What can children learn during travel?
Traveling with children can sometimes feel like an extra layer of logistics on top of an already packed itinerary. Yet, there’s something magical about exploring the world with young minds.
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As an educator, I have included my students in numerous international exchange projects, so this text is a result of my experience with teens and young adults. Also, when I was a child, we traveled to the coast every summer, and, looking back, I will share some tips I believe stuck during that time.
Kids and teens see everything through fresh eyes, making every adventure richer, more spontaneous, and sometimes even chaotic. Beneath the excitement of seeing new places and experiencing different cultures there is something even more valuable — an education that extends far beyond the walls of any classroom. I call it “the real school for life” mostly because in my country the latest education reform was named “School for life”.
Here’s a guide to some of the lessons kids and young people can learn through travel, why these experiences matter, and how you can help them make the most of their journeys.
1. Curiosity
Children are naturally curious, even though this is a trait that needs to be nurtured. Travel supercharges that curiosity. Travel expands anyone’s world, let alone a child’s, and offers hands-on experiences. You learn there’s so much beyond the immediate surroundings, and instead of reading about a place in a book, you’re standing in it, smelling the spices of a local market or feeling the stone walls of an ancient castle. Those memories stick in the unconscious and can be used for future experiences.
Encourage the questions, even if you don’t always have the answers. You can use each question as a chance to learn together.
2. Cultural sensitivity
One of the most valuable things kids and young people can learn from travel is that the world is full of diverse cultures, customs, and ways of living. When children see people dressing, speaking, eating, or celebrating differently, it can spark understanding and empathy. They learn that there’s no single “right” way to live and that each culture has its unique beauty and value.
For example, visiting a faraway island might teach them about the importance of resilience and patience. In Turkey, they may learn about the role of religion in everyday life. Each culture offers its lessons, and by experiencing them firsthand, children learn respect for differences in a way that feels natural, not forced.
Before your trip, share a few stories or videos about the culture you’re visiting. This helps kids feel more connected and less confused.
3. Adaptability
Travel rarely goes exactly as planned. Flights get delayed, weather shifts, and meals don’t always match the menu picture. But that’s all part of the journey! Learning to adapt to unexpected situations is an invaluable life skill, and you can learn that early on.
When things don’t go as expected, kids learn flexibility and resilience. They start to understand that while they can’t control everything, they can control how they react. This resilience is essential for growth, helping them tackle future challenges with more confidence.
Involve them in problem-solving when plans fail – let them help decide what to do when you miss the train or if the museum is unexpectedly closed. It shows them that changes can lead to new adventures.
4. Language skills
Even if your family doesn’t speak the local language fluently, trying to learn a few words can make a big impact. Simple phrases like “hello," “thank you," and “goodbye" can open doors and make kids feel more connected to the people around them. Hearing other languages also shows them that not everyone speaks their language, which fosters both curiosity and cultural sensitivity. Also, in multilingual environments, kids start to understand the idea that language is more than just words – it’s a tool and a bridge to understanding others.
You can make learning local phrases a game – give small rewards for using "please" and "thank you" in the local language, or turn it into a scavenger hunt by spotting signs in different languages, or even different scripts.
5. History and geography
While history and geography can sometimes feel abstract in school, travel makes these subjects come alive. Instead of reading about the Greek temples, they’re standing next to them; instead of looking at pictures of the Alps, they’re “supping” on a glacial lake.
Walking through historical sites or standing in places of natural beauty helps kids grasp the scale of human history and the wonder of the natural world. They begin to understand not just dates and names but the “why” and “how” behind them.
Tell stories about the places you visit – kids remember stories better than facts, so instead of just explaining that Newgrange is in Ireland, tell them about the winter solstice celebrations and its spectacle. It makes history feel alive.
6. Confidence and independence
Travel gives children a chance to step outside their comfort zone in a safe way. Whether it’s ordering a meal on their own, navigating a new city with the family, or making friends on a playground halfway around the world, travel builds confidence. Such experiences can show them that kids everywhere are similar, with similar desires, problems and priorities.
Seeing new places and meeting various people can also shape their sense of identity since they start to ask questions about who they are, where they come from, and how they relate to the world around them.
Give them small responsibilities during the trip, like keeping track of their own backpack, helping choose where to eat or some basic navigation. It fosters independence and gives them a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
7. Environmental awareness
From forests and mountains to volcanoes and deserts, travel exposes kids to a diversity of natural environments they might not see at home. Witnessing these wonders firsthand and seeing how beautiful nature is, kids should naturally want to protect it.
Encourage them to pick up litter, avoid plastic, or use eco-friendly travel products. Choose destinations like national or nature parks, UNESCO heritage sites, or endangered biosphere – everything that can help reinforce the idea we all have a role in protecting the planet.
The greatest gift travel gives children is perspective. It shows them that the world is vast, varied, and full of possibilities. And perhaps, as they grow, they’ll carry the memories and lessons from these travels with them, ready to explore, respect, and care for the world around them.
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This is such an important read! I like how you give actionable tips with each section. The scavenger hunt-style game with language can be fun at any age. Thanks for sharing, Gabi!
I love this. So much to learn. Observation and planning skills. Living on the Canadian border, first time we went to Canada I gave them a quarter for everything they saw there that you wouldn’t see in the states. The loved the game. Years later took them to Europe. They were 13 and 15. They each had a city. They had to plan where we would go and look at train schedules. It was great!!