You are planning a family holiday again, but want to do something different. You want to try something that will allow the kids to have a wonderful time, while being equally enjoyable and rewarding for you as parents. As the kids are getting older, new opportunities crop up, besides heading to the nearest beach. The following are three to try out.

1. Stay at a family-friendly resort

Many coastal resorts offer activities such as snorkeling, sailing, scuba diving, volleyball and more. In the evenings, someone trustworthy can stay with the children while you have a romantic evening out on the town. While many of the all-inclusive family holidays are expensive, booking early can often offer savings.

2. Volunteering holidays with the family

For children 8 years and up, there are opportunities to volunteer in South Africa, to work with cute monkeys and baboons. Enjoy working together in a primate rehabilitation centre out in the bush, helping out orphaned babies to return them to the wild. This opportunity is available all year around.

Alternatively, families with children aged 10 and up can head to Sri Lanka to get involved in elephant conservation. This offers a full cultural immersion experience in the wild, which is thrilling for the whole family. Not only is it rewarding to the children, to learn about the care of these magnificent creatures, but also a wonderful experience for the adults. These opportunities are also available all year around.

3.  Have a holiday at home

This option might sound strange, but it is also possible to stay at home and enjoy a rewarding holiday with the kids. This is ideal for those who cannot afford to take a “normal” holiday and fly away somewhere. The idea is to put aside, say, one week and spend it entirely with the children. All mobile phones and tablets get firmly stored away, while the whole family spends quality time together.

Plan out the week so that you can take the family out on adventures, like a visit to the local zoo or park. Explore any museums and other attractions reasonably close to home. Spend a day playing all their favourite board games at home or head out for a treat at one of the family’s favourite restaurants. Let the children decide what they would like to do each day and just relax and go with the flow. This type of holiday is very rewarding, especially for those busy parents who have little time to spend with the children on a normal basis. You might find you’ll set aside a week every year to do it all again