Have you ever taken one of those trips where YOU were really excited, but the thrill was drug down by a child who just didn’t want to be there? Maybe it was a dream vacation to an exotic island and all your child wanted to do was sit inside and watch TV all day. Or they screamed the whole time you drug them out to see all the wonders Yellowstone National Park had to offer?
In the wonderful eight years I’ve had the pleasure of being a Dad, my daughter and I have been on numerous trips together. She has over 80,000 frequent flyer miles as a testament to those travels. But most of those trips, except two to Mexico, were here in the USA and she knew what to expect, more or less.
Now we are planning her first big adventure abroad: Tanzania and Morocco in Africa. I want to make this a fun and exciting trip for both of us. I want her to look back fondly on this trip and yes, I do admit, I would love for it to spark her interest in traveling to far off lands and getting a better understanding of the world. I have found for her to actually enjoy a trip, it helps for her to be involved with the planning as much as is age appropriate.
On that front I’ve started a book campaign. You might notice in the photo above that the books have library tags on them. This is because time and again, I find our local library system to be so utterly wonderful in opening up doors to distant lands for all ages. As my daughter has gotten older and taken a strong interest in reading, I’ve worked on fanning the flames with as many books as she likes. Books and organic food are two things I don’t skimp on when it comes to quantity and value. Both are vital to her healthy growth.
For the upcoming trip I am focusing on story books. Basically books that tell local stories for kids, but in English so we can read them (we are also picking up a few basic Arabic and Swahili language books to learn how to count and say things like “bathroom”). I found myself getting WAY too excited when searching the library’s database and reserving books.
My theory is children’s books will be a great introduction to the culture and lifestyle of the places we will visit. When we get there things won’t seem so foreign and she’ll generally be more exited about the trip, rather than just apprehensive. It’s a bit of letting her know what to expect so she’ll be more open to accepting what we find once the reality of being Africa sets in.
It’s parental brainwashing at its best.
So what do you do to help get your kids excited for a trip? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!!
ours is 6 going on 16. She’s traveled w us since she was a month young. She has a world map shower curtain. Usually at bath time, we talk about who is where in the world- as in our extended family members. We also use the shower curtain to talk to her about our upcoming trips or trips we’ve taken together- nice geography lesson moments. We keep travel plans in our everyday life by infusing it into our conversations on the way to school, at dinner, etc. We also get all of our books and movies from the library. Love that idea. We recently watched Earth and Food Inc together. She loves watching those with us. Food Inc, we let her watch specific scenes. Earth is a nice way to introduce geography to children also. She loves nature shows. Great post Peter. It’s wonderful what you are teaching your child.
You are so right, there is no better way than books to enhance travel for kids…. before, during and after travel! Books have been the cornerstone of our open ended world tour as a family that we began in 2006 when our child was 5.
It is amazing at how many great books for kids that are available today that can enhance the travel experience. I have been building a list for sometime!
Using favorite books as sources for itineraries really helps kids make it their own (see our soultravelers3 “Venice Via Kids Books” youtube video for just one example). Good books connect to a place as their own!
I HIGHLY recommend a camel trek in the Sahara while in Morocco as it was a highlight for our 6 year old & the whole family as she got close to the kids and did a violin concert for them during a service project!
Your daughter might enjoy watching our “Soultravelers3 in the Sahara” youtube video. And yes, related videos and films can be another way to educate kids before, during and after travel!
I have a list of books for kids about Morocco on this post that she might enjoy-http://www.soultravelers3.com/2007/05/hanging-out-roa.html
Have a ball…with the books and the journey!!
That’s a wonderful thing to do to prepare your kid for the upcoming trip. I look forward to hearing what books you pick up from your local library for your trip. I also think the movies that featured your destination might help as well. It might not be as extensive as book but it might give them some visual aspect.
I agree with @Gotpassport about talking about trip will definitely help prepare them for the trip.
You betcha! Books are totally the way to go. And movies, too — if they are accurate and filmed on location. Can’t wait to read about your African adventures!
BBC series Planet Earth! I’ve found the more we learn about the habitat of the place we’re visiting, the more interested the kids are. We do our best to seek out the wildlife in the place we are, so the kids have a sense not only about people and their way of living, but also the animals and plants indigenous to the area.
For Sabrina’s upcoming trip Lena additionally recommends: Madagascar 2, Duma, Lion King.
We’ve also invited folks from the country we’re visiting to dinner and ask questions about their homeland. Even sampling food ahead of time helps!