Are We There Yet?

Are We There Yet? Family Travel Tips from the Blogosphere

IT's recently taken a liking to Parent Hacks—the "collaborative weblog of practical parenting tips"—so we asked founder and editor Asha Dornfest to send IT her favorite family travel tactics. She writes:

"We at Parent Hacks believe that travel is one of the greatest gifts a child can receive. Even if they are 'too young to appreciate it,' every kid beyond infancy will take away something from the experience—not necessarily full-formed memories, but a general awareness that the world is a vast and wondrous place. We also recognize the challenges inherent in traveling with little ones, so we've collected a number of real-world tips to smooth the road (or flight) ahead.

1. Do your research. There are plenty of good websites that can help you prepare for the trip, both logistically and mentally. A few to try: Wejustgotback.com, Parentography, and TripConnect.
2. Simplify packing. If you're taking a road trip, consider packing the bulkier items (snow gear, toys, beach towels) in plastic laundry baskets rather than suitcases. Use carabiners to attach loose items to your backpack or diaper bag. Bring only enough diapers and wipes to get you through the first few days, and plan to restock.
3. But don't underpack. That said, bring along the stuff that will help your kids settle into unfamiliar surroundings: a favorite stuffed animal, a frequently requested bedtime story, or a night-light. A small emergency kit with pediatric medicines and first aid supplies will help you rest easy, too.
4. Arrange passports well ahead of time. If you're even dreaming of international travel, take care of everyone's passports now. Did you know you can convert one of your own digital photos into a passport photo?
5. Keep the kids entertained in transit. Keeping kids happy, comfortable and well fed while in transit requires some planning: You want them to be relatively quiet and content, but you don't want them to spend the entire trip glued to the portable DVD player. Some ideas: Pack activity bags full of small, inexpensive toys and art supplies, to be opened in transit; draw faces on airplane sick bags and stage an in-flight puppet show; bring along a few books on tape and some kid-safe headphones. If you're handy with the digital audio equipment, you can even create a special 'vacation soundtrack.' In lieu of trying to make them keep a travel journal, have the kids write postcards to themselves.
6. Baby-proof the hotel room. Put masking tape over stray electrical outlets, wrap a disposable diaper around the tub faucet to protect little noggins, and rearrange the furniture to block off hazardous areas. And bring your baby monitor along—it'll buy you some alone time in the hallway.
7. Have your kids wear ID at all times. You can buy Velcro bracelets or in-the-shoe stickers, or you can do what one Parent Hacks reader suggests: Write your cell phone number on your kid's belly with permanent marker.
8. Take advantage of museum memberships. Many museums have reciprocal membership agreements, so if you're a local museum member, see if it can get you a discount, or even free admission, to museums in the town you're visiting. Not a member? Try your auto club card, student or teacher ID, or public television or radio membership card.
9. Give yourself a break. Temporarily loosen the restrictions on DVD-watching, Gameboy-playing, and junk-food eating if it will help you get through a particularly rough day (and there will be rough days), or if you simply need a moment of rest. The memories of your travel experience are too precious to be tainted with arguments over candy bars or an extra showing of Toy Story 2."

Keep the Memories

After every vacation it's great to have pictures and small souvenirs that bring back memories of your trip. One fabulous way to create these memories is by making a scrapbook of your family vacation. While eliminating, "Honey, where were we again when this was taken?", it also gives your children (toddlers and up) something to do on a rainy day.

To start out with, get your children in the habit of saving one thing from each place you visit. It can be anything from a restaurant napkin to a postcard from a national park, or your children's drawings of the theme park your family has just visited. Another great tip is to bring along a disposable camera for your children. It's a great inexpensive way to allow your children to feel included, and at the same time get their point of view of the trip.

On a rainy day (hopefully you won't have any of those) or a night where you and your family want to take it easy, start putting your scrapbook together. The essential elements that are needed can easily be brought with you: photo-album or scrapbook, scissors, glue, construction paper, stickers and markers. If you feel really ambitious, take the film that has already been used to a 1-hour film-developing center.

Now that you have all the materials ready, it's time to begin. Here are a few suggestions that can help make the craft session run smoothly:

• Let each child have their own page to work on
• Let them be as creative as they want
• Keep all the materials in the same area so it is easier to keep track of
• Have your kids SHARE all the materials
• Try to avoid one child monopolizing the red marker for too long
• Once the film has been developed, the child who took the picture should have the option to use it first. This means that each child should have the same amount of time with the camera. Or you can buy each child its own special camera.

Enjoy your new scrapbook! The memories will last a lifetime.

Before You Go

Following the easy packing tips below will make for quicker packing and greater chances of a problem-free trip.

1. Pack a smart carry-on. Pack a change of clothes, medicine, eyeglasses, toiletries and anything else you cannot live without in a carry-on in the event your luggage is lost or delayed.
2. Reduce wrinkling. Pack clothes in tissue paper and place in plastic bags.
3. Save space by rolling clothes rather than folding them. This also can decrease your chances of wrinkling.
4. Be realistic. Pack only what you need and leave the rest at home for another time. Those who travel frequently say to lay out everything you want to pack but then only pack half of it.
5. Pack extra underwear. This is the only time you can break the less is more rule.
6. Pack a couple of plastic bags. They don’t take up much space and are useful for separating wet or dirty clothing.
7. Pack toiletries in a plastic bag. Air pressure changes may cause breaks or leaking. Also keep in mind that bag handlers are not known for being gentle with your bags.
8. Think comfort. Take comfortable clothes that are easy to clean and care for. Pack comfortable shoes and only those that you have worn before. Traveling is not the time to break in new shoes.
9. Always pack a small umbrella – just in case.
10. Consider packing an empty lightweight and expandable bag. This will come in handy for purchases when it comes time to pack up and return home.
11. If traveling with a companion, exchange at least one outfit to pack in one another’s bag. This will come in handy if one bag is lost or delayed.
12. Choose lightweight luggage and bags with wheels. You never know how far you will have to carry your bags once you arrive at your destination.
13. Make a list of all items in checked bags. If your luggage is lost you will have an easier time making a claim.
14. Use luggage tags on all bags – carry on and checked – with your name and contact information.
15. Mark your bags with something unique (a red ribbon, a fun sticker). This will make it easier for you to identify and more difficult for someone else to mistake as theirs. This will also come in handy if you lose your bags and need to describe them to an agent.
16. Don’t leave your packing to the last minute. Packing in advance reduces your chances of forgetting items and allows you time to purchase those you still need.
17. Have fun! Packing should not be stressful. Consider it the first leg of your journey!

First Aid Kit and Emergency Numbers

So you've decided to take the family on a trip, now it's time to pack. Don't forget to pack the first-aid kit. Use this checklist to help you form your own first-aid kit (you probably have most the supplies at your finger-tips)

• Container - choose a container that has plenty of room, is easy to carry and is able to withstand your family
• First-aid manual
• Adhesive bandages- varying sizes
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gauze bandage
• Tape
• Soap
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Diaper rash ointment
• Ibuprofen/ Extra Strength Tylenol
• Benadryl (antihistamine)
• Extra prescription medications
• Instant cold packs
• Calamine lotion
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellant
• Lip balm
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Safety pins
• Q-Tips
• Thermometer
• Flashlight (with batteries)
• Emergency phone list
• Blanket

Your Emergency Phone list should contain:

• Child's name
• Address
• Telephone number
• Social Security #
• Doctor's name and Phone number
• Health Insurance name, policy number, and phone number
• Emergency contacts
• Medical History: preexisting conditions, allergies, and immunization history

Holiday Child Safety Tips

With holidays approaching, everyone needs to consider child safety and travel issues. There are hazards at home, hazards on the road, and hazards at the homes of those with whom we are sharing the holidays. It's important to plan now so that everyone can have a happy, safe holiday season full of warm memories.

1. Holiday plants: Although much is made of the dangers of the poinsettia plant, there are other plants that are far more toxic. Mistletoe can cause severe stomach cramps and diarrhea == and can even be fatal. Holly and pyracantha are other toxic plants often used in holiday decorations that can cause vomiting. Large amounts of poinsettia ingestion can cause cramping - but the amount would have to be far more than for ingestion of these other plants.
   

2. The Christmas Tree: Christmas trees can be placed in playpens, on top of tables (without a tablecloth), or secured to the wall. Children often pull on the tree, and the whole thing comes down. Ornaments should be placed above the level of the child's reach. Avoid using glass ornaments. Use care with strings of electric lights. Like many appliance cords, most strings of Christmas tree lights are coated with plastic that contains lead. Aside from the risk of electrical injury, children are also at risk of lead exposure. Be aware that some older artificial trees or trees made in China may contain unsafe levels of lead and may give off dust - spreading lead throughout the air.

3. Stocking Hangers: Although decorative to hang stockings by hangers above the fireplace, these are especially dangerous for toddlers and young children. Many curious children have head injuries or facial injuries when they pull these heavy objects down on them while trying to get into the stockings.

4. Foods: During holiday times, there are often bowls of goodies sitting around and easily accessible. Parents of children with food allergies, especially nut allergies, should be very aware of foods that are sitting out at family gatherings. Parents must also watch for foods that are choking hazards for small children.

5. Candles: Children are often mesmerized by fire and candles. It is important to not place candles on tables with table cloths. It may be too tempting to pull the cloth and knock the candle over. Care should be taken to keep lit menorahs in safe places. One should never hold a lit candle while carrying a baby.

6. Travel: Travel with toddlers is exhausting. Plan for plenty of extra time for stops. Stop frequently for bathroom breaks and to just stretch your legs. You need to remain rested so that you can drive safely. Take plenty of snacks for the car or airplane. Take toys that will keep your child entertained. Try to schedule naps into your visiting schedule - visiting becomes much more difficult when your child is overtired.

7. Choking hazards: There are many choking hazards available to small children over the holidays. Gift packaging and toys with small parts are dangers. These could be from your child's gift or from an older child's gift. Everyone should be reminded to keep anything with small parts away from the baby. Batteries bought for new toys are especially dangerous. If you suspect that your child has swallowed a battery, you must seek help immediately.

8. Child proofing: When visiting others, you must watch your small child carefully. Most homes without babies or toddlers will not be child proofed. Even if celebrating the holidays at home, visitors may forget to keep drawers or toilet seats latched - or may leave certain doors open that you typically close. Remind visitors of your child safety practices, and don't be surprised if they sometimes forget - check things often.

By following these holiday tips, you will be well on your way to having a happy and memorable holiday season. Children make the holidays all the more special and exciting, but they also make the planning a little more challenging.

Where to go

Somewhere that involves water or animals is the best rule of thumb.

Most children can spend hours in a swimming pool, and the promise of seeing animals, either in a zoo, on safari or at a sealife centre is an irresistible attraction.

If you are touring from place to place, try to book hotels with swimming pools - you can use this as a bribe for good behaviour in the car.

