Even when our little kids grow up, vacations remain a big part of family history. You can nurture those memories with pictures, journals, scrapbooking-- and family websites, nowadays.
Time Required: ongoing
Here's How:
- First, take plenty of pictures! Have everybody take them: you, your spouse, the kids themselves. That way, everyone will be photographed.
- Disposable cameras can be great, for kids. The cameras are simple and reliable (whereas cheap cameras seem to break down after a while.)
- Disposable underwater cameras are a good choice if you're going snorkeling. Though they seldom capture the undersea magic, they can preserve nice memories and also work fine for above-the-water shots.
- For the budget-minded: the price for developing pictures varies greatly. Shop around. Check big places like Walmart or Costco!
- If you're using a digital camera, check online services such as Ofoto.com which will develop prints and mail them to you.
- Once you have your prints, be aware that they'll last longer if treated properly. In fact, a small industry has developed around preserving pictures. (See Related Features, below.)
- Instead of making a simple photo album, consider "Scrapbooking": a new trend that includes (a) properly preserving pictures and (2) creatively embellishing photos with borders, backgrounds, artwork, memoirs, etc.
- Whether you're using a camcorder or digital video, kids
- love
- Encourage older kids to keep a travel journal, and help them find the time to write in it while on your trip.
- Smaller kids can collect postcards on the trip. Fridge magnets are also good collector's items!
Tips:
- For those who aren't ready to buy a digital camera:
- A number of "family connection" websites help you create photo albums online. See Digital Memories, below.
- Don't fall into that trap where Dad, or Mom, takes all the pictures and never appears in any photographs!
