Top tips for family holidays:
Are we there yet?
This has become the stressful mantra associated with children on long journeys.
However, the tense, nervous excitement felt by many children en route to their holiday destination is often a reaction to the stress adults put out as they struggle with last-minute preparations and packing before they leave.
If there was only one tip you could give to families about to go on holidays, it would be to give themselves plenty of time to pack and start organising things days, if not weeks, in advance.
That way, at least, the last-minute preparations won't be dominated by stressed-out adults, shouting at their children to help or get out of the way!
The children themselves can also be given instructions on how many of their favourite soft toys, books and games they are allowed to bring.
Spending time packing these items into their own little backpacks can be a fun way to focus their attention.
Tiredness:Coping with tiredness upon arrival can be difficult especially if you have travelled to a different time zone and the weather conditions are unfamiliar to children.
Giving everyone in the family space to relax and adjust to the new environments is a must.
Older children may just want to watch television. Babies and toddlers may have to be persuaded to sleep and adults need to begin to unwind - a process which may take the entire holiday!
Keeping an eye on children's sleeping patterns throughout the holiday is crucial and while staying up late can be great fun, it must be balanced with extra sleep at some other time of the day. Holidays are often about spending lots of time out of doors so extra sleep is often required for everyone.
Eating out:This is one of the pleasures of holidays but with young children, this pleasure can turn into a nightmare.
Unfortunately, in Ireland, many restaurants have a very uninspired approach to children's menus. Some other European countries offer children more interesting choices. The key is to choose genuinely family-friendly places. Having a big breakfast at a leisurely pace - whether in a hotel or self-catering accommodation - is always a good idea on holidays. Then pack or buy plenty of healthy outdoor snacks and drinks to provide nourishment throughout the day until the evening meal.
Dangers:Sun, sand and sea all represent danger as well as pleasure so if you choose a beach holiday, don't forget the sunscreens, protection creams, sunglasses, hats and all the other beach gear. Always stay close to young children and within sight of older children when in public spaces.
Relax:Remember, summer holidays only come once a year and they are a fantastic opportunity for families to recharge their batteries and spend some time together.
Learning to compromise about what to do each day can be stressful but if there are some fair ground rules about what represents safe, fun and adventurous activities for different family members, then life is easier for everyone.
The key is to be open to new experiences for yourself, your partner and your children.