It is also unfair to expect your children to behave with utter decorum all the time. They need somewhere to run around and shriek.

This is why "family friendly" resorts are best for this age group, although you should be prepared to sacrifice any peace and quiet yourselves.

Long-haul flights can be stressful if you have two or more children, so the Mediterranean is often a popular solution, in particular France and Italy, where the people love children and will be happy to welcome them into almost any restaurant or hotel.

Language is an important factor here, too - if you have primary-school-age children, most will be learning French and will love trying out a few words.

Independence is important to older children, but it must be a safe independence, so choose a resort or hotel where they can wander about on their own in the company of their siblings or friends, but cannot get lost.

Walkie-talkies or mobile phones are a very good idea. Children of this age will prefer to have their own room, and it will give you more privacy, too.

And it's worth thinking about evening entertainment: they will want to stay up later, so what is there for them to do? A resort with a pre-teen disco or cinema will keep them happy while you have a peaceful meal on your own.

What to take

Children of this age will naturally want a say in what they want to take with them, but it is not advisable to let them pack their own suitcase, or you will end up with all kinds of surprising items.

Here are some tips:

• The type of holiday you are planning influences what you should take. If it involves swimming, take at least three swimming costumes or trunks, so they have dry ones at all times
• One comfort toy should be sufficient - not six
• Allow for layering. Even though you may be going on a hot weather holiday, the evenings can be surprisingly cool
• A torch for reading, if they are sharing a room with younger siblings
• Books and story tapes, plus their own tape recorder. It may be bulky, but it will prove invaluable, especially on long journeys
• A couple of favourite videos if you have access to a video player. Excellent for relaxing at the end of the day
• Do not take pool inflatables with you. Buy them there, but remember that they're not recommended for the seaside - children can get swept away by the current
• Don't buy new shoes just before a trip - they may rub
• Wellingtons are a good idea, whatever the weather
• Shoes for the beach, such as "jellies" - many injuries are caused by sharp objects hidden in the sand
• One outfit per day per child should be enough, with two or three "smart" outfits for evening
• Even though they are older, pre-moistened wipes are a must
• It is rarely worth taking bikes with you, most resorts will hire them out
• A sun-hat, whatever the age
• Sunscreen - it no longer needs to be total sunblock, but you must guard against sunburn
• Do not take any clothes that need hand-washing or dry-cleaning. Wool is not a good idea, because it is hot and itchy
• Take more pants than you think you will need, unless you want to spend the whole holiday washing
• One jumper and fleece is normally enough, unless you are going somewhere chilly
• Take a light raincoat that folds away to nothing. You can always layer underneath for warmth
• Insist on one pair of comfortable shoes, even if you have an 11-year-old girl who is adamant about taking platforms. Compromise with trainers
• Let them each take a disposable camera - it will keep them occupied for hours
• Say they can pack one small bag of toys. There is no point taking mountains of toys because in the excitement of a new place they will not play with them
• Make sure you have a change of outfit for each child easily accessible in hand luggage on the plane. They are not too old to spill drinks all over themselves
• Pocket money for the holiday. Give each child a set amount according to age, and explain why this is fair.

Make sure they have a safe place to put it, and do not complain when they buy tacky rubbish with it. It is their money.

Activity holidays for children aged four to 12

You must tailor the activities you are planning to the child.

Ask them what they want to do before you go: don't suddenly spring upon them that they are whitewater rafting when you get there.

They will be happiest taking part in activities with siblings or other children they know - it is very daunting, if character-building, to be put in a group with a lot of strangers. Give them a list of activities, and let them choose.

Make sure each activity is age-appropriate, and ask searching questions about the qualifications of supervising staff.

This is why holiday companies such as Mark Warner are a good bet, because they have English-speaking, qualified staff at their nine Mediterranean and Aegean resorts.

Activities you might consider for this age range include:

• Snorkelling for younger children, scuba diving for those 10 and over
• Horse riding, although preferably your child should have some prior experience. This is not the kind of sport you can pick up on the hoof, so to speak.

Most companies offering riding stipulate prior experience: not only can riding be risky, but your child will be very stiff and sore after an hour in the saddle if they've not done it before.

• Sailing, especially dinghy sailing for children from six upwards
• Wind-surfing, but remember that pulling up the sail is hard work - probably best for strong eight-year-olds and above
• Water-skiing. Strangely, the younger the child, the more likely they are to be able to do this well - light children just pop up out of the water.

But they must be able to swim proficiently: most family travel organisations advise that children should be over seven before they try it.

• Whitewater rafting is very exciting, but can also be dangerous - probably best if you accompany them for moral support, and they must be able to swim independently without aids
• Canoeing is ideal for any age of confident swimmer, but the instructors must be qualified. It is not recommended for children under ten to canoe in the sea, as this is potentially far more hazardous
• Tennis. Very safe, and a useful skill to learn for later years
• Football is popular for all ages, for girls as well as boys
• Adventure trekking, which basically means hiking or walking for hours at a time, is probably not advised for your younger children, who will get tired and fractious.

The upmarket tour operator Abercrombie and Kent has launched a family brochure, which includes an "Adventurer's Club" for this age group.

In safari, this will offer practical wilderness experience such as bush survival skills and learning about herding, and on the coast there will be snorkelling trips, scuba diving and exploring coral reefs.

• Any adventure holiday described by the travel company as "challenging" is not a good idea. Most companies grade their treks, and will give age recommendations.

Take note of these, as you don't want to feel your putting your child in any kind of danger.

