Every trip will not be right for every family member. Sometimes it may be necessary for only several members of the family to travel for a specific purpose. At other times, it will be appropriate to take the whole family.

The Family

If your family is traveling to visit relatives or family friends, you may opt to travel with the whole family. You may also consider traveling together for the annual family vacation or a long get-away weekend. There are times, though, when only part of the family will go. Perhaps you're traveling for a particular event, such as a cousin's graduation, and the seating is limited. Perhaps it is an event that interests only part of the family, such as a truck show or a music festival.

Sometimes the decision to travel with only part of the family will be based on a child's special needs and the needs of the siblings and parents. That is not to say that the child should be excluded from family travel, but she may enjoy and be able to participate in certain travel activities more than others. She and her siblings may have their own travel experiences.

Travel with Part of the Family

A child and one or both of her parents may travel separately because of a special interest, ability, or the need to have one-on-one time. A child with limited cognitive ability might enjoy attending a musical performance with costume characters that would not appeal to her teenage siblings. Likewise, they may be interested in exploring a science museum that would not be of interest to their sister.

Consider a balance of whole-family travel and separate activities. The key is to include activities, travel, and outings that everyone can enjoy together or separately. Likewise, Mom and Dad need their own travel time. This is compounded in the situation of a single-parent home.