More parents are taking solo trips with children as young a 10. Sometimes a mom or dad take the trip to celebrate a milestone and sometimes it's simply to connect with their child. Travel agents say it's about breaking up the usual family dynamic and allowing yourself some one-on-one time with your child.
Moms are taking trips with their sons and dads are arranging tours with their daughters, but sometimes both parents take one child on a solo trip. The kids left at home don't feel left out because they now their turn is coming. And sometimes the trip is taken while the at-home child is at camp or taking a special-interest course.
Not everyone can afford to take the big trip to a foreign country with their child. But there are many opportunities for domestic travel adventures, and there are week-long in-state trips or across the country tours to a major U.S. city. The intimacy gained by being with one child for a week, or even an enjoyable weekend, can be significant.
Don't take a child to an interesting city if you are going there for business and will be leaving him or her alone in a hotel room for parts of the days.
You could take your child to Chicago, for example, where you both could ride a Segway and visit the Shedd Aquarium and museums of interest. Or take them to a professional sports game if they have an interest in that. And take a boat tour on the Chicago River. Every large city has many attractions.
Sometimes it works to spend one overnight with family members the child likes as part of your trip.
The important thing for a parent is to make sure it's what you really want to do and that you won't become impatient or bored with the itinerary. If you're not enjoying it too, the time and expense won't be worth it.