And bear in mind that walking is not usually a child's favourite activity, so if you do book a trek, make sure there is plenty to keep them interested along the way, such as looking out for different wildlife or birds.

• This is the age of fun and theme parks, and then there's always Disney - either in Paris or the States.

Children of this age love to be thrilled: they're old enough to appreciate it but not so old to be "bored" by the Disney machine. And teenagers will probably enjoy it too, despite themselves!

• Using different forms of transport is great fun. Rent bikes, take taxis, and try the local trains, trams or boats
• Immerse them in the local culture, and whenever possible let them encounter local children of their own age. This will be most memorable for them
• Above all, aim for a pleasant, satisfied tiredness at the end of the day. Tired children are sleepy children and will allow you to have some time on your own

Planning Tips

Most children loathe long car journeys, and will distract you endlessly with queries about: "When are we there..."

Where possible, plan destinations that have a short transfer time from the airport or the ferry.

If you do choose a touring holiday, make sure you are not in the car for more than three or four hours a day, and ensure you have lots of breaks in between: a sight-seeing holiday in a car is no holiday for children.

A "staying put" holiday can be the best option, because this will give them time to make friends (if they aren't going away with other children).

Aged four to 12 they can cope with hotter conditions and climate, and as long as they aren't unusually timid, will adore activities that test their skills, such as fishing trips, whitewater rafting, biking, horse riding and sailing.

A safari would be a memorable experience for a child of this age, combining a foreign culture with their love of animals.

If you are intending a cultural break, to Paris, for example, keep sight-seeing to a couple of days: the threshold before which they become bored of museums and busy city centres is very brief.

Combine it with a place they can run around and let off steam, such as Disneyland Paris. That way you both feed your souls - you with culture, history and monuments, they with Mickey Mouse.

Here are some helpful planning tips:

• Involve children in the planning stage of the holiday. Talk about where you're thinking of going, what you will see and do and ask what they would like to do. It will double their anticipation!
• Take into account the type of children you have. If you have timid, clingy children, do not book them into a full-time kids' club while you laze by the pool. What are their interests and hobbies?
• Holidays at this age are all about compromise. If you want to relax by the pool while your partner wants to play golf and your children are mad on football and horse-riding, choose a resort which offers all four
• Holiday companies such as Mark Warner or Club Med are excellent for this age group, because they offer an all-inclusive price combined with endless children's activities
• You probably won't want to isolate yourself in a rural villa, unless you go with friends. The children will play in the pool, but will quickly get bored and want to go off and do something
• Think carefully about your children's ages - a four-year-old has quite different needs to a ten-year-old.
  

If you choose a resort, it will need to cater for these differences - independence and challenge for the elder, safe yet fun activities for the younger.

• Buy books and tapes about where you are going, and let your child look up the destination on a map or globe
• School is a big part of children's lives at this age, so find out which projects or subjects they have been learning about, and build this interest into the holiday: if they've been studying the Romans, for example, and you're going to Italy or the Med, there's bound to be an ancient villa or temple nearby
• If you promise to do something exciting, such as swimming with dolphins, try to make sure it happens. Promises are very important to children of this age, and failure to keep them will colour their entire holiday
• Don't force your child to do something they don't want to do. If they are not confident swimmers, they will not enjoy whitewater rafting.

Similarly, it is not a sensible thing to introduce your children to an activity such as horse-riding on holiday. It is potentially scary, and might put them off for life.

Mengelola Liburan Anak

Oleh: Jacinta F. Rini
Jakarta, 23 Juni 2004

Setiap musim liburan tiba, kita sering melihat respon yang berbeda antara anak dengan orang tua. Anak-anak dengan gembira dan semangatnya menyambut liburan mereka, sedangkan orang tua malah pusing dan bingung karena mereka harus memikirkan aktivitas apa saja yang dapat mengisi liburan, sehingga kegiatan anak tetap terarah dan berkualitas. Kepusingan orang tua sering dialami oleh para orang tua yang bekerja, karena mereka tidak bisa sewaktu-waktu mengambil cuti dari kantor. Tuntutan pekerjaan membuat mereka tidak mudah meninggalkan tanggung jawab setengah jalan untuk urusan “liburan”. Idealnya, antara orang tua dan anak, ada perencanaan yang baik dalam menentukan waktu “liburan bersama keluarga” sehingga tidak perlu ada yang mengorbankan kepentingan atau tanggung jawab. Namun, sudah tentu waktu libur anak yang relatif panjang sekali jika dibandingkan dengan libur orang kerja, tidak akan pernah dengan orang tuanya.

Bagaimana mengelola kegiatan terutama pada waktu orang tua tidak bisa extending waktu libur mereka bersama anak?

Liburan Murah Meriah

Bisa dimengerti, bahwa dalam kesibukan para orang tua, dari pagi hingga malam, bekerja penuh waktu, segenap energi, pikiran dan ide-ide kita sering buntu – tidak lagi bisa memikirkan hal-hal lain selain dari pekerjaan hari ini dan pekerjaan esok hari yang sudah in-advance dipikirkan malam sebelumnya. Dalam keadaan seperti itu, kita para orang tua sering lupa, bahwa kita pun dulu pernah kecil, pernah melewati masa kanak-kanak yang amat sangat jauh berbeda dengan masa kanak-kanak anak-anak kita sekarang ini. Dulu, kita tumbuh dan berkembang dalam lingkungan yang amat sangat jauh lebih sederhana, tanpa kekurangan “media” bermain dan fasilitas permainan. Ada saja ruang dan bahan-bahan yang bisa kita jadikan permainan tanpa harus membayar mahal-mahal dan tanpa harus mengeluarkan biaya transportasi yang mahal. Halaman belakang rumah, halaman tetangga, kebun nenek kakek atau pun, parit kecil di depan rumah – sering dipakai bermain, terutama di kala hujan.

