Teens, Technology and Traveling

Anne Patrone is the founder of 500PlacesWithKids blog. She has much experience toting her kids around the continental US and shares her wisdom with Momaboard.

Anne says:

iPads, Droids, and Xboxes. Surfing, texting, and tweeting.

For any parent of a teenager or tween, these are familiar products and terms.

And with so much technology literally at your teen’s fingertips, it’s only natural that

these devices will intrude on a family vacation. How much time your teen spends

with these electronic devices and the way your teen uses technology while traveling

are the main questions parents must address if they want a memorable family

vacation.

When children are little, having a portable DVD player (or an iPad) when

traveling is a god-send. Long car rides and plane trips are easier when kids are

occupied and not fighting. For teens and tweens, the benefits are similar. Multi-

platform devices like the iPad or the new Blackberry Playbook allow teens to

download their favorite books, music, movies, and games. Throw in a pair of

headphones and some snacks and you have a calm and civilized way to travel from

point A to point B.

For parents who wonder if their teens are missing out on the family bonding

that occurs on long car/train/plane rides when using these devices, honestly

consider whether there truly would be any conversing or just the stony silence so

typical of a teen. As for the glorious scenery they might be missing out on if their

eyes are focused on a tablet, there’s an easy solution – stop the car and make them

get out. If the scenery is truly amazing, then they’ll look around and admire the

view. Perhaps they’ll even take a picture or video with the tablet and post it to their

Facebook page.

Fortunately, the size of a reader or tablet makes it less convenient to tote

around when sightseeing – quite unlike the Droids, iPhones, and other smartphones,

that are also a staple in any teen/tween’s life.

As the parent of a tween, I know there is nothing more annoying than hearing

a loud “ding” signaling the arrival of a text while traveling. I also know that to

expect a teen/tween to go cold turkey from their cell phone habit while on vacation

would be like asking a two-pack-a-day smoker to quit overnight. Like a nicotine-

deprived smoker, parents would end up with a sulky monosyllabic teen – a sure

downer on even the most exotic of vacations.

Instead, parents should use smartphone technology to enhance the family

vacation and set reasonable restrictions on usage. With mobile devices’ camera

capabilities, teens can record videos and take pictures to post to their Facebook

page or Twitter account. The occasional text to friends back home (as well as

those also on vacation in other parts of the world) while waiting in line or during

downtime should be permitted with the understanding that when entering a

museum, taking a tour, or just sightseeing, the phone goes on vibrate. Teens can

even help out by using the smartphone’s GPS locator to get directions to a certain

destination or they can select the family’s dinner location by using an app like

Urbanspoon.

Finally, if a parent thinks that going on vacation means a hiatus from playing

video games, they might be in for a rude surprise. Several hotels, including the

Marriott chain, have installed video game consoles in their rooms. With wireless

technology, all a teen needs is their favorite game, a spare controller, and loads of

batteries to make their hotel room into a home away from home.

How to avoid your teen getting sucked into a video game black hole? Be a

parent and set boundaries just like you would at home. This might include a time

limit on how long they can play or even confiscating controllers to avoid your teen

playing until midnight. With reasonable restrictions, your teen will view the gaming

console as a nice amenity, but not a necessity in your hotel room.

As the parent of a teen or tween, you should recognize that it may not be

reasonable to eliminate technology when you travel on a family vacation. But with

careful restrictions and an open discussion about when and where your teen/tween

can use their electronic devices, you can still create that family vacation they’ll

remember forever.

Anne Patrone is the mother of two sons and the author of 500 Places With Kids

(www.500placeswithkids.com), a blog chronicling her family’s adventures as they

travel around the world.