Travel When They're Young

I often hear parents say they are putting off travel until their kids are older - but why wait? “So they’ll remember it” or “so it’s an easier experience” but these common excuses are really just, well, excuses. If anything, THESE are the moments that they will remember, and will turn into formative and early memories.

Let’s talk logistics. First of all, it’s much cheaper to travel when they’re little. Start young enough and you’ll be able to fly with them in your lap. You’re not going to need a bigger hotel room, and experiences (tours, museums) often don’t charge under a certain age. Get them out into the world before they’re committed to soccer practice, or at risk of missing important information from school. Plus, starting at an early age will help them become accustomed to traveling, therefore making it easier, sooner.

Temper tantrums are something we all wish to avoid, especially in public, so use your grown-up mind to keep their little minds busy. Turn aspects of the trip into a fun game they’ll want to play along with. Can they remember the terminal number? How many pesos are equivalent to a dollar? Guess what’s in a new food. The list is endless, and having them tied up in these games will reduce the amount of time they may spend stressing about the situation.

Experiencing all of this firsthand normalizes our differences, and at a young age is ingrained in their minds as something positive and exciting. Prejudice comes from individuals who have lived in a fishbowl of a world. By traveling, their natural curiosity will have them wowed by their senses as they experience all new things. They’ll gain respect for other cultures, ignite their interests in worldly happenings, and aid in their overall development.

Having kids shouldn’t mean putting your life on the back burner. And waiting for your kids to reach this magical “ready” age is only preventing you from traveling and enjoying that aspect of life. Childhood is fleeting, and every day you have with them is a gift. Why wait for anything? The memories you create with them now will be memories that are cherished for a lifetime.

If you’re an individual who’s put off traveling due to young children, perhaps you’ll now reconsider. Do your research ahead of time and create an itinerary that the entire gang will enjoy. Learn new phrases in different languages together. Get them excited for what they’re about to experience, and go see the world with your little ones in tow!