Tidak bisa dipungkiri, jaman sudah berubah, tuntutan kian mengejar dan usia semakin menua, membuat kita para orang tua lupa bagaimana kita dulu mengelola liburan kita, tanpa harus selalu mengikutsertakan orang tua. Artikel kali ini, bertujuan untuk sekedar mengingatkan dan memberi alternatif – bagaimana cara mengisi liburan anak, tanpa harus bepergian jauh, apalagi dengan mengeluarkan biaya yang besar. Sebab, tidak semua keluarga mampu memiliki biaya atau budget yang memungkinkan untuk “liburan”...Kita bisa membuat liburan tetap menjadi moment istimewa, meskipun dengan biaya ringan atau pun bahkan tanpa biaya. Bagaimana menyiasatinya?

Liburan ilmiah

Liburan ilmiah yang dimaksud di sini, adalah liburan sambil menimba ilmu. Bagaimana caranya supaya tidak bosan dan “menyebalkan”? Kita bisa membawa anak-anak berjalan-jalan ke musium yang ada di dekat tempat tinggal kita, entah musium zoologi yang ada di kota Bogor, Kebun Raya Bogor, musium geologi di Bandung, BOSCHA (tempat teropong bintang) di Lembang atau pun yang ada di seputar Taman Ismail Marzuki. Di Jakarta ada musium ABRI (Satria Mandala), di Yogyakarta ada musium sekaligus monumen perjuangan Yogya Kembali. Dan, masih banyak musium yang tersebar di seluruh Indonesia. Dengan membawa mereka ke musium, mereka belajar banyak tentang sejarah masa lalu, entah sejarah kehidupan manusia, kehidupan tumbuhan dan hewan, serta alam semesta. Biaya masuk ke musium relatif sangat murah ketimbang “shopping” di Mall.

Mengisi liburan ilmiah, tidak hanya dengan pergi ke musium; pergi ke pasar pun bisa menjadi ajang liburan ilmiah. Kalau kita tidak di”ganggu” oleh kekhawatiran kita yang sering kelewat batas kalau membawa anak ke pasar (takut becek, takut kotor, takut lelah, takut sakit, dsb) yang sesungguhnya sering ditunggangi oleh ke-egoisan kita (tidak mau repot bawa anak ke pasar). Di pasar, banyak sekali komoditas yang dijual dan ditampilkan dalam “etalase” terbuka. Ada bawang merah, cabe, sayur mayur, bumbu dapur, alat memasak, dsb. Pasar adalah pusat informasi yang menyimpan “data base” amat besar. Ribuan variable yang dapat kita temukan di pasar dan masing-masing “variabel” dapat kita jelaskan pada anak. Misalnya, kita tunjukkan pada anak, yang manakah bawang merah dan manakah bawang putih, bagaimana mereka tumbuh, mengapa kita perlu bawang merah, mengapa kita perlu bawang putih, apa kegunaan dan manfaatnya, dsb. Atau, mana kah yang namanya ikan mujair dengan ikan tongkol, cumi-cumi dan kepiting (dalam wujud yang utuh, bukan lagi dalam bentuk transformasi yang sudah tersaji di meja makan). Kalau informasi itu dikumpulkan, maka tidak cukup 12 ensiklopedi untuk menjelaskan semuanya. Kita bisa menjelaskan segala sesuatu secara panjang lebar di rumah, setelah kita menunjukkan pada anak benda-bendanya. Dan, pasti lebih menyenangkan jika anak melihat secara langsung “tumpukan” komiditas di pasar. Bagi anak-anak yang perkembangan intelektualnya masih membutuhkan benda-benda kongkrit untuk menunjang pengertian mereka, “study tour” adalah moment yang penting.

Liburan kreatif & innovatif

Kita bisa mengarahkan dan membangkitkan kreativitas anak dengan menstimulasi imajinasi mereka. Pada dasarnya, anak-anak itu sangat kreatif dan heavy-loaded by energy. Kita (atau pengasuh, atau siapapun yang bisa kita percaya) bisa bawa mereka ke tempat art & craft center atau pun science club untuk anak-anak, dengan biaya relatif murah. Di sana, mereka akan disajikan banyak sekali hal-hal yang belum mereka ketahui, percobaan-percobaan ilmiah atau pun teknik-teknik seni yang akan menghasilkan karya yang membuat mereka bangga akan diri sendiri. Memang, kita tidak selamanya bisa membawa mereka ke tempat-tempat tersebut. Kita pun bisa menciptakan liburan kreatif dan innovatif di rumah. Kalau kita tidak punya ide sama sekali tentang apa dan bagaiamana, kita bisa membeli buku yang menjabarkan tentang berbagai percobaan menarik yang dapat dilakukan sendiri di rumah. Mulai dari percobaan unsur (yang sederhana saja, misalnya minyak dengan air), percobaan warna (memadukan warna) sampai dengan mencoba membuat sesuatu/constructing things – dari benda-benda yang ada di rumah, misalnya: kardus, karton tebal, tripleks bekas, koran bekas, akuarium bekas, stoples beling kosong, dsb yang bisa digunakan menjadi media atau pun alat eksperimentasi atau konstruksi. Nah, di sinilah peran ayah sangat penting untuk menemani dan men-supervisi anak laki-laki. Dan, peran ibu untuk mau “menyulap” benda-benda yang ada di rumah, menjadi bahan baku yang potensial untuk menciptakan sesuatu.

