More families are planning to travel this year as a recent survey reveals that 76 percent of respondents plan to hit the road with their loved ones in 2022, while 70 percent said that they’ll be taking their first trip abroad with their children. Traveling as a family is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences that you can have together. Not only does it give you time to bond, but it also gives everyone the chance to learn about different cultures as you explore various destinations. If you’re about to go on your first family trip, instilling a love of travel in your kids can help them to look forward to your holiday and all others that will come after it. Here’s a guide to encourage wanderlust in children.
Let Them Try World Cuisine
If your child likes basic, “safe” foods such as fried chicken or pizza, now’s the time to teach them to enjoy new foods, particularly world cuisine. Introducing cultural foods to kids will help them to become more adventurous and have an open mind, and it teaches them about empathy and tolerance. Moreover, it awakens a child’s adventurous spirit, which will make them curious about the world and the people living in it.
Trying a new destination’s cuisine is also one of the best things about going on a holiday, so a few months before your trip, cook a few dishes that are staples in your chosen destination and encourage your child to eat them. For instance, if you’re going to Vietnam, make some pho, which is a noodle soup with sliced beef or chicken. You can also make banh mi, a sandwich made by filling a baguette with meat, pickled veggies, and cilantro. Letting your child help to make these dishes can make them more excited about trying new foods, so make sure to have safe kitchen equipment on hand, such as a small apron, non-slip bowls, and a step stool so that your little one can stay safe while in the kitchen.
Take Note of Their Interests
Ideally, a family vacation should have activities that will appeal to everyone, so take note of your child’s interests and incorporate them into your travel plans. If your child loves art, a visit to an art museum or gallery, as well as a shopping trip to a local arts supply store should be in the itinerary. Meanwhile, if your little one likes marine life, see if there’s a public aquarium in your chosen travel destination, as well as a nearby beach where you can spend an enjoyable afternoon. Talk to your child to learn about the things that they’re into, and let them know that the holiday is geared towards their interests too so they can envision your trip better.
Involve Them in the Travel Preparations
Most parents like to do all the planning themselves when preparing for a family vacation. While you should certainly be in charge of important things such as booking flights and making hotel reservations, allowing the kids to take part in travel preparations can help to make them look forward to your trip. Go online and do some research about areas of interests and destinations in your chosen location, and ask your kids if any of these spots seem interesting to them. You can also let them choose their clothes and help them to pack their belongings. Meanwhile, if you’re going on a road trip, you can ask older kids to make a playlist for the car trip. Letting them take part in the preparations not only helps to make them more excited about your family holiday, but it will also teach them about responsibility.
Traveling can be beneficial for a child’s mental wellbeing and happiness. It also enables them to become well-rounded adults in the future. Consider the above tips to encourage a love of travel in your little one today.
