Luckily, this is when smartphone technology comes in handy. Thanks to new developments with the iPhone and Android in just the last five years, there is enough on these small handsets to keep us isolated from each other and socially inept while we’re at home, as many parents will have discovered when trying to engage their kids in conversation at the dinner table. So for the longer car journeys, let them play away on their devices as it will likely keep them quiet. Make sure they’re charged up fully before you leave of course, though it might also be an idea to purchase a mobile charger to top up your battery on the go. Because there are so many apps out there, as well as games to try out and download for free (I’m sure your kids will have their favourites from traditional favourites to funky new ones), you can’t really go wrong, so don’t be too quick to put a complete ban on phones for the holiday as they’ll likely come in handy to entertain. If you give your phone to your kids to use, make sure you keep an eye on how much battery they use up; you don’t want to break down on the road and find you can’t call for help because you’re kids have been playing Angry Birds for 6 hours and drained your battery.
A few things you might want to be careful of, include the charging structure if you go abroad. Roaming charges can be extortionate and many people find that just checking their emails can cost in the tens of pounds when their bill comes through. If you do go abroad, check beforehand with your provider to confirm how much you can expect to pay for a few tasks or data usage; alternatively, it might just be best to just switch your phone off and leave it in your bag. If you need to keep it close by to stay in contact with the office, then it can be hard to keep it tucked away, especially if you’re a micromanager who stresses easily, but do your best to relax; you are on holiday after all!
Ensure that you’re fully insured,though you should be generally anyway with expensive technology, and if you do take it out to the beach, pool area or just out and about, that it is in a protective cover or case. Warn your kids not to flash their gadgets about, especially in tourist- heavy areas where pickpockets can run rife; something that happens in many busy cities regardless of perception of the safety of those places.
Some find that their phones and games put barriers up between them and their kids, and that family holidays should be a time when they’re put away and everyone can enjoy each other's company or the sights of a new place. Unfortunately, this is too much of an ideal. Kids, especially teens, will be away from friends and boy/girlfriends and will be more likely to be tweeting or Facebooking them, without being able to see them for two weeks. You’re likely to have disruptions in your travels, whether getting caught in traffic, or delays at airports or stations, and if you’re not a dab hand when it comes to smartphones, you might end up asking your kids, with your tail tucked between your legs, to use theirs to get updates or search something to help you.
Instagram, a very popular app, is just one of many photography applications which you can all have fun with on your holidays, as it can involve the whole family. With Instagram you can add filters to your pictures. It’s a bit of fun to play around with, and saves on posting a traditional postcard so your friends and family can see what you’re up to Again check on charges for texting a photo as these are often much, much more.
Paul has a personal interest in social media and smartphone technology, and enjoys writing about this. A digital marketing coordinator, his job involves social media management for clients, while one of his projects requires writing about driving and auto-related content, like driving abroad and issues like charges for drink driving both abroad and domestically, and driving penalties.