With many Americans receiving the Covid vaccine and becoming fully vaccinated before summer break, many people may be itching to get outside and go exploring. But if you have children, how do you handle these situations? The adults in your home are vaccinated, not your children, so do you wait or take the risk? Many families are debating this very question, so here’s some pointers to help you figure out what’s best for your family.

Weigh the Risks

A lot of the decisions will be figured out based on how comfortable everyone feels about vacationing in general. If everyone is on board and ready to hit the road no matter what, then you’ll know you’re ready for a trip or two this summer. If there are members of your family who have some reservations, figure out what they are and how much they do affect any potential traveling. Is it trepidation about flying? How stressful the drive may be if there are limited pitstops and ability to stop for food? Figuring out what specific problems may arise is a good way of figuring what is doable and not for your family, as having small children on a road trip with limited stops and food may be irksome. Determining what or where are potential risks for exposure can also help you determine how to travel and how to do it safely. 

Shorter Trips

If you are traveling with children, the easiest route may be by car, and for a shorter vacation overall. Flying is considered fairly safe, reasonably more so for fully vaccinated adults. But with children, the risks do increase, especially for longer flights where masks may come off more frequently. If you are worried about exposure with your children but know that they need a mental vacation from home, picking shorter distance trips and locations that aren’t as populated can help. Finding a national park nearby for a day hike outdoors can help. Booking a vacation rental with a pool that’s just for the family can help as well, cutting out other exposure risks while still getting away. Visiting your relatives who are already fully vaccinated can also help any potential spread. 

Happy Exploring!

No matter how you choose to vacation this year, doing it safely will ensure everyone has a great time. Getting Covid tests before and after your trip can ensure that everyone is healthy, and quarantining after the trip can also aid in stopping the spread.