The 5 Best Reasons to Travel With Your Kids
Traveling with your kids can be a great way to spend quality time together and create lasting memories. Not only that, but it can also be educational for them; I firmly believe that travel experiences help kids to better understand the world and their place in it. That’s why we’ve made it a priority in my family—exploration is something we value dearly. So this post is dedicated to family travel, and I'll discuss the 5 best reasons to travel with your kids.
Reason #01: Traveling Teaches Them About the World
One of the best things about traveling with your kids is that it teaches them about the world. When they see new places and meet new people, their horizons are broadened. They learn about different cultures and how to get along with people from all walks of life. It's important to see that a huge, diverse world exists outside of our own hometown. This is a valuable lesson that they can carry with them throughout their lives.
Reason #02: Traveling Encourages Them to Be More Active
Kids tend to be more active when they are traveling than they are at home (this is true for the adults, too!). This is because there is always something new and exciting to explore. Whether they are hiking in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, or playing on the beach, kids are always on the go when they are traveling. I've got a teen and a tween, so I appreciate any excuse to get them away from screens and into some adventures.
Reason #03: Traveling Teaches Them About Responsibility
When kids are traveling, they often have to take on more responsibility than they are used to. This includes things like packing their own bag, ordering food at restaurants, and making sure they have all of their belongings with them. This is not always a smooth process—my son lost my noise-cancelling headphones on our last trip, and we’ve certainly left our share of phone chargers behind—but it is an important one. When kids learn how to be responsible while traveling, it helps them in other areas of their lives as well.
Reason #04: Traveling Is a Great Way to Bond as a Family
Traveling with kids can be an excellent way for families to bond. Whether you are camping in the woods, hiking through the mountains, or exploring new cities together, kids enjoy spending time with their parents and siblings on vacation. Even though we’ve spent more time together in the past couple of years than we otherwise would have, the change of scenery makes a big difference in how we approach family time while we’re away. Additionally, when kids get older they have a tendency to get busy with their own lives and activities, so traveling together can be a great way to reconnect.
Reason #05: Kids Will Remember These Trips Forever
Kids remember things that happen to them during their childhood years more vividly than anything else. This is why it's so important for parents to take their kids on trips during these formative years. Even if kids are too young to appreciate what is happening at the time, they will cherish these memories as adults (I mean, isn’t kind of fun to give your parents a hard time about that miserable vacation to Gettysburg they took you on when you were nine?). My family and I love to reminisce about vacations we’ve taken—and the trip down memory lane is especially great when we take a look at the pictures we took during our trip. And I know that these amazing memories will keep inspiring us to explore the world together well into the future.
So there you have it: The five best reasons to travel with your kids. Sign up for the Dash & Ramble newsletter for more travel tips & inspiration, or better yet—send us an email to get started planning your next family vacation.
Tell us about your most memorable family vacation in the comments!