7 Ways Traveling with Kids Shapes Character and Creates Unforgettable Memories

While some may believe that traveling with kids is a waste of time because they won't remember any of it, that's not always the case. Many don't realize that traveling with kids is just like any other experience—be it reading to them or going to the playground. You're creating priceless character-shaping possibilities, learning opportunities, and unforgettable memories.

Embarking on journeys with children isn't just about creating fleeting moments; it's about sowing the seeds of curiosity, resilience, and cultural understanding. Every step taken, every new sight seen, contributes to their growth and understanding of the world. Through exploration, they develop adaptability, empathy, and a sense of wonder that transcends borders. While they may not remember every detail, the impact of these experiences shapes their character and worldview in profound ways, laying the foundation for a lifetime of exploration and discovery.

Here are the top 7 reasons why you're not wasting travel on young kids – coming from a mom who traveled a lot with her 3 boys:

1. Travel enhances a child's developmental milestones: From the moment they're born, babies and young children never stop learning. Traveling opens the door to many colors, faces, languages, sights, smells, and sounds. Your child might say their first word during a trip or discover that they love the feeling of swaying in the water while on a cruise.
2. Traveling helps children become adaptable and flexible: Traveling helps children feel comfortable sleeping anywhere, from beds to on an airplane or outside underneath a blanket. They'll adapt to eating while sitting on your lap or in a highchair at a restaurant. Exposure to a variety of cuisines helps prevent them from being picky eaters.
3. Travel teaches children that a fun way to experience the world is through multilingualism: As you travel more with your children, they'll become more inquisitive regarding the language locals speak when visiting different countries. Your child learns that people speak different languages throughout the world, and even with other languages, children always find a way to relate to each other.
4. Travel shows children that we are all the same even though we all look different: Traveling offers an excellent opportunity to teach your child about diversity. Young children might ask why people have different skin colors or wear different clothes. Use this opportunity to teach, even though people look different outside, we are all the same on the inside.
5. Traveling makes children curious and instills a love for adventure: Traveling with your child helps ignite their imaginations and engage in creative play. While it might seem unnerving to travel to a foreign country with children under age five, their imaginations run wild once you explain what's on the agenda.
6. Traveling encourages children to try new things: Traveling with your children encourages them to say yes to new experiences more often and try new things. No matter if it's camping in the desert or ziplining in the jungle, there are endless possibilities to become open to new ideas and not be afraid of trying new things.
7. Traveling increases a child's interest in airplanes, geography, and world maps: When you travel with your children, that means you're exposing them to airplanes, geography, and world maps early in their lives. From the beginning of their life, they understand that there's much more in this world than their surroundings.

How much your child enjoys traveling has everything to do with your mindset. Plan for hiccups, don't expect perfection, and focus on creating life-long memories!

Do you need help planning your next family vacation? Don't hesitate to contact us to get the planning started!