Traveling with family can be one of the most rewarding adventures you can have together, from the start of a journey to long after you return home. While travel allows families to strengthen their bonds, children benefit from new experiences, and adults gain a greater appreciation for their surroundings. Continue reading to learn why traveling with family is truly life-changing.
1. It promotes family bonding
Families can spend uninterrupted time together away from life’s daily distractions and long working hours. Even the most mundane experiences, such as a meal, can become priceless memories. Consider what travel bloggers, World Travel Family, recommend for keeping everyone happy on the road.
2. It encourages global education
Travel has been shown in recent studies to benefit children’s education as well as their ability to adapt socially. Children who are exposed to new cultures are often more open-minded. Children are also thought to absorb knowledge more effectively through experiential learning, so they may pick up a little of the language while trying new cuisines and learning about local customs. Furthermore, responsible travel teaches the value of environmental protection.
3. Traveling with family teaches you to appreciate the small things in life
Children are naturally more inquisitive than adults, which will help you become more aware of your surroundings. The reactions of children to the world’s most extraordinary sights make you appreciate them even more. Children tend to ask more questions, so by attempting to provide an answer, the entire family can learn something new.
4. Traveling with family enriches one’s life
Travel teaches children the value of creating memories and enjoying experiences over material possessions. Family outings foster independence, self-esteem, and interpersonal skills. Days spent hiking in the mountains and swimming in the sea promotes an active lifestyle and appreciation for nature. Finally, travel inspires children and provides them with new ideas and perspectives that they can apply throughout their lives.
5. Traveling to different cultures results in global citizens
Travel teaches children to be more compassionate. They notice that not every ten-year-old owns a cellphone. The realization that children in impoverished areas may lack electricity, running water, adequate food, and easy access to education is frequently the impetus that drives more fortunate children to act.
6. Travel broadens your perspectives
It should come as no surprise that travel broadens your horizons, especially when you’re young. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs frequently stated that a trip to India as a teen changed his life. Kids who have traveled and come into contact with local cultures, people, and communities are very open and creative. President Barack Obama has become a strong supporter of family travel after years of taking his daughters Malia and Sasha on trips around the world with him. “There is something spectacular about visiting a new location, being exposed to new ideas, and immersing oneself in a new culture. Travel helps you grow “Obama says. Travel provides a different and unique perspective in addition to exposing children to other cultures.” As a leader, being open to new perspectives and being able to integrate that helps. In France, we call it being a sponge, being able to absorb everything, digest it, and incorporate it into your work.
7. Travel boosts your self-esteem
Travel can boost a child’s confidence in a variety of ways, and practicing for the kids shows at various Club Med resorts. The highlight of the week was when we prepared this show in the kids clubs every day. I’d get on stage and be so nervous, but I’d get up there and overcome my shyness, and my parents would cry in the audience. That made me more confident in my decisions and more relevant as a leader. Getting people on board with your vision is a big responsibility, and I learned these tools on my travels.
8. Travel teaches you to be fearless
Travel encourages children to overcome their fears and not be put off by what is different or appears scar. Let us take an example of shy children, who were afraid. They must ascend the ladder. It’s extremely high. So there will be a journey to get there. They must overcome their fears, and then there is this incredible revelation when they jump and literally fly. It’s similar at work: seeing the end goal, accomplishing things, and realizing that the boundaries you think you have aren’t so real and that you can actually fly.”
9. Traveling fosters independence
Another benefit of travel is that it fosters independence in children. It’s a secure environment where parents can give their children permission to roam freely as young as eight years old. Kids adore it because they cannot do it at home. Suddenly, they’re in a safe environment where they can pick and choose their activities, and they can walk out of their room in the morning and say, “I’m going to do this.” “Goodbye,Mum and Dad. I’m going to the children’s club.”
Ways to Stay Connected with Your Children While Traveling
1. Allow your children to assist you in packing for the trip and to add one special object of their choice to your suitcase.
2. Write brief, encouraging notes for your children… One for each day you will be gone.
3. Put a picture of you and your child doing something fun next to your child’s bed.
4. Make one or two of your children’s favorite meals and freeze them so your spouse can serve them while you’re gone.
5. Call your child as frequently as possible, especially before bedtime. Connect a video camera to Skype or another web-based phone service so they can see you when you call.
6. Use your spouse’s cell phone to send text messages or pictures to your children. Text your children directly if they have their own phones.
7. From the road, send postcards to your family.
8. If your children are old enough to research the city you’re visiting, send them quiz questions about your destination via text message.
Traditions can help children relate to a trip. Traditions are important to children. Anything you can relate to the child’s world will be a meaningful experience for them.