Why You Should Travel With Kids
Why should you travel with kids? Traveling with kids will undoubtedly leave someone in your life questioning that decision! You may hear the question, “Why bother taking them, they won’t remember it?” or “Why waste all that money when they would have just as much fun at home?” Or they may tell you to get serious, settle down, and focus on the things that really matter, like buying a house, saving up money, or building a career. They may ask, “Is the trouble really worth it?”, referring to the added stress and work that goes into traveling with a child.
You know, the extra supplies that you need to take: diapers, wipes, sippy cups, snacks, toys or something to keep the child entertained. The extra stress of meltdowns, refusals to walk, the I just want to to home’s, basing restaurant choices around a picky eater, the repeated are we there yet?, and I have to go to the bathroom after driving for only 5 minutes.
Traveling with kids may be a little more stressful and require a little more effort, but it brings with it an endless list of opportunities, self growth, and discovery that will prove to take your kids further in life than you could have imagined! Not to mention, it is fun and will create priceless memories that the whole family will hang onto and enjoy for years to come!
So, if you are asking why you should travel with kids, here are ten great reasons to never stop seeking your next family adventure!
“When you travel with children, you are giving away something that can never be taken away. Experience, exposure, and way of life.”
-Pamela T. Chandler
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1.) It helps them learn a new language
Traveling introduces you to new cultures, new people, and new languages. Learning a new language is much, much easier at a younger age! Traveling at a young age will introduce your child to new languages and you will be amazed at how much they pick up from it!
You can also make some fun with it while at home and teach your child commonly used phrases in the language of the country you will be visiting next! Spend some time together, play a game, and learn a new language! It can also help you learn a new language in the process!
2.) To teach them about diversity
Traveling with your child will introduce them to new cultures and new ways of life around the globe. It will take them outside of their town or city and show them that not everyone is alike. From different races to different traditions, culture, and beliefs, traveling takes your child (and yourself!) out into the bigger world and introduces them to so much!
It will open up their minds and shatter the belief that everyone is alike and things are or have to be done a certain way. It will open them up and make them more accepting of new things, which can only help them as they grow into adulthood themselves. It will deepen their level of understanding and respect for the world around them.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
-Mark Twain
3.) To make memories
Traveling as a family creates lifelong, unforgettable memories for the child to hold onto as they enter into adulthood and head out on their own. Having that sense of connection and security with their family will help them to better grow and develop relationships with others.
When a child grows up, they will not often remember the toys that they got for Christmas or how big of a birthday party they had. They may not even remember every trip you took or everything you did on those trips. But they will remember the time that was spent together as a family. They will remember the exciting adventures with mom and dad. They will remember those exciting new activities they experienced, such as parasailing, zip lining, going on an African safari, swimming with dolphins, and the list goes on and on….
Very young children may not remember every trip they took or everything they did, but they will develop that connection with the family and as they grow will start to remember these adventures more and more.
“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.”
–Og Mandino
4.) Travel Can Help Uncover Your Child’s Hidden Interests
Travel will inspire curiosity and a sense of adventure in your child. It will introduce them to new activities, new experiences, and new food choices. It will help them discover that they like doing something, or that they don’t like doing something.
It may even help them guide their decision about what direction they want their life to go in as they grow. Maybe experiencing a wildlife refuge will awaken the desire in them to help animals and lead them down that career path. Or maybe they will discover a love for geology and go down that career path. Maybe they will discover that they love photography. The possibilities are endless and waiting to be explored!
5.) Its Educational-The World is the Best Classroom
School is great and a necessary part of childhood, but school can only teach so much. Sitting between four walls with someone explaining to you how add, subtract, and multiply or laying out the timeline of events that led to the downfall of the Roman empire or the birth of the United States will never have the same effect that standing in the Colosseum or staring out over the ruins of Pompeii, standing under the Eiffel Tower or climbing to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty will have.
There is an undebatable benefit of seeing and experiencing history and culture in living form. Learning about the pyramids of Egypt can not compare to standing at the base of them in person. Exploring the Gettysburg Battlefield in person will bring the history to life for the child, much more than any lecture could. Traveling provides a hands-on learning experience that will make the destination and history of that location resonate with the child much more than learning in a regular classroom would.
“Not all classrooms have four walls.”
-Anonymous
6.) It Teaches Flexibility
Traveling brings about all kinds of new experiences. It takes the child out of the Monday through Friday routine, bedtime routine, chore routine, and shows them different ways of doing things. Having adapt to these changes will teach them how to be flexible.
Life can be unpredictable and things do not always go as planned. This may be the most evident while traveling. Your flight is delayed, the apartment you rented isn’t quite what you were expecting, the dream attraction was closed while you were there. There is an endless list of things that can go wrong, both when traveling or at home in everyday life, and being able to adjust to them and make the most of it is a great skill to develop. Traveling and navigating through all the challenges it brings will help your child develop that skill!
7.) It Teaches Independence & Responsibility
Traveling creates a sense of independence as your child learns to be responsible for him/herself. You can teach your children these traits by getting them involved in aspects of traveling and trip planning. Allow your child to be responsible for packing his/her own bag and making sure they have everything they need (double check of course-it would be a very unfortunate situation if you left an essential item!)
Give them a little bit of responsibility with choosing the itinerary. Present them with options and let them have a say. Get them involved with as much decision making as you can and teach them how to be responsible for their choices .
8.) Self-Discovery
Traveling will teach your child so much about the world around them, the people around them, and the cultures of the world. It will also teach them so much about themselves, what their interests are, what types of food they like to eat, who they want to be, and what direction they want to go with their life.
Traveling introduces them to so many different experiences and new things. Exploring the things around them and trying out those new opportunities will help them discover interests that they otherwise might not have known they have.
9.) It Helps Them Step Out of Their Comfort Zone
Traveling can transform your child from the stay-in-my-comfort-zone and never try anything new individual to a daring, adventurous go-getter willing to try new things and expand their horizons.
A comfort zone can be a great place, and it is important for children to be in a safe and secure environment, but falling too deep into a comfort zone and never taking a step outside will severely limit the opportunities that are available to them in life. Falling into a mundane routine can be devastating. Traveling constantly introduces your child to new opportunities and ways of doing things while encouraging your child to try new things while having fun!
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is one step outside your comfort zone.”
-Robert G. Allen
10.) It Opens Them Up for New Opportunities
Travel introduces your child to new opportunities and experiences they might not otherwise have. It allows them to try new things, have new experiences, get outside of the small town mindset and take advantage of all the world has it offer.
While on the road there is always the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Connecting with people from around the world allows them to bring new cultures to life for them. Travel brings about new opportunities every day-feeding an elephant, camping, hiking a mountain. These opportunities would not come along if the child does not travel and the benefits these things offer would be missed.
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About Me
I’m Melissa, but you can call me Missy. I continuously crave a new adventure and love sharing those adventures with you! My sidekick is my 5 year old daughter. Together we are conquering the world, one city at a time! Find family travel tips and guides that will help you plan your next adventure!
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