Di masa liburan ini pula, anak-anak bisa kita perkenalkan dengan kegiatan “baru”, misalnya : belajar memasak (membuat kue, dsb), belajar menjahit, menyulam, menari (kalau yang ini, mungkin harus kursus atau jadi anggota sanggar), menukang, atau bertanam (tidak mesti harus punya halaman luas, karena bisa dengan menggunakan polybag (kantong khusus untuk menanam bibit) atau pot kecil. Jangan cemaskan hal-hal yang insignifikan, misalnya “bagaimana kalau anakku capek, bagaimana kalau rumah kotor, bagaimana kalau kaki kena tanah, bagaimana kalau bajunya basah, bagaimana kalau halaman jadi becek” dsb... Kalau kita mau jujur, bukankah semua kekhawatiran itu disebabkan karena kita tidak mau repot-repot atau capek-capek membereskan “perabotan” atau pun membersihkan kotoran? Nah, sebenarnya kita bisa sekalian mengajarkan pada anak kita, bagaimana mengerjakan segala sesuatu dengan rapi. Kita pun bisa sekalian mengajarkan pada anak kita “tanggung jawab”, artinya, kalau sudah selesai mengerjakan, kita pun harus membereskannya kembali. Hati-hati, kekuatiran kita para orang tua, bisa menghalangi anak “mengenyam, mempelajari dan menginternalisasi” nilai-nilai luhur budi pekerti, seperti : tanggung jawab, kreativitas, konsekuensi (sebab akibat), kebanggaan yang positif pada diri sendiri (atas dasar kemampuan diri yang riil – bukan numpang kekuatan dan kejayaan orang tua), ketekunan, persistensi, konsentrasi, koordinasi (baik koordinasi tangan, pikiran dan perasaan – dengan koordinasi dengan pihak lain) serta satu hal yang nilainya tidak kalah tinggi, yakni: membentuk tangga identitas diri. Setiap aktivitas, merupakan sebuah ekspresi diri sekaligus konfirmasi akan kemampuan dirinya. Kalau anak merasa “mampu” dan berhasil mengatasi tantangan yang satu, maka dalam dirinya tertanam rasa percaya diri untuk melakukan eksplorasi demi eksplorasi ke bidang-bidang lainnya.

Liburan empatik & sosial

Ada lagi jenis kegiatan yang relatif murah untuk mengisi liburan anak dengan nilai yang tinggi. Kita bisa membawa anak-anak, pergi ke panti asuhan untuk melihat teman-teman mereka yang hidup di panti asuhan. Dengan begitu, anak-anak akan melihat bahwa di dalam hidup ini, ada banyak hal yang belum mereka ketahui, bahwa ada banyak anak-anak yang menjalani hidup sangat berbeda dari anak-anak kita – dan ternyata, banyak juga yang meskipun hidup susah, tapi tetap bahagia, tahu bersyukur, tidak cerewet, tidak mengeluh dan bahkan punya semangat belajar dan semangat juang yang tinggi. Selain ke panti asuhan, kita juga bisa ajak anak-anak ke panti jompo. Di sana, kita bisa membuka pengertian anak dan menanamkan nilai moral, bahwa setiap orang akan menjadi tua, dan meskipun tua, mereka tetap membutuhkan perhatian dan kasih sayang, terutama setelah apa yang mereka berikan pada anak-anak selama ini. Kesempatan ini, dapat bermanfaat untuk menanamkan kebijaksanaan pada anak, akan pentingnya “orangtua” untuk anak-anaknya. Sebenarnya, dengan mengajak anak kita ke dua tempat: panti asuhan dan panti jompo, kita sekaligus menyampaikan sebuah fakta : bahwa setiap orang di dalam hidup ini saling membutuhkan dan saling memberikan. Tiadanya perhatian dan cinta, dapat membuat hidup menjadi sulit dan tidak bahagia; tapi, perhatian hanya dalam bentuk hadiah, barang, dan bentuk-bentuk materi lainnya – ternyata tidak dapat membuat orang benar-benar bahagia.

Liburan petualangan

Liburan petualangan, biasanya diasosiasikan dengan biaya yang mahal dan perjalanan yang jauh. Sebenarnya tidak harus demikian, karena di setiap tempat, disetiap kota, pasti punya sisi terpencil yang amat menarik untuk dijadikan ajang petualangan. Coba jika Anda ingat ketika masih kecil dahulu, bukankah mengejar layangan putus sambil menelusuri sungai kecil – sudah menjadi pengalaman yang luar biasa? Mungkin, saat ini sungai kecil itu sudah tidak ada lagi – tidaklah masalah. Kita bisa mengajak anak-anak, pergi berjalan-jalan ke perkebunan teh, ke kebun raya, ke kebun binatang, ke gua, ke sawah, ke pemancingan (di daerah Cibinong, ada sebuah pemancingan besar untuk umum, sekaligus tempat camping dan planting, ke gunung, ke mata air panas, ke air terjun atau ke peternakan (di daerah lingkar Jakarta Selatan, ada semacam istal kuda yang terbuka untuk umum). Sebenarnya, semua tempat itu possible, selama kita para orang tua, willing to go out of the box, get out from the bed and comfort zone, dan doing extra effort to have advanture.

