Reply to Taking a one-year sabbatical to travel with our child?

Forum Index » General Parenting Discussion

Reply to "Taking a one-year sabbatical to travel with our child?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I haven't done what you're proposing, OP, but we do love to travel with our kids - even when they're young - and have four of 'em them currently ranging in age from 1 to 10.

Based on the experiences we've had with various ages traveling, I'd recommend going on the older end of the bracket. I recently got to go somewhere with just my 7 and 10 year old for the weekend, and it was a) so EASY and b) completely enjoyable for me as well as them.

I'd say 8 or 9 is probably the sweet spot. Agree with a PP that K and 1 are really foundational years that'd I'd want my kid in the classroom working on essential skills with a "real" teacher. I don't know how my 10 yo (5th grader) would feel about missing a whole year; they're really getting into friendships and activities by this age.

It's not that spending time and traveling with them when they're younger isn't also a wonderful experience - but logistically it can be more challenging (napping, limits on how far you can walk, meal schedules, etc). I think you should probably try to decide if the travel is more for *you* or *DC*. When they're little, you're traveling and they're along for the ride. When they get older, they start to really appreciate the things they see, pick activities, etc.

The trips we've taken with our kids before age 5ish they only have hazy memories of even now and of course the reinforced memories we have through stories, photos, siblings, etc. But we will always remember watching our 3 yo throw stones into the North Sea with the wind in his hair, even if he doesn't. Traveling while younger (we think) does help them be more adaptable and flexible. New places aren't scary; we explore them together. We sleep places beside home, and it's OK. People dress differently, and sometimes everyone may look very different than we do.

Good luck with your plan, it will be a wonderful experience, I'm sure. Wish I was a Fed (or academic) and could take a sabbatical![/quote]

I wish you would write a book about this!  I find the logistics of planning international trips with my 3 kids a challenge.  Especially finding lodging.  Hotel rooms are much smaller than US rooms so that is out.  What is the best source (least scam risk) to rent an apartment/house in another country through?  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics