Can Children in One Month Vacation Lose Their Good Habits?

Updated on May 31, 2010
M.M. asks from Clinton Township, MI
13 answers

Hi moms.
we are on vacation now in another country where all my family live.we'll be here a month.My two children 3 yrs old son and 2 yrs old daughter are wery good kids and they have a very good habits like going to bad early,takeing a nap during the day in the same time,regular meals etc..now everythig is a bid mess.The kids are missing afternoon naps,they go to bad late...but the reason is too much people coming over and going out all the time!doesn't bother me im just scared that this vacation can change them and I don't want that! What do u think?

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Travel-rules are totally different from House-rules. Just as an example:

Whenever we're in Italy we don't have dinner until 10pm, and bedtime is midnight-1am.

After a week back Stateside, dinner is at 7 and bedtime is 9.

The only time we've ever had a problem transitioning back is if we MOVE (different house or apt) with the traveling in between. Then it takes about a month of "We're not in X anymore, love... we need to do Y now", kindly, gently, and firmly (after jetlag has worn off... prior to the time difference switch... we may well be having breakfast at 3am or 4pm depending on where we've just flown in from).

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L.M.

answers from New York on

Everyone's habits and schedules change when on vacation, for both adults and children. When you return home, it may take a few weeks, but eventually your routine will get back to normal.

2 moms found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Portland on

Don't know how long you've been there so far, but if you've jumped more than one or two time zones, their biological clocks will need time to reset. This can take up to two weeks; then sleep and hunger cycles will probably become more normalized. If you have to jump time zones when you return, the same thing may happen again.

1 mom found this helpful
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Z.K.

answers from Santa Fe on

Mom you have to remember your kids are on vacation to. Although there vacation and are vacation look a little different!!!! Plus in your home and your town there is a certain energy you have set that your children are use to...they are now out side of the energy y'all have built, so it is not abnormal. You do how ever want to stay patient and let them know that you are not please with some of there behavior. they are probably just excited which leads to not wanting to sleep ect....Is this yalls first vacation?

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

YES! My suggestion would be to let go of the little things that you don't care too much about-- but the things that are really important to you--- keep those routines the same or as close to as possible. Set boundaries with the family and let them know of your concerns. Good luck to you and enjoy your vacation!

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

yes it will change them. when u get home you have to instill the routine again n it will take awhile

K.A.

answers from Washington DC on

Different place, different culture. They are creatures of adaptation and rightly adapting to their situation. This is why they will be able to speak or at least understand the language of another country way faster than adults do. They are in the moment and doing what we should all d--blend! The great thing is, when you all go back home, they will adapt just as easily and swiftly as they are doing on vacation. Relax, and have a great time!

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N.K.

answers from Benton Harbor on

It's always something...don't waste time with your family fretting over wether or not your kids are going to nap or go to bed when you get home :) just do your best to keep on schedule, and if not just relax knowing that they won't die even if it takes a few days to get them back on track eventually...if it wasn't vacation it would be illness or something :) trust me, relax, enjoy your family :)

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S.H.

answers from Detroit on

yes, I'm sorry to say, that you will have to adapt to a new schedule, then adapt again. I'm assuming you will be staying in a different time zone, etc., so I would focus more on getting your kids to adapt to the change instead of trying to keep everything the same. Enjoy your time, but remember that kids can and do adapt (sometimes better than adults), and this is a good lesson in life to learn anyway! You're kids will be better off for it in the long run... however it may be really tough on you! My daughter stayed in another country for a month as well (she had just turned 4)... It took about 5 days for her to get use to the new time change/sleep schedule... then about the same for her to adjust back once home. It wasn't too bad though. Good luck and have fun!

K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

With it being vacation it is ok to be more relaxed on the nap/bed time rules... BUT it will take time when you return home to get back into normal routine. Even after a week vacation it took a week or two for my daughter to get back to the home routine. I have always tried to keep my daughters routine somewhat "normal" (or what is normal for us) with naps and bedtime, with a very few late nights or no naps, I also was a stickler on telling people to be quiet or go home when my daughter was sleeping (then again not everyone will do that but I did not want a cranky kid the whole vacation).

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

How wonderful your children can get to know your family that lives so far away! Who cares about the schedule? What they are gaining by knowing their family, learning about another culture and jut having fun with the people you love is way more inportant than the "schedule". Yes, schedules are lovely but your children are having the experience of a lifetime. Why ruin it with a schedule? Be sure to take lots of pictures to keep their memoies alive once this wonderful experience is over. Have fun, NO WORRIES!

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M.R.

answers from Benton Harbor on

I would say, be mentally prepared to instill the good habits on them once you come back :)

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