As a parent, you already appreciate the importance of a child’s education. However, classroom-based academia is only one type of learning. In truth, travel is easily one of the very best ways to help your son or daughter gain a better understanding of the world.
Ultimately, education should be a secondary priority when enjoying your vacations. Still, it would be a shame to overlook this opportunity to learn. Here are five ways to embrace it.
Visit Educational Attractions
It sounds obvious, but booking trips to educational attractions is the easiest way to inject some learning. This certainly doesn’t have to be boring, though. Visiting the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, for example, is more engaging than reading books. Planetariums, aquariums, and history centres are all good options too. You should be able to find suitable attractions in virtually any holiday destination.
Bringing education to life in this way can support their academic studies. Or it may just enhance their understanding of the world as a whole.
Explore Nature
In addition to exploring human history, travel is a great time to explore nature. From visiting zoos to exploring botanical gardens, there are plenty of options. Alternatively, a camping trip can be used to teach geography. It’s also an opportunity to promote key life skills, like survival or how to cook. While they might not support academic learning, they are hugely beneficial for children to learn at any age.
Besides, connecting with nature may encourage a healthier lifestyle. In today’s world, that is a huge win for any parent.
Utilise The Journey
Oftentimes, the travel aspects of a vacation are the most frustrating. However, it could also be an opportune moment to support your child’s learning. When watching departure boards, you can play simple games to learn about countries. For example, if you see Paris, you could ask about the language, flag, and currency. Similarly, you could discuss time zones. It is a way to help children appreciate the size of the world and different ways of living.
Using a map to highlight the journey to another country can also open the door to conversations about the oceans and countries you pass.
Speak To People
As a parent, you have to guard your child from danger. So, you might want to avoid encouraging them to speak to random strangers. Still, talking to people is a great way to learn about the culture. Or you could book classes like pizza making in Italy. The hands-on approach to learning is great while it is also a chance to introduce basic Italian. Besides, kids often take in more information when it comes from an outside source in a fun setting.
It is additionally a fantastic way to create a better vacation for yourself. Frankly, it is something you deserve, even if giving your child the best holiday is your main aim.
Review The Adventures Back Home
When looking to inspire a love of travel in children, it’s not just about the trip itself. The before and after elements can be equally crucial. This is a particularly good way to support educational development too. Creating scrapbooks or discussing the things you saw and did on vacation ensures that your child retains more info. Coupled with reminiscence or further learning, such as discovering more about the place, success will follow.
Better still, it is likely to help your child actively develop a love of both learning and travel. What more could any parent want?