Let’s face it, traveling with kids is not always easy. It’s light years away from a romantic getaway or a glamorous holiday! Travelling abroad as a family takes organisation, patience and a lot of letting go. But why embark on this adventure? Because few things compare to the powerful feeling of sharing these moments together, halfway around the world, out of your comfort zone, in a bubble with new boundaries. And that’s true whether you’re in the South, Europe, North Africa or anywhere in the Americas.
Here are six reasons to travel as a family and instil a love of travel in your children.
1) To get away from it all!
Feeling tired of packing lunches, doing homework and going about the daily grind that slowly but surely kills the spark? Travelling is a chance to throw all the rules that govern our daily lives out the window and rewrite them in a new environment. And there is nothing to stop you from adopting some of these newfound habits when you return home!
Going away and coming back refreshed is one of the joys of family travel.
But what’s the point of traveling with kids if they’ll just forget everything?
There’s no minimum age for travelling with your kids. In fact, there’s a case to be made for travelling with children at an early age, just to get them used to the process and the motions. If you feel like getting away, if you have the energy, go, even with toddlers. Of course, they may not remember all or even any of it, but you as a parent will. And that’s a treasure you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.
2) Is travelling with kids worth it? Absolutely, if only to nurture the family bond!
It also creates a new dynamic between siblings, which is one of the main benefits of travelling. For example, the younger one can easily bond with local kids, even if they don’t speak the same language. And the two older ones, usually at odds, have never been so close! Mom shares her first bar outings with her 17-year-old daughter over a spritz, and dad and son bond over a shared passion for medieval armour.
These are precious family moments lived in the present and a chance to make new connections that will last far beyond the return flight.
3) Why do kids need to travel internationally? To get out of their comfort zone!
Being visibly outnumbered in a foreign country or not speaking the local language is a challenge, but it’s an essential one nonetheless!
Getting kids out of their bubble gives them the chance to develop their adaptability and open-mindedness in a new place—qualities they’ll carry for life. What better way to broaden their world view than to visit places they don’t know? This role reversal is a unique experience that builds a strong life-long foundation for empathy and curiosity.
Being on the ground, with their feet in history, listening to the locals speak their language, smelling the lavender at the market or the tamales at the local restaurant—reading a history textbook in class just doesn’t cut it.
As a parent, it’s quite an extraordinary reward to see this newfound knowledge and interests leave a lasting mark on our kids’ brain after the trip.
4) To discover foreign flavours
It’s the perfect opportunity to introduce children to local flavours and traditions, as our usual food references disappear when we travel abroad. While pizza is a family favourite everywhere, travelling to a foreign country requires adaptation. It’s time for your kids to try and taste without always knowing what’s in the dish… and without making a fuss about it.
You’ll discover foods that you’ve never tried before and you’ll make surprising discoveries (new flavours of chips!). We bet that the kids (okay, and the parents too) will be hooked on a new local sweet before the trip is even over!
5) To get into new hobbies
In truth, getting kids (especially, and respectfully, teenagers) to feign interest and take part in family activities at home is not always easy. That’s our polite way of saying it! But when you’re in Europe or Central America, it’s a different story! Travelling abroad inevitably pushes the boundaries of their curiosity, possibly towards new skills or experiences.
Who would have thought? The teenage sports enthusiast is suddenly obsessed with the engineering secrets of the Eiffel Tower, while the too-cool-to-hang-with-you preteen is now passionate about windsurfing! And, surprise! The youngest has fallen in love with Costa Rica’s wildlife.
There’s only one way to find out: give your kids a chance to try something new on your family travels.
6) To use travelling benefits to create memories together
Family trips are an endless source of unforgettable stories and moments. For us, this alone is one of the best reasons to travel!
These memories will fill dinner conversations and Christmas parties for years to come, and will live on far beyond your kids’ travel diary. And creating these opportunities is part of our role as parents! These memories are part of some of the most meaningful relationships and profound family bonds we can share. And that’s what we mean when we talk about the transformative power of travel.
