There’s nothing worse than planning a holiday (and spending loads of time and money in the process) only to have your kids cry, complain or protest the entire time… Especially if you’re a travel junkie wanting to share your passion with the littles and they’re having none of it!
So how can you raise minis who love adventure as much as you do? We’ve got some ideas:
There will be obstacles (aka going through airport security when the kids have missed nap time), and sometimes it would just be easier to stay home. But by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you’ll deliberately model perseverance, a spirit of adventure, and a desire to learn about people, cultures and places.
For most kids, your enthusiasm will be infectious. Don’t focus on making your kids behave or bending them to your will. If you see the world as a gift to be discovered, hopefully over time, your kids will grow to respect the way you broadened their horizons, pushing them to discover more about themselves and others in the process.
Expect the odd meltdown — after all, they’re just kids — and travelling involves few routines. Emotional ups-and-downs are par for the course. But thankfully, they’re temporary. Brush off the hiccups and enjoy the journey.
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Decorate your home with travel-inspired objects, such as a map, globe or books about different countries and cultures.
Even movies, series and books can inspire their wanderlust — there are a plethora of videos on YouTube by other nomadic families, which could inspire a desire in your kids to travel like they do.
Explore your backyard, your neighbourhood, your city and its museums, libraries, beaches and touristic sites. Take a road trip, if you’ve got your own set of wheels, or a camping trip. Not only will you bond as a family but they’ll have lifelong memories — and you’ll ALL grow in character, understanding and patience.
Or, if you still love the “old school” tradition of a pen pal, ask friends (or friends of friends) who live elsewhere to write, email or send postcards from their city.
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Yes, historic tours are educational and sightseeing on foot is good exercise — but make sure the kids are invested in the places you visit. If your kids are obsessed with construction "diggers" or dinosaurs, search for chances to indulge those interests.
If they’re old enough, involve your kids in the research. By choosing some of the activities on your itinerary, they’ll be less likely to groan and grumble when the time comes to do them — even if it means taking time out of your “cultural experiences” to jump on a bouncy castle or get wet at the public water park.
Teens will definitely want some down time to keep in touch with friends or post their latest selfies — so factor in a little WiFi time each day if you’re so inclined.
If you’ve got adults-only activities — ie. the wine tasting excursion or Michelin-star restaurant you’ve always wanted to try, book a hotel or resort with entertaining children and youth programmes, like Club Med, Beachcomber and LUX Resorts properties. You won’t feel guilty for leaving the kids to their own devices, and they won’t feel they’re missing out on whatever the grownups are doing.
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Not all destinations are created equal when it comes to space for prams, patience for tantrums or safe child-minding services.
For family-friendly holidays that are guaranteed to please a variety of ages (especially if it’s your first time abroad), destinations like Mauritius are a good bet.
