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.
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!
There are so many more! I actually don't have kids, but I work with young people, secondary school level, and I've tried many methods with them. I would even suggest creating a handbook or at least some quizzes beforehand, for educational purposes :))
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!!
Those are great ways to include kids in travel, especially the planning part! My father would always hand me a map to navigate us on road trips, before GPS, and I'm sure it was the beginning of my love for planning trips.
Yes, Montessori is about hands-on learning? I guess we all learn better when we experience something, I was discussing that just today. And with travel - you can learn about cultures in theory, but when you feel it, you should remember it better.
My wife and I just read this and loved it Gabi. We have a three year old and are very committed to the idea of exposing him to a lot of travel in his formative years. We’ve already taken him to the Grand Canyon, Hawaii, Mexico City, and about a dozen states already. This article also resonates with me too as an anthropologist—each lesson is so spot on to encouraging children to have a broad cross-cultural perspective on the world. A fantastic and well-curated read!
Thank you very much! I'm glad this helps! I work with young people and see how they develop through travel, especially abroad. Their parents also see it, and can't believe it's that simple :-)
Learning through experience. I enjoyed the article and it’s expanded my thoughts on a few things on this topic as an over protective grandmother 😂😊. Thank you for sharing.
Gabi, I really enjoyed reading your post. I found myself nodding along to most of your points, as I’ve experienced some of these moments while traveling with my kids. I especially loved your take on adaptability—it’s such a wonderful way to reframe the negative aspects of the unexpected.
“School for life” what a great perspective! It is, isn’t it.
I’ve never had children and doing things through children’s eyes, and their curiosity and simplicity of life is refreshing. We never moved around out of the country but within the country let’s just say I never went to the same school twice in one year went to two different schools that year because of the amount of times we moved. Adaptability to change in a lot of things you mentioned above are things that really ring true even just staying within one country.
I always enjoy your articles and learn something new every single time.. Thanks, Gabi!
Yes, travel doesn't have to be abroad - kids and young people learn wherever. You are right, adaptability to change is perhaps one of the most important traits.
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!
And thank you very much for the comment!
There are so many more! I actually don't have kids, but I work with young people, secondary school level, and I've tried many methods with them. I would even suggest creating a handbook or at least some quizzes beforehand, for educational purposes :))
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!!
Those are great ways to include kids in travel, especially the planning part! My father would always hand me a map to navigate us on road trips, before GPS, and I'm sure it was the beginning of my love for planning trips.
Wonderful - this resonates with me. I was a Montessori kid and much of this vibes with that. Taking to heart for my 4 month old!
Yes, Montessori is about hands-on learning? I guess we all learn better when we experience something, I was discussing that just today. And with travel - you can learn about cultures in theory, but when you feel it, you should remember it better.
My wife and I just read this and loved it Gabi. We have a three year old and are very committed to the idea of exposing him to a lot of travel in his formative years. We’ve already taken him to the Grand Canyon, Hawaii, Mexico City, and about a dozen states already. This article also resonates with me too as an anthropologist—each lesson is so spot on to encouraging children to have a broad cross-cultural perspective on the world. A fantastic and well-curated read!
Thank you very much! I'm glad this helps! I work with young people and see how they develop through travel, especially abroad. Their parents also see it, and can't believe it's that simple :-)
Learning through experience. I enjoyed the article and it’s expanded my thoughts on a few things on this topic as an over protective grandmother 😂😊. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the comment! Overprotective grandmothers exist? :) Grandmothers I know are usually less protective than the parents :))
I’ve always been an outlier 😜
This is great! My niece is visiting me in Chile in 2 weeks and I can't wait for her to experience :)
I'm sure the experience will open some new dimensions for her 🙂
Gabi, I really enjoyed reading your post. I found myself nodding along to most of your points, as I’ve experienced some of these moments while traveling with my kids. I especially loved your take on adaptability—it’s such a wonderful way to reframe the negative aspects of the unexpected.
Thank you for the comment! And I'm glad this is familiar 🙂
Getting out of our comfort zones teaches us so many things that the list would be endless, and children really do learn like sponges.
sharing this one with a friend who I think will find it helpful! :)
“School for life” what a great perspective! It is, isn’t it.
I’ve never had children and doing things through children’s eyes, and their curiosity and simplicity of life is refreshing. We never moved around out of the country but within the country let’s just say I never went to the same school twice in one year went to two different schools that year because of the amount of times we moved. Adaptability to change in a lot of things you mentioned above are things that really ring true even just staying within one country.
I always enjoy your articles and learn something new every single time.. Thanks, Gabi!
Yes, travel doesn't have to be abroad - kids and young people learn wherever. You are right, adaptability to change is perhaps one of the most important traits.
Gabi, at the same time, car travel was also a plus during caregiving for my mom over more than the last three years of her life.
She had moderate dementia and our roles were reversed. She was a looker and would call out the car tag plate.
We used that as a way to engage her mind. We kept steno pads and her fav pen in the car.
Gabi, I enjoyed your read ✔️
Thank you for the comment! Yes, the roles change at one point... :(
I started doing mini vids of Mom in the garden and she fast became a Facebook star 😄
At 6, I chose to bear no children, and once the roles reverse, I realized why. There's is good in there though.