Editing Families (section)

== Family Welcome – guidelines for hosts and guests ==

The guidelines in a CS Family experience remain the same as a global Couchsurfing experience.

'''Check the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/wiki/How_to_be_a_good_host "How to be a good host"] page'''

'''Check the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/wiki.html?page_requested=How_to_be_a_good_guest "How to be a good guest"] page'''

=== How to '''CouchSurf with your kids''' ===

Many [[CouchSurfer]]s don't have a lot of space in their house. But some do.
Your best bet is probably to find other families. Plus, since you will be traveling
with a group (your family) make sure to give ample notice before hand. It can be a 
highly enriching experience for you, your kids, and the host family, and the more everyone
knows what to expect ahead of time, the more smoothly everything will go.

* '''Practice Ahead of Time''': Stay with family or friends... get your kids used to staying, eating, and sleeping at someone else's house. Take the opportunity to teach them manners and good habits, and how to be a guest in someone's home.

* '''Host Someone''': Give your kids a pre-taste of what couchsurfing is about by hosting someone. Let them practice their good manners, the art of discussion, and being good hosts.

* '''Plan Ahead''': Let your host know well in advance- about your family (the specifics- ages, stages of development, special needs, routine) your specific plans, and anything special requests you have.

* '''Surf with other families, or couples interested in starting a family''': Especially in big cities, these people shouldn't be too hard to find. Start ahead of time and spend time looking through profiles and communicating with people.

* '''Get your kids MEGA involved''': Explain to them what couchsurfing is! Let them help you pick people to request... start learning a language with them, help them pick out a house-warming gift!

* '''Make your kids a bigger part of your profile''': Make your profile a 'several people' one and put details up about each member of that family.

* '''Be EXTRA careful''': You're not a single twenty-something hitchhiking go with the flow backpacker- and even if you are, your kids aren't. Take emergency contact info, hotel info in case, taxi cab info, etc... Be especially thourough when reading over profiles and selecting people to surf with. 

* '''Ease into it''': Heaven knows couchsurfing for the first time can be scary enough for us, imagine what your kids might be feeling! Be open with them, and take their feelings into consideration when making plans to meet your host, number of nights, etc. Especially for trips in foreign countries where kids are already out of their comfort zone.

* How to '''Couchsurf with people who have kids''': Pay extra special attention to emailing in advance, giving all the details nec., and doing the work. Be an extra helpful and considerate guest. The host has already got kids, they don't need another one to look after! Offer to make dinner or help out with the kids. Interact with the kids and get them interested in couchsurfing if they're not already. Respect the family's privacy and need for alone time.

=== At Home with Young Children ===
People of the family-welcome-group are very willing to
open their house for families or lonely travelers. Of
course their are some differences surfing someones
couch if there are children at home or not.
Please take a look at [http://couchwiki.org/en/Couchsurfing_In_Homes_With_Young_Children this page] where is clearly
explained how to behave when you are surfing a family
couch. You'll find information about :
* how to introduce yourself towards the children
* play time
* compasionate communication
* gifts
* food
* knives, lighters, medication, mace, valuables
* departure
But a bit of common sence always helps ;-)

There is a [http://couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=513 family welcome group].