What does children dream really dream of when we talk to them about vacation? According to a study carried out in the United Kingdom, their wishes are very different from those of adults. Find out what they prefer, and one of their most insatiable desires.
When you think of family dream holidays, several images immediately come to mind: days at the beach, outings in amusement parks, moments of swimming at the swimming pool, or discoveries of other cultures through trips abroad. Parents do not hesitate to put the budget to organize daily activities and to book comfortable stays. But what about children? What are their real expectations?
A recent British study in 600 children reveals that their holiday dreams are not as classic as you might think. Indeed, the survey shows that if many of them imagine a stay filled with discoveries and activities, others fantasize on more classic wishes. For example, some children declare that they want to spend their holidays in a place where they could do fun activities every day, but there is also a recurring idea that makes the difference … But what is this aspect that seems to make the little ones fantasize?
The surprise comes from the fact that a significant number of children dreams of being able to taste ice cream … with each meal! A revealing desire for the little follies that make them dream. The study also reveals that children have very specific and sometimes magical ideas for their vacation. In addition to dreaming of ideal beaches, populated by colorful fish and fascinating sea creatures, some are considering parks of amusement on the theme of magic or museums dedicated to their favorite fictional characters. Their imagination is not limited to realism, however.
For example, 51% of children would like to travel on the back of unicorn, and 45% dream of flying aboard a dragon. Meetings with dinosaurs (42%) or knights (35%) are also among the most popular wishes. Besides these fantastic desires, 86% of children want to be able to choose the destination of their holidays, and 88% want to have a word to say about the activities they will do there. However, despite their overflowing imagination, 68%of parents claim that their children influence travel planning, especially with regard to activities (68%), excursions (48%) and sometimes even the destination (29%). Result: 69% of parents who prefer to favor the desires of their children rather than their own wishes.
What to remember from these children’s desires? To spend a memorable family vacation, it is essential to detach yourself from the often idealized expectations of adults. Creating lasting memories involves moments of authentic sharing: a family walk, improvised games on the beach or even a simple ice cream tasted together. The most important thing is to live moments of happiness and complicity, far from daily stress. Why not offer your children some “little follies”? It is often these unforeseen moments that remain engraved in memories.