Kendalanya, sesungguhnya lebih terletak pada diri kita sebagai orang tua. Kita memang sering terbentur waktu, dan kesempatan – tapi, kalau kita ingin jujur, sesungguhnya yang menghambat seringkali, adalah diri kita yang sepertinya “sudah terlalu lelah untuk melakukan apapun kecuali tidur atau sekedar jalan-jalan ke mall”. Padahal, kalau kita mau mencoba keluar dari lingkaran kehidupan dan kegiatan yang membuat energi kita terperangkap di dalam lingkaran itu, maka kita para orang tua yang sudah pada kelelahan, kita bisa men-charge kembali battery energy yang sudah low. Asalkan, selama bepergian, kita tidak membawa serta semua idealisme dan konsep-konsep “berlibur yang ideal, anak yang baik, orang tua yang sempurna, dsb” yang hanya akan membebani mental kita sendiri. Biarkan semua orang bisa mengekspresikan minat, emosi dan ide-idenya – justru karena ada media yang tepat untuk menyalurkannya. O ya, suasana petualangan, tidak harus artinya kita pergi jauh dari rumah. Jika kita, atau salah satu famili memiliki rumah dengan halaman yang cukup luas, maka kita bisa mendirikan tenda di halaman itu, dan membiarkan anak-anak “camping” di tenda. Tentu moment ini menjadi moment yang mengasikkan, apalagi jika anak-anak kita bergabung dengan para sepupunya.

Liburan super-aktif

Mengingat anak-anak adalah pribadi yang paling aktif, maka kita pun bisa mengarahkan dan menyalurkan energinya, pada kegiatan yang mengasikan. Jikalau pergi ke pantai untuk berenang dan main pasir atau mengumpulkan kerang – terlalu sulit untuk dilakukan, atau terlalu jauh untuk dijalani, maka kita bisa mengajak anak-anak pergi ke lapangan bola terdekat, untuk “bertanding sepak bola”, atau pergi ke kolam renang terdekat, untuk adu renang; atau, membantu ayah men-cat tembok rumah, mencuci mobil, menjadi “asisten” ketika ayah membetulkan mobil atau motor, bersepeda di dalam kompleks, atau, bermain layangan! Coba kita ingat-ingat, betapa menyenangkannya “hanya” dengan main layang-layang atau main sepeda. Problemnya bagi kita para orang tua : maukah kita meluangkan waktu untuk anak kita? Maukah kita mengatasi dan mengalahkan ke-engganan diri (mungkin kita lebih senang nonton TV dan sinetron di rumah ketimbang panas-panasan di bawah terik matahari, atau berkutat pada komputer di ruang kerja karena pikiran tidak bisa lepas dari pekerjaan) ?

Nah, dari semua alternatif di atas, tampaknya tidak terlalu sulit untuk direalisasikan. Namun, apapun kegiatan yang akan dihadapi dan dijalani, kendalanya biasanya ada di kita, para orang tua : maukah kita keluar dari comfort zone – mengusahakan dan melakukan sesuatu “diluar kebiasaan”. Selain itu, ada pula tantangan untuk kita para orang tua, yang datangnya justru dari anak-anak kita sendiri. Seringkali, pola hidup dan kebiasaan “keluarga” selama ini, yang di dominasi oleh kegiatan shopping ke mall, nonton TV, main computer game, atau chatting on line, membuat anak-anak enggan untuk pergi ke tempat-tempat di luar shopping mall atau pun untuk melakukan kegiatan yang sifatnya produktif. Mereka cenderung lebih senang nonton TV, main computer game, atau kalau mau liburan – ya benar-benar harus pergi ke suatu tempat yang jauh, misalnya ke Bali atau ke tempat lain yang mewah. Sebab – tidak selalu finansial keluarga, men-support keinginan anak – bahkan keinginan kita sendiri untuk menikmati “liburan” yang menyenangkan.

Tanpa harus mengeluarkan dana yang besar, kita selayaknya dapat mencari dan menemukan kebahagiaan dari kegiatan yang sederhana, namun tidak kalah nilainya. Bagaimana pun juga, kebahagiaan itu tidak diukur dari besar kecilnya uang yang kita miliki, bukan ?

Merancang Anggaran Liburan

Oleh: Elvyn G Masassya,
praktisi keuangan
KOMPAS, 30 Mei 2005


COBA tanyakan secara jujur pada diri Anda, apakah selama ini Anda selalu merencanakan liburan dan menyiapkan anggaran untuk membiayai liburan tersebut sejak jauh-jauh hari?

Mungkin sebagian dari Anda menjawab ya. Akan tetapi, tidak sedikit yang barangkali mengatakan tidak. Kenapa? Karena bagi beberapa kalangan, liburan adalah hal biasa yang kapan saja bisa dilakukan.

Hal semacam itu bisa terjadi bagi orang-orang yang sudah tergolong dalam kelompok financial freedom. Akan tetapi, bagaimana dengan kalangan lain, di mana untuk membiayai aktivitas kehidupannya masih membutuhkan adanya pendapatan? Ceritanya jelas berbeda.

Aktivitas berupa liburan membutuhkan biaya yang belum tentu tersedia setiap saat. Oleh karena itu, untuk mendapatkan dana yang cukup dalam rangka membiayai liburan perlu dibuatkan perencanaan. Dengan kata lain, menyiapkan dana untuk berlibur pada dasarnya merupakan bagian dari tujuan keuangan yang membutuhkan perencanaan keuangan. Bagaimana konkretnya?

