

 

So why should you add a “hunt” to your vacation plans?

 

ADVENTURE

This goes without saying, the element of fun, possible competition should you go that route, and exciting opportunities makes this such a great vacation memory that can be re-created and tweaked again and again.

BRAIN WORK

Okay, so I know vacation is rest and respite, but if you are like me, you don’t want your kids to be zombies.  This engages the mind to puzzle, question, solve, search and find, all in a way that doesn’t feel like work.

BUILD CONFIDENCE

Every time a clue was solved, you could see the sense of pride growing. Some of our actions even included having to ask a concierge a question, which for our kids is so hard.  Even if she had to have help, she DID IT. Booyah!

CONNECTION

Just by creating this hunt we felt more connected to M.  Asking for help, coming up with answers, being the one to lead the path, all of us in this hunt together, so many opportunities to feel connected.  And then, the retelling of the adventure again and again, strengthening bonds as a family.

FLEXIBLE

This kind of activity can fit in where the vacation allows.  Some of our hunt was on location where we were staying, so individuals could stay in the room doing their thing while hunting occurred (like baby napping).  Some of the work was deciphering which could be done on own while dinner was being made, etc.  And some of it was out and about.  Any type of hunt could easily be spread out over time or completed in one slot; so many possibilities.

CHEAP FUN

Really what did this cost?  A gift we would have given anyway, so depending on how you roll, this could very easily be a no cost activity – but with priceless memories.

 

What would be your “vacation treasure”?