Children are great traveling partners
manuelita otero
Have you ever met anyone who doesn’t get excited when the word “vacation” is mentioned? When we talk about traveling, some people may smile and let out a deep sigh. It may be a sign of happiness, expectation, or maybe even a little worry. As exciting as vacations are, they can also be a little overwhelming. Adding children to the equation may even make things a little more challenging.
Some people enjoy traveling with children, even if there is a lot of planning involved. Some families get stressed trying to make their children behave “properly”; while other parents are used to it so they don’t worry at all. There are others who not only appreciate the opportunity, but also enjoy the advantages of traveling with children. They love the spontaneity, the energy, and the curious nature that children add to vacation time. We want to remind mothers, fathers, uncles, friends, aunts, grandmothers, and grandfathers that:
traveling + vacation + children = magical fun!
It won’t be perfect and it may require a little extra planning, but it's worth it! Here are some tips:
-Be fair with your expectations. We can’t expect children to behave as adults because they are not.
-Enjoy your child’s company and spontaneity. Try to see things from his or her perspective.
-Take this opportunity to teach your child to be flexible. Sometimes things just don’t go the way you expect them.
-Train your children to be good travelers, teach them to respect different cultures, to disconnect from electronics, to appreciate museums, and to go with the flow.
-A plan is just a guide and you should not expect to follow it to perfection. Memories can’t be planned, so leave plenty of space for spontaneity, be flexible, and have fun.
-Remember that you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to discover new places and new experiences. Start with your city. Visit museums with your children, even if they’re young. Go to tourist attractions and also to the less known sites. Take family walks, cook with different spices at home, when eating out, don’t order their meal from the children’s menu, instead, invite them to try something different.
-From a very young age teach your children to eat everything. It may be easier said than done, but they will thank you in the future.
Above everything, don’t wait for your children to be older to travel with them. Traveling together is an opportunity to create a strong family bond and to share beautiful things. Traveling helps children become practical, flexible, and curious, not only during vacation, but every day. It also gives you the opportunity to learn from your children to live the moment, to enjoy the small details and to observe your surroundings. Make trips a family tradition that will keep going through generations.
Ana and Manuelita