Today – The Benefits of Travelling for Kids, a guest post from Becky Goddard-Hill of A Beautiful Space and Create Your Own Happy.
Oh, travel can feel so tricky with kids can’t it? You have to remember to pack things to entertain them on the way and whilst they are there. You might need special car seats or feeding apparatus depending on their age. And not to mention baby formula for reflux if the baby has been diagnosed with regurgitation. It gets even more difficult if you have not opted for London Londres UK England Travel Deals and need to make individual arrangements for everything.
They may whine a little and not be the most flexible of travelling companions when it comes to nap or bedtimes. Food can also be tricky if they are fussy eaters or set in their ways.
Yes, travelling with kids can be challenging!
But should this stop us from travelling with kids? Absolutely not!
There are so many benefits of travelling for kids that in an ideal world they should probably travel most of the year and attend school in their travel holidays – rather than squeezing in breaks when school is out. Let’s take a look…
Benefits of travelling
- Kids learn to be flexible – it is unavoidable that kids learn to be more flexible and dare I say it, more patient, when they travel. They will have to negotiate flight delays, or traffic jams, extreme temperatures, siestas, meals at different times, jet lag, room sharing and so on. Things are different and they just have to adapt and go with the flow (or the delays.) Flexibility is a great life skill and travel is a great learning opportunity in flexibility.
- Kids learn to embrace other cultures by trying new food, handling different money, hearing another language and learning new customs. Travel encourages kids to have ago at embracing new ways of being and takes them out of their comfort zone. This lesson in open mindedness and the development of a have-a-go spirit will stand them in good stead in life.
- Kids learn to accept difference when they travel. Travel makes difference exciting, it takes away fear of other cultures and challenges our stereotypes. For kids it really opens their eyes to the exciting elements of diversity. They will learn that difference is nothing to be afraid of and everything to be excited by.
- Travel is bonding – in terms of getting along with your travelling companions travel is the most wonderful bonding experience. Without the distraction of screens and school, friends and clubs travel gives kids real time with their families. Looking back on our childhood vacations with family is something that creates standout memories for us all. Precious days of shared experiences.
- Travel gives kids an education – in history and in geography, in sociology and in politics, in art and in nature. Travel is probably the best hands on learning a child could ever do. You can read about something for ever more but oh to experience it…..
So let’s pack those bags shall we (theirs too!)
About the author
Create your Own Happy is available now from Amazon and all good book shops
Want some ideas for destinations? Check out our post on Things to Do in York with Kids.
Good post this! I think it really does help kids to accept change and things being different even if it is only for a week or two!
We would love to travel with the kids . My anxiety worries me as the youngest only just turning one , but it is definitely on the cards for next year
I love travelling with my kids. They force us to pause and appreciate things we would have missed without them.
Of course, we will have to skip the sky-diving or other fancy activity, but I think they bring so much more to the trip.
I also found that travelling help with their curiosity: they want to understand the history of the places they visit, why people dress in a specific way, what do they eat..
I agree with theee tips which is why I try to travel with the kids as much as possible.
We love to travel together, I think it’s the best way for a child to learn!
I don’t yet have kids but defintiely agree with the points mentioned
Travelling as a family definitely has its challenges but it can be very rewarding and great for bonding x
Kids and travel is a must. It opens the mind and broadens the horizon to new opportunities and sights x
We love travelling with the kids, but you are right, you do have to be more flexible and sometimes have to miss out some of the things you want to see, but we try and compromise
We travelled around quite a lot when I was a kid, and I absolutely loved it. I wish I could afford to travel more with my two nowadays. We’ve definitely visited more places than usual this year, but I’d love to take them to another country soon 🙂
Louise x