Psychologist Shares Tips for Stress-Free Family Holidays

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – As the long weekend approaches, many families are beginning their holidays with their children. Child and adolescent psychologist, Bernadette Cindy, says that parents need to manage their expectations to ensure the trip remains enjoyable and does not turn into a source of stress.

She explains that stress during travel with children is often not caused by the children being fussy, but rather by parents having too high expectations for everything to go ideally. Therefore, it is important to create a realistic travel rhythm, such as not scheduling too many activities and providing rest time for both children and parents.

“Parents can also bring familiar items for their children and share parenting roles and tasks with their partner to make the trip enjoyable. Don’t forget to pay attention to the child’s sleep schedule, meal times, play times, and rest times so that they are not too overstimulated,” said Cindy when contacted by Republika, Wednesday (13/5/2026).

She added that parents need to make room to enjoy the process during the trip, rather than just focusing on the perfect holiday outcome. Enjoying small moments together with children can actually strengthen emotional bonds within the family.

For families who do not plan to travel during the long holiday, Cindy believes that activities at home can still be a meaningful experience as long as they are done with full involvement and warmth. According to her, the quality of the relationship is more important than the number of activities carried out.