Does travel really broaden the mind for kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know a few families with teens who travel internationally a lot - every spring, summer, winter break. Several long weekends. Cruises to the Galapagos and Alaska, trips to Europe and Asia, etc. etc. But none of the pre-teens/teens seem all that special or interesting. They stare at their phones, barely make eye contact or speak, even basic pleasantries which IMO are the bare minimum that should be drilled into kids.

We have a toddler and preschooler so not in the heavy traveling stage yet, though we will be in a few years. And we are fortunate to have enough disposal income to travel abroad frequently, as we did before kids. But I am not sure if we should - would it be better to stay home and teach basic manners instead? I know plenty of people (including pre-teens) who don’t travel much but they are very interesting to talk to. I would rather have my kids be like them.

The screen thing has nothing to do with travel, that’s just teens and devices. I remember my grandparents trying to talk to my teenage cousins way back in the 90s and it was like pulling teeth, long before phones (I was super chatty!)

We love to travel and have done big international trips with our kids since they were babies (elementary and middle school age now). But that’s because that’s what DH and I want to do, not because we think it will make them better people or improve their manners or anything!

I do think there are benefits to international travel, but there are also benefits to making traditions at home or traveling domestically. I think my kids are more flexible and certainly more adventurous eaters than most of their friends. But maybe that’s luck, my tween is definitely still going to play on a device as long as we let him.

[Anonymous]

We've done lots of easy, restful vacations, but have also done a couple of educational trips. For those we read books and watched documentaries before we left to build background knowledge. Then on the trip i made sure there were lots of opportunities to touch and try and experience. Things like cooking classes, sailing lessons, traditional camping, traditional art classes etc. We didn't just do museums and tours. I tried hard to find hands on learning opportunities. I think they got a lot out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should travel if it sounds enjoyable and/or are using it as a family bonding experience. I do not think it’s remotely necessary to raising well rounded and interesting people. I also think the “enrichment” aspect is overstated at best

+100

We travel for leisure. There were moments in Mexico when my kids felt unsafe and uncomfortable and asked to go back to Virginia. The same happened in DC once, tbf. Neither of the experiences was enriching.

[Anonymous]

We travel because we enjoy it and yes, it broadens the mind. Even going to West Virginia from the DC area broadens the mind. You see that different people live in different ways.

[Anonymous]

Wut does travel have to do with the price of beans

[Anonymous]

I think children from rural areas should visit a big city once. On the other hand city-kids should travel to rural areas once in an while. But I don't think international travel as OP describes it broadens the mind. Reading newspapers and books will have major impact on world view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think children from rural areas should visit a big city once. On the other hand city-kids should travel to rural areas once in a while. But I don't think international travel as OP describes it broadens the mind. Reading newspapers and books will have major impact on world view.

Dumb take

[Anonymous]

I was just talking to my kids (5 & 8) about the number of Airbnbs we've stayed at over the last 4 years. It's about 35 (mostly over-nighters on road trips). They remember two. Two places we stayed.

I think it helped them learn to get good sleep in unfamiliar places, which I'm grateful for, but if there's enrichment there, it's invisible. Their little kid brains have no idea if we were in Asia or North Dakota and further, they don't really care since neither had mini golf.

Travel for you and the memories you make for yourself with your family.

[Anonymous]

My single mother took my brother and me Mexico City and Oaxaca when I was 16 and it’s still one of my best childhood memories. It was my first international trip. We traveled by bus, I successfully ordered a pizza in Spanish to be delivered to our hotel, she let my brother and me hang out with other young adults in one of squares until late at night, and we bonded as a little family unit.

Since then I’ve been to more than 40 countries and travel often across Africa for work. I credit that trip for a lot of my interest in trying to understand other cultures and the world we live in. So echo others in that if you can do it and enjoy it, go for it! Where is there a downside for your kids? I can’t wait to take my daughter and show her the world!

[Anonymous]

I love international travel, but it certainly doesn't need to be international to broaden horizons. We have beautiful nature and diverse cultures throughout the US. Whether urban vs rural, philly vs san diego, west virginia vs texas....you can get the experience of realizing there's more to the world then your culture and way of living without going that far

[Anonymous]

I have a toddler and kindergartner and they've been tons of places (so I'm obviously biased). My Kindergartner retains and remembers SO more more information and "lessons" from experience than I ever expected.

[Anonymous]

If you're going to seek out "kid friendly" activities like hanging out in a town square (essentially a park) or visiting children's museums, there is no point in taking an airplane and sleeping in a strange bed for that. If your kids aren't able to appreciate seeing art and architecture or other cultural things in real life, there is no point.

Broadening the mind as far as culture and history is concerned can be done in any major US city. No passport needed.

[Anonymous]

DC has traveled extensively in other countries as well as across the USA. DC remembers absolutely nothing about anything they did before about age 10. It's like they have a vague memory about Rio or Auckland from a book they read. If you must travel with them before they're old enough to appreciate it, then do so. But don't fool yourself into thinking it's enriching them to hang out at the zoo in London.

[Anonymous]

I love travel with my kids, 13 and 10. It's great shared experiences, new adventures, getting out of our routine, lots of family bonding. The disengaged teen issue is not related to whether you travel with your kids or not.

[Anonymous]

Travel is a great way— but not the only way— to teach lessons. Being responsible for your own things, dealing with changes, existing in a public space, coping with boredom. Embracing new experiences, trying new things (food), getting past self consciousness to communicate in foreign languages (critical for kids).

None of that has to do with whether your friends kids want to talk to you vs look at their phone.