Costly as it may be, traveling with family is one of the most advantageous aspects of life. It nurtures the soul, feeds the belly, and when done correctly provides a wealth of knowledge and perspective. Here are eight benefits to consider.
1. Making Memories and Traditions
Traveling with family is so important for children and other members of the family to have joyous memories to look back on. After all, life gets stressful, and everyone can use a PickMeUp occasionally. Moreover, while it’s exciting to go somewhere new, it’s not uncommon for children to feel a little anxious walking into a situation with which they’re unfamiliar. One of the benefits of traveling with family is that family members can build and create their favorite things to do while on vacation. This allows kids to have something to look forward to and provides them with a sense of security and familiarity while experiencing a new place.
2. Learning to Play
While traveling with family, kids can learn new ways to play, interact, or engage with others, either by playing with cousins or kids their age in other parts of the world. This experience will help expand their understanding of how kids play or live in cultures that differ from their own.
3. Traveling with Family can Increase Preparedness
Traveling can be fast-paced and cause some emotional turmoil. However, traveling with family allows kids to learn how to combat the stresses of travel, pack efficiently, and always know how or where to find exactly what they need in foreign stores.
4. Traveling with Family Exposes Children to Education
The planet has nearly 8 billion people, and traveling with family opens up new possibilities for children to learn about those people: their cultures, beliefs, dietary habits, and history. Children learn so much from traveling and gain perspective on what it’s like to walk in the shoes of others.
5. New Experiences
Most people strive for a full life. Traveling with family allows children and their families to try something new. Push personal boundaries. Overcome fears. And explore their passions, like food from other countries. Or how music from one country may have influenced musical instruments in another country.
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6. Involve Extended Family
These days, people have moved hundreds or thousands of miles from one another. Whether in a different state or country, traveling with family allows children to get to know their distant relatives. It also allows them to create family bonds that will hold weight for the rest of their lives. Moreover, traveling in large numbers means there are more hands to help with luggage and keeping the kids entertained.
7. Traveling with Family Encourages Gratitude
When children are given the chance to see how people live in other places, it gives them an opportunity to reevaluate their own lives and appreciate the things they love most. It gives them a chance to better understand the many things that bring them joy and even better evaluate a situation that doesn’t bring them joy. In some cases, these experiences may enhance intuitive abilities, further allowing children to be discerning of the environments in which they willingly engage.
8. Exposure to Other Cultures
Similar to exposing children to a broader education, traveling with family can also help broaden their understanding of others. Children learn how much harder life is for people in other countries. Or ways to improve systems like healthcare and the government. They also learn about the ways in which certain cultures or traditions play a role in what it means to be polite or respectful of others—in turn, creating a more understanding and compassionate environment in which all children are given the opportunity to grow and thrive.
The Bottom Line
From education to creating last memories, there are numerous reasons why traveling with family can be beneficial to all involved, even extended family. During adolescence, core memories are created so it’s best to ensure as many wonderful and happy memories as possible. This way children have a greater likeliness for being adults that are well-rounded, happy, and successful.
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Sources
- “The Importance of Family Travel.” HuffPost. Lisa Belkin. March 9, 2013.
- “Why It’s so Important for Kids to Travel, According to Experts (Video).” T&L. Alison Fox. January 2, 2020.
- “Why It’s So Important to Travel with Your Nuclear Family.” Parents. Sari Hitchins. August 21, 2023.