The World is Waiting: International Travel’s Impact on Kids
I love planning Walt Disney World vacations. There is something so magical about seeing the way a child’s face lights up when they see the castle, or finally meets their favorite character. Something just as magical is seeing a child excited to engage in history or interact with someone from a different culture.
My love of travel actually began at Walt Disney World. I visited Disneyland in California multiple times as a small child, but seeing EPCOT for the first time when I was 8 was what really sparked my wanderlust. I learned how to make a coonskin cap look like a breathing racoon from a cast member in Canadian Pavilion while he told us stories about growing up in Canada. After that I went around to every country in the park asking cast members about their homes and what it was like there. It’s a memory that has stuck with me and drove me to love travel, I couldn’t wait to see them all for myself.
Just because you have kids doesn’t mean the only place you can visit is a theme park. So many parents believe that they can’t visit destinations until their children “are old enough,” when one the best thing you can do for your children is to expose them to other cultures.
I started Showcase the World Travel because my love of travel was inspired by EPCOT’s World Showcase, and while it was such a great introduction to other cultures, I want to inspire families to travel abroad, beyond the theme parks.
Travel is so rewarding, especially when your kids are young. In fact, waiting makes it so much harder to travel with kids because they’re locked into their habits. When you start traveling early kids develop flexibility and resilience, and when you travel often kids adapt to new environments much quicker. There are so many more reasons why you should take your kids on trips when they are still young, and you can read about them here.
If the last two years have taught us anything, it is that connection is key to us as human beings. It has shown how ugly things can get when we do not open ourselves to understanding people who are different, and teaching our children acceptance and adaptability is step one to making a difference. Traveling with kids allows them to develop a cultural curiosity and understanding that will last their whole lives.
There has been a big trend in recent years of parents “world schooling” their children. Selling their homes, ripping up their roots, and traveling the world to give their kids those experiences. These stories are amazing, but I don’t believe you have to become a full time travel family for your kids to get the benefits of travel. One well planned trip a year can shape them into adults with a deep understanding and sympathy to other people without the commitment.
“If kids are raised with travel, they do not know stereotypes and prejudices, travel makes kids more compassionate.”
Dan Austin, CEO and founder of Austin Adventures, a travel company operating trips for families and adults on seven continents.
Of course, there are additional concerns when it comes to traveling with kids. Logistics become a little more complicated, but if you follow these Tips to Traveling Internationally with Your Kids and book your trip with Showcase the World Travel, you’ll have a lot less reasons to worry!
NEED A VACATION BUT THE IDEA OF PLANNING-IT-ALL IS OVERWHELMING?
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