My Top 5 Reasons To Travel With Kids

Originally published on www.clearasmud.com on February 18, 2020.

Ever since my childhood, I’ve loved to travel. I love the adventure, I love learning about different cultures, I love seeing architecture and design unique to each geographic location. Mostly, I love the memories and the family bonding it creates. I just love everything about it.

My husband and I struggled with infertility during the first years of our marriage, and one of our coping mechanisms at that time was traveling and enjoying each other’s company.

Though our life shifted drastically with the adoption of our five children, and our life’s journey is extremely busy and somewhat challenging, our desire to travel and see the world hasn’t dissipated. Not only did I not want to sit around and wait for my kids to get older before traveling again, I actually wanted our kids to explore the world together with us.

Many people tell me, “Oh my, I would never travel with my kids. It’s too hard, too expensive, too stressful.” While all of those points are true and valid, I still think it’s worth the time, effort, every penny of cost, every headache, every hair-pulling moment. It’s all worth it, and here’s why:

COMPASSION
When you travel, it opens your eyes to what’s going on in the greater world. You’re forced to look beyond your four walls and your local comfort zone. When you see how other people live, what other countries or societies struggle with, you develop a deeper sense of compassion and empathy and learn to care about more than just yourself.

EDUCATION / CURIOSITY
Because we travel, our kids are constantly looking at maps, atlases, and travel books, talking about where they wish we could go and why they’re drawn to those specific places. This alone is powerful, as it sparks curiosity and a desire to learn more about the world and prioritize exploration. Once we’re there, there’s so much to absorb: different cultures, languages, history, and of course, food. It gives them a broader, more informed view of the world. As a bonus, learning how to pack, stay organized, and follow instructions is nothing to sneeze at.

FLEXIBILITY
OMG, have you ever been on a trip where everything went according to plan? I definitely haven’t. From flight delays, to no electricity in an apartment rental, to luggage not showing up, we’ve had some wild things happen. But honestly, what’s a more valuable lesson than learning how to manage and respond to situations that are completely out of your control? You’ve got to roll with the punches, or you’ll end up pretty miserable. Flexibility can be learned anywhere, but when you’re far outside your comfort zone, the lesson hits differently.

MEMORIES
Some of my best childhood memories are from our family trips. There’s nothing quite like the memories created through shared adventure. Kids won’t remember every toy you bought them, but the trips will stay with them for a lifetime. And this is important: you don’t have to travel somewhere exotic to create these memories. Anywhere can become special. The key is presence and focus on the family unit.

SELF-DISCOVERY
As kids learn about the world around them, they’re also given the opportunity to learn about themselves: what piques their curiosity, what scares them, what excites them. They discover who they are and build skills they’ll carry with them throughout their lives.

Happy trails!

Chavie