I love travelling with our children! Some of my fondest memories relate to the travel or holiday we took as a family place whether it to some a short weekend getaway, the coast or a 2-week adventure is far away.
My wife and I are the approach that travel is as much a part of the education of children, sitting as a classroom. Since we do not like to holiday travel, often, this means the children out of school for at least a week. Not only do school work, while they are away, but they learn about other cultures, enjoy new experiences, taste new foods, and all of this be part of a school project when they return home.
There are many good reasons, with children travelling; We have chosen the 5 we value most...
Family combines
All our lives are so busy these days. If we do not set long hours in the Office or rush-hour traffic to fight, we are his children an activity after the other. Even if we have time, tend to go each their own way.
Travel, brings together all. For a moment in which time the frenzy of "normal life" is tossed aside, and you will be able to spend time together. Instead of multiple agendas, only an agenda is agenda, the family.
Spend time together a family closer together through simple acts such as talks and bonding of each acting shared experiences, as glue you.
As a parent, I hope, that the children appreciate these memories as they grow older.
It will make you humble
In our normal, comfortable living can we control a substantial part of our environment. Seem allowed this to us rather an authority on to our children, as is indeed the case. Close the address in the navigation system when we lost.... If we asked a question, we don't really know the answer to, does not cause a bad consequences under a guess at the answer.
Take these examples to a remote town in the middle of Ecuador, and learn what modest resources. The children quickly realize that even fathers may be lost... really lost! You also acknowledge that he does not know as thought we (or he), he did.
"Happens hey dad, what, if I pick up this animal (which I have no idea even what it is)?"
"Hey dad happens what, if I this food (which I have no idea, if it is even food)?"
The questions come and the ways to display your "human vulnerabilities" are many. There are many ways to make us humble, when we travel with our children.
See the world through the eyes of a child
Travelling with children creates a perspective, as adults, we miss. As adults, we are using the all pieces of the puzzle put together, while a child adventure in the puzzle piece itself is busy.
My 7 year old daughter loves dogs. Everywhere we go, that she will find a new best friend. My view is that if you have seen a dog you they all, visible have, while Gigi of every new dog is a Petting chance. This simple, innocent act causes, that their parents to participate in an experience, the other way would not happen and go unnoticed.
A few years ago, we took a vacation to Mexico, and a small condominium development on the beach south of Mazatlan übernachteten. In our apartment was literature, described the a sea turtle breeding project, which was on the property a mile down the beach.
Now if we have not the children with us, Gina, and I would have learned by stopped and a look at the turtles... a little bit about the problems relating to the types and moved. With children in tow, it was a different story.
We the turtle Center of ½ dozen times visited, and several morning the children asked me to the alarm at 6 am set so we long time the mile to walk and had to participate in the young boys in the ocean release. We can not the children to school... most wake in the morning up but here we were on a remote beach in the middle of Mexico help sea turtles, which make their start in life.
New roles and responsibilities for the family
If a family travel adds responsibility for each Member of the family. The days, the activities of MOM and dad only part of the children in the discussion, what to do and to see are not planned. My daughter is responsible for their own luggage, the same responsibilities as the rest of the members of the family.
I spend more time with the children playing, as I do at home, and mean tasks of family coach on just another Member of the team. The wife and children cringe at the thought of Dad's design of a three-page strategic plan... and mutiny takes place.
It is a joint responsibility to find solutions to problems that we have much more happens on the road than at home. With each successful solution you see trust in all grow, children are proud of themselves for a contribution and inspire parents to strengthen our family.
Everyone is more willing to help in the grid and each other. Instead of big brother, doll threw his sisters across through space like home, he helps her when she is in need, and they spend their time playing, exploring and laughing together.
Expanded cultural awareness
Traveling reminds us, and teaches that the children, the world is not the middle-class suburb made. You are able to see and feel and experience the art, how, that other people live.
One of the activities with children is fun to see or to celebrate in the places we visit to take part. The children experience many unique customs, dress, and dance or music, which is traditional in these places.
Try new foods for children is not something easily done, but we encourage taste a little of everything. Grant is ready, new foods, try while his sister is very reserved. Our meals are hands darts across the table, trying to take the last bite of food in a fun, social activity like plates back and forth, which someone liked be passed, and change you the faces of pleasure in "Disgust" depending on the last food tasted.
In particular, the children develop empathy for the global community. They learn, put in the shoes of another, and remove the close of a unique view of the world, they begin life.
We hope that prevent these experiences, prejudices and other bias too often in the company, and in fact, they are to increase the lead for their generation understanding of cultural differences.