Ever since I saw a show about a family that took their kids on a trip around the world, I realized how much I wanted to be able to give my children that experience one day. I was lucky enough to be able to take all my children on a trip to Bulgaria in 2019, and those are some of my favorite memories with them, and theirs as well. Taking my children abroad allowed my children to experience the world in a way drastically different than how we live and it helped broaden their perspective on the world. Here are some other reasons why, if you can afford it, taking children to other countries is a good idea.
Have you ever considered taking a family vacation to another country with your kids? Perhaps you haven't, but the problem is that far too few children get to go on family vacations outside of their own countries. Sometimes it's an issue of money, and other times parents don't realize how vital it is to expose their children to the world around them. In the planning stages of next year's holiday, consider taking a family vacation to a foreign country. If you're still not persuaded that taking your children on vacation overseas is an essential part of exposing them to the wider world, think about the following compelling arguments – you might change your mind.
A Chance To Find Out About Other Cultures
You might think that by now, we would have learned more about how other cultures work. Even with satellite TV and the internet, a lot of people seem to have a very small view of the world. Sometimes this is because kids have never had the chance to see how people in other countries and cultures live. By planning a trip abroad with your family, your children will get a first-hand glimpse at how other people live and see that they are just like them. This can make for a much more tolerant and kind generation moving forward.
Traveling Is Fun
What about how much fun traveling is? This by itself could be the ultimate reason to take your children abroad and explore new places. It’s great to have a vacation at home, but there is something so exciting about heading to the airport, checking your luggage, stowing your cabin bags in left luggage so you can explore the airport more easily, flying, staying in a hotel… the list goes on.
As much as the destination is important, the reality is that travel itself is an adventure and something that all children will benefit from being exposed to. It will help them learn lessons, be more independent, and try new things.
They Can See Things They Have Learned About In School
Then there's the reality that your kids will be learning about many of these vacation spots at school. Why not give them the experience of a lifetime by allowing them to see those locations up close and personal? What a fantastic method to provide kids with a better, more realistic knowledge of what all those textbooks are attempting to teach them. Imagine how much fun they'll have sharing their experiences with the class when they get back home.
Learn More About Different Natural Elements
Have you ever thought about how many plant and animal species there are on earth? Kids can look out their windows and see rabbits, deer, raccoons, and other native animals. Can you imagine how they would feel if they did the same thing in India? Or what about Australia? Can you imagine how exciting it would be to see an elephant or a kangaroo?
There are so many different things to see and learn about, and it can be hard for children to understand this. Only by seeing them up close can they really get a sense of what is out there, and you never know, it could spark something for them that sets off a lifelong interest. At the very least, it’s an extraordinary experience that they’ll treasure.
Find New Ways To Enjoy Life
Children tend to love their screens these days. That’s not altogether their fault; it’s the world they have been born into, and it’s perfectly normal for young children to have phones and tablets, whereas in the past this would have been unusual.
As parents, you might be worried that your children are spending too much time using these devices and they don’t know how to have fun and enjoy life without them. When traveling, although there will be periods when using these devices is useful, either to stave off boredom during a long flight, or to learn something new, in many cases, they won’t be needed, and children can have fun exploring new places and see new sights. Even if it’s only a temporary pause in their usage, it can be useful and healthy to have it.
Final Thoughts
It may seem extreme, but if we actually want to construct a world where countries learn to get along, we must begin with today's children. They are our future, and there is no better moment than the present to educate kids that we live in a huge world. Yes, we have differences, but we also have a lot in common. We live, laugh, and love, and although we express ourselves differently, the basic feelings are the same. Travel will help them understand this more than anything else ever could.
