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Most adults try to “see the world” before they have kids. Then they spend 18 to 20 years raising their children before they become brave enough to travel again. But the fear of traveling with kids is unfounded. In fact, there are numerous benefits to bringing children along on your travels.
The Benefits of Traveling With Young Kids
You’ve probably heard people equate children to sponges before. Well, it’s a pretty good comparison. They tend to soak up and absorb whatever is around them, even if they appear oblivious. So, while you may think that children don’t get anything out of traveling the world, they’re benefiting from the experience more than you’ll ever know.
Here are a few specific reasons to take your kids along.
1. Teaches Flexibility
For starters, kids learn what flexibility looks like when they travel. Flights are delayed, wrong turns are made, lunch gets moved from noon to 2 pm, etc. Suddenly, your child will realize that everything doesn’t happen in a controlled environment (school or home) and that there’s a certain amount of adaptation that must take place on a daily basis.
2. Exposes Them to Unique Worldviews
Kids are astonished by many things when they go to school for the first time. They’re suddenly exposed to new people with different interests, ethnicities, and attitudes. Traveling does the same thing, only on a much faster, grander scale. Taking a child from the Midwest and suddenly putting him in the middle of Bangkok shows him that the world is much bigger and more diverse than he thinks. Travel is an illuminating experience for a youngster.
3. Teaches Adventure
For many kids, their idea of adventure is exploring virtual worlds in video games or browsing Google for facts on far away lands. Travel shows them that there’s life beyond a screen. In order to truly experience adventure, they have to get out of the house and move.
4. Allows for Special Bonding
Finally, travel allows for special bonding between fathers and children that can’t always be replicated at home. It gives you the opportunity to get to know your children – and for them to see you in a new light. Travel really is exciting and mutually beneficial.
Three Places to Consider Visiting
But where should you take your kids? What are some of the easiest, cheapest, and most entertaining destinations? Let’s check out three specific places:
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Not only is Dubai a blast for kids – with water parks, beaches, and lots of tall buildings—but it’s also surprisingly affordable. Hotel rooms can be found at great prices and the entire family will have fun relaxing.
• If you’ve never considered visiting Norway, now’s the time. Not only do many cities look like they’ve come straight out of a painting, but there’s lots of good food to eat —and the locals are friendly!
• Rome, Italy. When you take your kids to Rome, they’ll feel as if they’ve been transported into the middle of one of their history books. And in addition to all of the wonderful historical sites, there’s also a big city feel that makes this one place your kids will remember for a long time.
Where Will You Go?
Don’t let other people scare you away from traveling with young kids. While they may not possess the same amount of patience or appreciation that you have, they’ll certainly get a lot out of the experience. And in the years to come, as they mature, they’ll be thankful for the fact that you took them with you, as opposed to leaving them at home.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images
Wow, how things have changed. In the old days there was no need to identify the “benefits” of traveling with your kids. We had station wagons to pack a family into them, It was a given that families vacationed together. It’s sad that we’ve come to a point that we have to find benefits in just being a family.