6 Ways Family Travel Can Make Your Children Better Adults
Family travel is one of our favorite topics here on Dadtography.com. Travel and photography fit hand-in-hand and we always look forward to our next family adventure.
Family travel is really important to both you and your children. Your trips don't have to be big nor extravagant to be important. What matters is that you go somewhere; even if it's not all that far from home. We put together our list of the top six reasons why family travel is important to your kids (and to parents, too).
Kids may lose track of their "stuff", but they'll have family travel memories forever.
This reason is huge and family photography plays a huge role in this as well. When you travel, you're more likely to take photos. No matter how far from home you venture, there are always opportunities to save those travel memories.
What parents should know about travel memories and photography is that it's not the equipment that you use to take photos that matters. What matters most is that you save those memories to reflect upon later and remind you of the good times you had.
Seeing and experiencing other people, cultures and locations helps expand their world view.
There is so much to see out there but I get it - not everyone wants to visit other countries. Doing so can be a great way to learn more about the world you live in and expand your horizons and perspectives. World travel isn't a requirement here. You don't have to be a world traveler to experience new people, cultures and locations. You do have to get off your couch, though.
We in the US have the benefit of vast lands and unique people. If you live in Florida (like I do), do you know how much you can see and learn if you were to travel to the Midwest? Do you know how much different the people, landscapes, food and lifestyle of the desert Southwest is from where you live?
If you don't, you should try visiting. You can learn a lot, even traveling right inside your own country.
Family travel is important for your children to learn empathy.
I personally think empathy is one of the most under-rated emotions we can feel. If you're empathetic, you can relate to others feelings and situations. If you've been in a similar situation, how much easier is it to understand someone else's perspective?
Family travel can provide children with this type of opportunity. Family travel can make children more empathetic to others, which I strongly feel will make them better people as they grow up to be adults.
Planning your family vacation helps bring the family together.
If you think only the trip itself is beneficial to the family, you may be overlooking the importance of planning and anticipating your upcoming trip.
Leading up to our last family cruise, my sons and I would talk about it almost on a daily basis.
Anticipating our trip spurred many discussions that may would not have happened without an upcoming trip. If you're struggling to find things to talk about at dinner, try planning and trip and see what happens!
Family discussions leading up to our trip.
- What's your favorite part of a cruise? Do you like boarding? Do you really enjoy setting sail?
- What's the first thing you're going to do when you get on the ship?
- What type of souvenir are you looking to find on your trip?
- What new food are you going to try on your trip?
- Where should we take our first family photo?
Kids have stress too; family vacations help to alleviate their stress.
As a parent, we have a lot of things that can contribute to our daily stress levels. We have work pressures, money pressures, family issues and more that we have to worry about on a daily basis.
Well, guess what? Kids have their own stress, too, and family vacations can be a great way for everyone to "check out" from their daily lives and just enjoy themselves for a while. Don't underestimate the stress your children are under and also don't forget how important it is to relieve that stress sometimes!
You don't know until you try.
How do you form opinions about what you enjoy or don't enjoy? You can be influenced by others' opinions - that's one way. Another great way is to experience it for yourself, firsthand. Family vacations allow children (and parents) to gain new experiences and ultimately learn more about ourselves as people.
Do we enjoy Latin food? A visit to Miami or South America could help you to answer that question. If you've never tried Latin food, how would you know if you like it or not?