Galibnya, setiap orang memiliki penghasilan. Dari seluruh penghasilan yang dimiliki akan dialokasikan paling tidak untuk tiga kegiatan, yakni konsumsi, saving, dan investasi. Tujuan saving untuk berjaga-jaga, sementara tujuan investasi agar uang bisa bekerja dan kemudian memberikan return sehingga aset semakin bertumbuh dan dapat digunakan mencapai tujuan keuangan tertentu melalui investasi tersebut. Sedangkan konsumsi adalah pengeluaran yang sifatnya mendasar dan tidak bersifat produktif.

Lalu bagaimana dengan liburan? Coba jawab lebih dahulu, apakah berlibur merupakan kegiatan produktif atau konsumtif? Apakah berlibur akan memberikan return dalam bentuk moneter atau tidak?

Secara umum, berlibur membutuhkan uang untuk dibelanjakan. Artinya, murni pengeluaran. Itu berarti, liburan sebenarnya merupakan kegiatan konsumtif. Benar, dengan berlibur, pada gilirannya, seseorang mungkin akan merasa lebih segar dan kemudian bisa bekerja lebih produktif. Namun, ini adalah implikasinya. Sementara kegiatan berlibur sendiri membutuhkan biaya. Mengingat kegiatan berlibur merupakan tindakan konsumtif, perencanaan keuangan untuk mendapatkan dana berlibur harus masuk dalam kategori pengelolaan dana yang peruntukannya konsumtif.

Sederhananya, kalau dari 100 persen penghasilan Anda sebesar 70 persen dialokasikan untuk hal konsumtif, Anda harus menyisihkan secara rutin sebagian dari yang 70 persen itu sebagai sumber dana untuk membiayai liburan. Seperti apa jelasnya?

TENTUKAN lebih dulu ke mana Anda akan berlibur? Kapan liburan tersebut akan dilaksanakan? Siapa saja yang menjadi peserta liburan? Berapa lama liburan akan berlangsung? Bagaimana dengan transportasi serta akomodasi dalam liburan tersebut? Dan terakhir, berapa besar pula uang saku yang Anda perlukan untuk belanja, makan, dan sebagainya?

Umpamakan Anda akan berlibur pada akhir tahun ini. Tujuan liburan Anda ke Bali dan yang akan ikut berlibur adalah pasangan beserta anak-anak Anda. Lamanya liburan satu minggu. Anda ingin menginap di hotel bintang lima dan menggunakan pesawat terbang menuju Bali.

Setelah semua itu dipastikan, buat perkiraan berapa dana yang dibutuhkan. Sebutlah, total dana yang dibutuhkan sekitar Rp 12 juta. Itu berarti pada akhir tahun nanti, pada saat Anda akan berlibur, paling tidak sudah tersedia dana sebesar itu.

Bagaimana penyiapan dana tersebut? Sederhana. Anda harus mampu menyisihkan paling tidak Rp 2 juta sebulan sehingga dalam enam bulan terkumpul dana sebesar Rp 12 juta.

Pertanyaan berikutnya, dari mana sumber dana Rp 2 juta sebulan?

Sisihkan dari dana yang Anda alokasikan untuk konsumsi. Artinya, jika penghasilan Anda Rp 10 juta sebulan, dan untuk konsumsi sebesar Rp 7 juta atau 70 persen, sejak bulan Juni nanti dana yang bisa Anda pergunakan untuk konsumsi sehari-hari tinggal Rp 5 juta.

Mungkin Anda akan mengatakan, secara teori hal tersebut sangat mudah, namun dalam praktik sulit dilakukan mengingat kemungkinan Anda ingin berlibur pada bulan Juni ini karena berbarengan dengan liburan anak sekolah.

Apa yang mesti dilakukan? Bagaimana, misalnya, menggunakan kartu kredit?

Boleh saja, asalkan, pada bulan berikutnya Anda mampu menyisihkan sebesar Rp 2 juta setiap bulannya dari penghasilan yang dialokasikan untuk konsumsi menjadi angsuran kartu kredit. Jadi prinsipnya, sepanjang Anda memiliki kemampuan untuk menyisihkan pendapatan, maka penggunaan kartu kredit dapat dipertimbangkan.

Bagaimana jika kemampuan keuangan Anda tidak memungkinkan untuk mengalokasikan Rp 2 juta sebulan?

Katakanlah, kemampuan Anda hanya Rp 1 juta per bulan? Ada dua pilihan. Pertama, tunda liburan Anda menjadi tahun mendatang. Dengan kata lain, Anda akan tetap mengumpulkan dana sebesar Rp 12 juta, namun pelaksanaan liburan baru bisa dilaksanakan 12 bulan mendatang. Kedua, turunkan biaya liburan Anda menjadi hanya Rp 6 juta, jika Anda tetap ingin berlibur pada akhir tahun ini. Namun konsekuensinya, Anda juga mesti melakukan "pemangkasan" dalam aktivitas liburan Anda. Misalnya, jangka waktu liburan diperpendek, akomodasi diturunkan menjadi hotel bintang dua-tiga, transportasi juga diubah menjadi, misalnya, menggunakan kereta api.

Dari paparan di atas, jelas liburan pada dasarnya bisa dilakukan oleh siapa saja, namun mesti direncanakan sejak dini dan penyiapan dananya harus menjadi salah satu tujuan keuangan. Tanpa perencanaan, biasanya liburan bukannya berbuah kesegaran, melainkan menimbulkan masalah keuangan baru, berupa utang yang menumpuk. Pada gilirannya kondisi ini bukan membuat Anda menjadi lebih produktif, melainkan stres berkepanjangan memikirkan utang.