Going on a family holiday could have a long-lasting impact on children's happiness, according to a child psychologist.
While the act of going on holiday is exciting, it's spending that quality time with their parents which children value the most.
As mums and dads can leave responsibilities such as work behind, while kids escape the stresses of school, it can make for a longer period of playfulness for both sides - and this is what the children value the most.
Child psychologist and author Oliver James told the Telegraph : "The exam system that we put children through these days can be incredibly stressful, just as much so as the strains of adult life.
"Holidays remove us, physically, from our highly pressured everyday lives where everyone’s focused on meeting targets. They are times when everyone can relax and be playful together."
The benefit of the holiday is also that while the kids can enjoy it all in the moment, the trip remains in their memory long after you've come back home.
That doesn't mean you need to be splashing the cash on heaps of holidays every year - let's be honest, this isn't financially feasible.
The benefits come from spending that quality time together, whether that's sharing an ice cream together, taking a dip in the sea, or simply having a fun day out exploring on a walk.
You don't need to be jet-setting off to sunnier climates; a mini trip to the UK's best family-friendly destinations can be just the thing.
(Of course if you do want to go abroad you may want to check out our holiday deals round-up which we regularly update with the latest travel offers we think you'll love).
It's not the first time that travel has been linked to happiness. A recent scientific study found that girls' holidays can be a key factor to happiness for women.
Similar to Oliver's argument about family holidays, the benefits of the girls' getaways come from the quality time it offers for friends, who may not usually be able to get as much time together due to the stresses of daily life.