What age to start introducing children to international travel

[Anonymous]

Our kids are 5 and 8 and we just started taking them places this year. We've been to central America and Europe. It worked our well.

[Anonymous]

I did my dissertation field work, about 5 months pregnant with DC2. Her brother, DC1, was about 20 months at the time. I didn't have a choice. I also don't have any regrets. He was going through that separation anxiety phase. Because of where we were, I carried him on my back everywhere, which kept him content. We had a lot of first experiences, like going to the beach or swimming together. He's almost 6yo now and is a very comfortable traveler. We have family overseas, so I see the travel piece as a means of having time for my children to bond with their cousins. We may sightsee, and they do have fun memories from what we've done. They don't think of it as particularly special.

But, if travel isn't a natural part of your work or family life and this is a special holiday trip, I'd hold off until you're sure they remember it. If you guys already take regular weekends away and travel frequently, there's no reason not to bring them along. It will make traveling much easier for you if the children are accustomed to it. But if this is a once-every-few-years special occasion, you may want to wait.

[Anonymous]

We've traveled internationally with the kids since they were born. We just did a 10 road trip in Scotland and commented on how this was the first time the trip was easy. Kids are now 4 and 6. We fit in some kid things, but also do adult things and bring them along. For example they both went to a Scotch Whiskey tasting.

[Anonymous]

I don't plan to start until around 8. We went to Ireland frequently when I was a child because most of our family was there. I have flashes of memories starting as early as 3, more substantive memories around 6, and solid ones from 8 on. Most of the relatives we visited when I was a child are dead/have emigrated as they were my mom's aunts and uncles and grandparents, so we have no compelling reason to start going so early with our children.

So if I'm only going to get to take my children to Ireland once I want them to actually be able to remember the experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP, this is very strange for families who are spread across the globe. If you need to visit family, you go wherever as soon as babies have been vaccinated and you've saved enough to afford the tickets...though I do remember trips starting when I was about 6...before that not really.

I don't think OP is asking about visiting family. I get the impression her question is when is it "worth it" to voluntarily travel abroad with your children.

OP, there's something to acclimating your children to travel, both road trips and flights, but to a certain extent that can be accomplished in the US. Sure, a flight to California or Oregon isn't as long as a flight to Turkey, but it's a significant distance. For some people, I do think they see some cache in being able to say that they took their child abroad as an infant or vacationed in Europe with their toddler. Go for it if you have the means. However, I don't know that your child will have an appreciation for seeing the Great Wall of China any more than they will the Grand Canyon for quite a while.

I always thought I wanted to take my child overseas by the time she was 5. The way life has worked out she's seen a lot of parts of the U.S., but has yet to make it off the continent. For a 4yr old, I think she's fairly well traveled even though she has yet to use a passport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once the youngest is 4, I'd go anywhere in the world.

Another vote for this response. Out of diapers, finished with naps, no stroller, can communicate better, can regulate self and follow safety instructions better, might even remember the trip years from now. Parents can relax and enjoy for more than an hour at a time. You're ready to go!

[Anonymous]

If you can afford it, go for it. We're in a tight financial spot, and while we could scrape together the means if we really wanted to, for us (1 and 4) I'd rather wait a bit. If money didn't matter it would be a different story, but I want to feel like I'm getting the most out of a trip. Lugging car seats and diapers and dealing with naps, or places that don't even begin seating for dinner until 8... I'd rather wait. We are doing national parks and more laid back trips for the time being.

[Anonymous]

Go. As soon as you want to go. International travel is not just for your kids. It's for you, too.

[Anonymous]

Can you gradually expand their vacation destinations? My kids are 5 and 8. They've done all the major U.S. cities plus Canada twice and Caribbean. My youngest benefits from naps or gets cranky by dinner, but now we can push a little more as far as sightseeing.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I love to travel. Every chance we have we hop on a plane, boat or car. Having 3 kids has not stopped us and they have all been all over since they were infants.
The way we see it, it is about experiences and exposure and having an awesome time seeing different people and things and trying new foods and new stuff and not so much as "being able to remember" when they grow up or understanding the "significance" of a place.
Yes, it does get easier in the logistics sense as they grow. It is so much easier to carry a small booster than a full carseat or what a breeze to travel sans stroller for the first time in 14 years last Christmas. But the kids and my husband and I have enjoyed all trips even if the children only remember "snapshots" as a previous poster said. Or if they remember the pigeons instead of St. Marco, because at 5 a gazillion doves can't compare to a church
It has also been great to tailor the places we go to their age and their interests. We have gone to places we wouldn't have visited as adults if we did not have kids. Like a train museum or a chocolate factory or doing a bike tour of a big city park with a picnic instead of heading to the biggest museum and enjoying 5 star dining.
Do whatever works for you and have fun!
Happy traveling!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once the youngest is 4, I'd go anywhere in the world.

Another vote for this response. Out of diapers, finished with naps, no stroller, can communicate better, can regulate self and follow safety instructions better, might even remember the trip years from now. Parents can relax and enjoy for more than an hour at a time. You're ready to go!

This is when we started with our daughter and for all the reasons PP above mentions. She's now 22. I can still picture her toting her little rollaboard through the train on our way from Tuscany to Venice. Much preferred spending our money on travel instead of a McMansion and we have a blast reminiscing.

[Anonymous]

We just got back from Wales -- our first trip with the kids. I was struck by some of the kids' activities that were available in the castle, i.e. Amazing-Race-style puzzles or scavenger-hunts on the castle groups. Such fun -- and I likely would never had realized these activities existed if I wasn't there with my kids.

[Anonymous]

DH and I love to travel and are very lucky financially. DD is three and has been to Mexico twice, Panama, Grand Cayman, Italy, made several trips to California, plus beach trips and a trip to NYC. Her first international trip was at five months and was super easy (Mexico), and I loved taking her to Rome when she was two. We're thinking Istanbul or Sardinia next.

I would not travel with young kids because you want them to remember it. They won't, at least not in the long term. But I think there are good reasons to do it. I like the idea of her seeing us outside our comfort zones and still being okay. I like having her exposed to other cultures and languages. I also love seeing the world through her eyes. Even though I loved having a crazy pace of travel before kids, there's something cool about having to hang out in the same piazza every day because of the guy who blows giant bubbles or having to only look for flower carvings in the Forum. That may annoy some people, but I love it.

I also think that if you tend to prefer vacations with minimal logistical challenges, you may want to wait until kids are older. I love planning complicated trips with crazy logistics, so I now plan simpler trips and spend lots of time on kid logistics. As a result, our trips work well, and DD usually is pretty happy. If logistics aren't your thing, it may not work quite as well. If they are your thing and you have the resources, then I think international travel with young kids can be great.

[Anonymous]

Never. This country has the best of everything - just look at all the illegals climbing over themselves to get in.

Now admittedly I have never been to Europe, but I went to Olive Garden once and got food poisoning. No thanks!

[Anonymous]

International traveler with teens.

PPs are correct that beginning around age 4, you can take kids most anywhere and have an enjoyable family vacation. But the PP who said they won't remember much before age 8 is also correct. So if you decide to vacation internationally with a kid between 4-8, know that you are doing it for yourself, not so much for them. And that's perfectly fine of course! But your kids won't remember the things you want them to. (E.g., we took my DC1 to France when he was 4. He remembers a lot: the dog the lived at the Parisian hotel we stayed in. When our car broke down in Provence. When he got an electric shock sticking his finger into an electric socket. When he got stung by a French bee. Not exactly the memories some might be hoping for, lol.)