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Those in the know agree that travel is often the best teacher. In addition to the education that unfolds organically during family trips, there are things you can do to give learning a leg up – especially as your kids get older.
Here are some tips on how to build learning into your next family trip:
- You can start out by letting your kids choose a theme. Talk about potential destinations and let them pick a topic – like history, nature or art – to focus on. Then let the fun unravel. Find age-appropriate books, documentaries, or podcasts for some background research. Plan specific sites, museums, and activities that align with whatever theme you choose.
- Once you’re actually on your trip, model asking plenty of questions and prompt your kids to follow suit. Engage with the locals and find out about their customs and world views. Make learning fun with activities like scavenger hunts or trivia games.
- You can easily cover a lot of ground by opening yourselves up to your new surroundings. Think:
- History: visit historical landmarks, learn about important figures, and explore old buildings.
- Culture: look for local cuisine and music.
- Geography: use maps and think about geographic features and climate variations.
- Science: visiting parks can teach you about local ecosystems and wildlife.
- Language: learn and try using a few basic phrases in the local language. It’s fun – and locals always appreciate the effort!
- Once home, make a family journal and invite all to write about their favorite experiences. Or you can create a photo or video presentation to share with family and friends. And just because your vacation ends the learning doesn’t have to - you can continue to explore facets of your trip through books, movies, and conversation!
