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The Peter Pan effect: A boom in adults reliving their childhood holidays
As Brits start to plan their 2017 holidays, new research has identified a "Peter-Panning” amongst British adults that sees 1 in 2 admitting to have booked a holiday that re-creates one they went on as a child. The research, conducted by HolidayPirates, also indicated a growing number of adults anxious to re-access childhood and admit to being attracted by activities like sledging, Laser Quest and go-karting whilst on a break.
Sun, sea and.... big kid adventures
Echoing the rising leisure trend of adult ‘soft play’ club nights and trampoline parks across the UK, the research reveals like-for-like trends in holiday activities, as astonishingly, one in twenty adults would like to play in a ball pit when on holiday. A further one in ten of those surveyed (15%) would also like to take the plunge into colourful pool of fun, but believe they are too old to do so.
Nostalgia drives discovery when it comes to UK adults' playtime of choice. Big kid holidaymakers are actively seeking out pastimes including adventure waterparks (12%), Laser Quest (8%), tree-top climbing centres such as Go Ape (7%), go-karting (13%) and sledging (12%).
Rose tinted spectacles for old fashioned days at the seaside
Remember those soggy sandwiches on the beach? For a third of Brits, beach holidays take the top spot as the most treasured childhood holidays. Other favourites include family camping trips (13%), going to a holiday camp (12%), road trips around the UK (9%) (a game of eye spy is a must) and staying with grandparents (8%) are also among favourite nostalgia holidays.
Other types of holidays Brits seek to revisit include staying in a holiday cottage or chalet (25%) and going to Disneyland (10%) - bringing your own kids along, it seems, is optional.
Adults just want to have fun
Thinking back to the golden days, nearly two-thirds of those who have re-booked a favourite family holiday (60%) did so to bring back happy memories. It seems old habits keep us young, with one in five (20%) feeling more youthful after returning from holidays, reflective of years gone by and a further one in ten (10%) are reminded of a time when they had fewer responsibilities to worry them.
Psychologist Emma Kenny (ITV’s This Morning, and Big Brother among others) has taken a deeper look into the benefits to adult wellbeing by not only revisiting childhood memories generated by holidaying, but also through active play. She said “With childhood having such an emotional impact, particularly holidays enjoyed as a family, it is no surprise we're seeing a 'Peter Panning' effect on the way adults choose to spend their holiday and leisure time. It's clear that indulging in some good old-fashioned play time should not just be confined to childhood. This is especially important during our planned holidays, where we designate time to rest and recuperation, switching off from the hustle and bustle of every day life."
"However, even when you’re back from your break, make sure you still find time to indulge in ‘playful’ activity with family and friends. In doing so, we can reap the rewards that we enjoyed as children.”
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been naughty or nice
Santa may not get his mince pies this year, as the research also found that adults are prioritising plenty of time for festive fun away from their seasonal duties, with nearly a third (30%) planning on visiting Christmas markets this year. A further one in five of us (20%) will build a snowman and one in ten (10%) will go ice skating.
HolidayPirates has recently launched its ‘Big Kid Breaks’ holidays for adults, allowing them to relive their childhood memories with ease, with holiday packages including:
• Now you're Tolkien: Hobbit home holiday 3 nights in Germany from £103pp
• Royal Navy Helicopter: 4 nights crazy glamping on Isle of Wight from £62pp
* Above the treetops: Luxury 5* treehouse experience 2 nights from £115pp
* Bounce like Buster the boxer: Bounce Below just £20pp
* Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Fairytale castle break 2 nights in Germany from £138pp For more information, visit https://www.holidaypirates.com/s/campaign/big-kid-breaks