I made my teens sign a 'travel contract' before our family holiday

"It was six simple statements... I was shocked by the result."

Ginger Gorman

2 min read

May 6, 2025 - 11:36AM

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Parenting

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Recently, my partner and I decided to take the kids away for a wholesome reason.

In contrast to what I was taught at high school, I wanted my kids to learn about the 65,000 years of Indigenous history on this continent. As someone with close relationships with First Nations matriarchs, I wanted them to grasp the depth of connection to Country.

This sense of awe and connection was exactly why my partner, their stepdad, and I decided to take our tween and teen to remote WA over Easter.

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Our family all signed a 'travel contract'

But we were nervous; the prospect of possible teen mood swings, bickering, and long car rides over difficult roads, while sleeping in the confined space of safari tents at night made us uneasy.

What about their mess (cosmetics everywhere) and dealing with the heat and mozzies? And what about potential culture shock?

To prepare, I created a family contract outlining shared intentions for a respectful, fun, and harmonious trip. We all read it, discussed it, and signed it. The contract focused on kindness, patience, self-awareness, and communication to ensure a positive experience for everyone.

It had six simple statements about respect for others, such as "Be kind and tolerant towards each other", and "communicate as best you can with your family to express your needs."

Ginger Gorman's family travel contract. Image: Supplied

"I was shocked by how well it worked"

And you know what? Despite the challenges, the holiday was perfect. So much so, the kids didn’t want to come home. Why? We had pre-planned how the holiday would unfold, agreeing to act with patience and compassion for one another.

The expectations were clear to them.

I was shocked how well it worked.

But did we get lucky? Aussie mum Sue White, journalist, family travel expert, and mum of 11-year-old Ollie (who is neurodiverse), shared this:

"We've spent years travelling in all sorts of environments, and I've learned that the clearer I can be about what’s coming up, the more successful that aspect of the trip becomes."

Sue also highlights that managing expectations is key: "Just because a kid 'signs' a contract doesn’t mean they’ll meet that expectation 100% of the time. But if you know your children’s 'hot button' issues, you can anticipate potential challenges and come up with solutions as a family."

And most importantly, "Solutions are more effective if the child has thought of them themselves."

Ginger with her daughter. Image: supplied

Additional travel tips from parents:

Include everyone in planning: Ensure all family members, especially tweens and teens, have a voice in the itinerary to avoid frustration and make the trip enjoyable for all.
Morning planning meetings: Start each day by reviewing what’s on the agenda, checking in on well-being, and confirming everyone’s capacity for the day ahead.
Build in rest time: Include downtime in the itinerary, particularly at accommodation, so everyone can recharge.
Be flexible and understanding: If plans need to change or be abandoned, communicate openly and avoid disappointment to create a supportive environment.
One-on-one trips: Consider splitting the family for shorter one-on-one trips to
Laminated standard packing checklist: Write quantities of items required with whiteboard marker. Kids can tick off as packed. Wipe clean for next holiday.