The Spirit of Independence: How Travel Teaches Kids Freedom & Resilience

When Annabelle and I were sitting outside a café in Paris last spring, she looked up at me with those big, curious eyes and said, “Can I try snails?” I blinked. My little foodie who has always embraced trying new things was now pointing at escargot on the menu. I nodded, perhaps a little surprised. She beamed, ordered in broken but confident French, and popped the first one into her mouth without hesitation. By the end of the meal, she had declared them her new favorite—and for the rest of the trip, she asked for escargot every time we sat down to eat.

That moment—small as it may seem—was the beginning of something big. Not just a new favorite food, but a new sense of courage. Confidence. Adventure. It was one of the clearest glimpses I’ve had into what travel gives our children: the spirit of independence.

We often talk about why travel is fun or memorable, but for me, the deeper reason I prioritize it for our family is because it helps raise children who are resilient, adaptable, and unafraid to try. It teaches them lessons that stick—lessons they can’t always learn in a classroom, a soccer field, or even a playdate. Lessons that come from stepping into something unfamiliar and coming out on the other side a little more grown-up.

Here’s how I’ve seen travel teach my daughter (and so many others) freedom and resilience, one destination at a time.

Curiosity: Letting Their Questions Lead

Kids are naturally curious—but travel turns that spark into a full-blown flame.

When Annabelle was four, we visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. In one of the galleries, she stood in front of a mixed media portrait, tilting her head. I admitted I didn’t love it—it made me feel uncomfortable. She looked up at me and said, “But isn’t that what art is supposed to do? Make you feel something?”

That’s what travel does. It places children in front of things that challenge their thinking—new tastes, new sounds, new textures, new perspectives. Even when they don’t have all the words yet, they start making connections. They begin to ask more. Wonder more. They begin to explore their own feelings and reactions to the world around them. That’s curiosity in action—and it’s one of the most powerful gateways to independence.

Confidence: Discovering What They Can Do (and Eat!)

Every time Annabelle does something new on a trip—orders her own food, greets someone in another language, or takes the lead with the map—she grows a little more confident.

We saw this in Italy during our golf cart tour of Rome. I let her navigate with the puzzle guidebook, and she took her job very seriously, calling out landmarks as we approached them. When we visited the Vatican and Ancient Ostia, she carried her own bag, chose which museum room to see next, and confidently engaged with the puzzle activities designed to enhance her experience. She became more than a participant; she was leading.

That moment in Paris with the escargot? That wasn’t just about food. That was about trusting herself. And that trust—the kind born of experience, not just encouragement—is the foundation of resilience.

Flexibility: Rolling with the (Unexpected) Changes

You haven’t traveled until you’ve navigated a delayed flight with a child. And when you’re a parent, you know: kids are watching.

On one of our trips, a significant flight delay had us stuck in the airport for hours. Instead of letting it unravel our day, we turned it into an adventure. We found an empty gate and played “airport obstacle course,” grabbed snacks from a new-to-us café, and explored all the airport art and exhibits we could find. Annabelle saw firsthand that not everything has to go according to plan—and that we can still find joy, even in the waiting.

Travel teaches kids to be flexible. To find comfort in the unfamiliar. To discover that being out of their comfort zone isn’t something to fear, but something to embrace.

Problem Solving: Navigating Real-World Situations

While we’ve been fortunate to avoid major setbacks thanks to our incredible in-country partners, travel still presents its fair share of small challenges—navigating a new transit system, interpreting signage in another language, or choosing from an unfamiliar menu.

Annabelle takes these situations in stride. Whether she’s matching train times to our itinerary or identifying a dish she wants to try by sight (or emoji on a menu), she’s learning to think critically. These moments build not only problem-solving skills but also self-trust. And the more she exercises those skills, the more she’s willing to stretch them.

Cultural Awareness: Understanding Others—and Themselves

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from challenges. It’s about perspective. Travel helps kids see that the world is so much bigger than their own routine—and that different doesn’t mean wrong.

In Quebec, Annabelle practiced her French proudly, even when she stumbled. In Florence, she was captivated by the way artists expressed themselves in different styles. In London, she asked thoughtful questions about the Tower’s history and the royal guards she saw standing so still.

These aren’t just cute observations—they’re seeds of empathy. Exposure to different ways of living helps children grow into adults who are not only resilient but respectful, open-minded, and thoughtful. And it starts with simple moments: a conversation, a new dish, a walk through a museum that sparks an unexpected connection.

Independence: Letting Go, Little by Little

At the heart of this all is independence—not the “go off on your own” kind, but the quieter kind. The kind where your child starts trusting their instincts. Asking to order for themselves. Taking pride in packing their own carry-on. Choosing the book to bring on the plane.

Every trip we take, I see Annabelle step a little further into her own identity. She knows what she likes. She’s learning what makes her feel calm, excited, or adventurous. And she knows that no matter where we go, she can handle it.

As parents, that’s what we ultimately want: not to protect our children from every challenge, but to prepare them. To raise kids who are resilient not because they’ve never fallen—but because they’ve gotten back up. Who are independent not because they’re never scared—but because they try anyway.

And travel is one of the greatest teachers of all.

Raising Brave Explorers

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking travel is a luxury—something that can wait until the kids are older or until work slows down. But what I’ve learned, and what I try to pass on to every family I help plan a trip for, is this:

Travel isn’t just a break from life. It’s a builder of life.

It’s where snails become favorite meals. Where fears become adventures. Where your child realizes they’re more capable than they ever imagined. Where you, as a parent, get to witness them grow before your eyes.

Annabelle and I have set a goal to visit all ten EPCOT World Showcase countries before she graduates high school. Each trip is a chapter in her story. Each memory, a milestone in her growth. And each time we set out, I’m reminded of what a gift it is to watch her become her own little person—curious, confident, and incredibly resilient.

Here’s to raising brave explorers. And to the journeys—big and small—that help them get there.

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Who is Christina?

Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists.  After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation too.

She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, Europe, and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.