By Rebekah Funk
Some parents worry using time off school for a family holiday will cause their child to fall behind or forget the skills they’ve learned in the classroom. But increasingly, researchers say family travel is one of the best learning experiences you can give your child. Here’s how travel helps your young ones get ahead:
When kids see, smell, taste, hear and touch the objects of their studies (rather than just read about them in an abstract way in textbooks or from a web page), they’re more likely to understand, remember and apply what they’ve learned. Immersive learning and new environments encourage kids to problem solve and expand their views of the world.
After all, where better to learn conversational French than in Paris, or feel what it was like to be a Roman soldier at Hadrian’s Wall?
A child’s concentration levels increase after just 20 minutes of being in nature. “Green-play settings were found to be as good as, or better than, medication for children with attention-deficit disorders,” confirms child psychotherapist, Dr Margot Sunderland in an article for The Telegraph.
By spending time with their parents in a fun environment, kids can boost their IQs.
Sunderland maintains that spending time in green spaces and “enriched environments” (environments that offer new experiences for social, physical, cognitive and sensory interaction) have clear health benefits for kids.
Apparently these enriched environments turn on the equivalent of “brain fertilisers” in the frontal lobes, which help with stress regulation, attention, concentration, good planning and ability to learn. The presence of these fertilisers are associated with higher intelligence quotients, according to a 2005 study by D. Gunnell et al.
Bottom line: spending the right kind of time with your children on holiday could be making them smarter.
On a family holiday, kids exercise two genetically-ingrained systems deep in the brain’s limbic area: the “play” system and the “seeking” system.
Discovered by neuroscientist Professor Jaak Panksepp, these systems – when triggered – release happy, healing chemicals in the brain like opioids, oxytocin and dopamine. The more we use these play and exploration “muscles” in our brains, the more likely they are to influence our overall personalities positively.
Forward-thinking companies like Trafalgar know all about the benefits of travel for kids and offer engrossing family experiences designed to spark your child’s passion for history, geography and reading.
Trafalgar’s 10-day Summer 2018 Castles & Kilts trip, for instance, tours England, Wales and Scotland. Kids will uncover the magic of a land of kings and queens, magicians and “muggles". They’ll imagine Harry Potter's London, stay in a Welsh castle and learn about life as a Roman soldier at Hadrian's Wall.
There are plenty of stops for adults too – visit the birthplace of the Beatles in Liverpool, and hear tales of bravery and treason in Edinburgh.
Trafalgar is offering a 7.5% early payment discount on its European Family Experiences (including the Castles & Kilts trip) when you book before 29 March 2018. Castles & Kilts packages start at R34 100 per person sharing, with a R3 470 young travellers discount for kids between five and 17 years. There are also triple share discounts of R3 300 per person or quad share discounts of R4 900 per person.
Want to lock down your educational family holiday at the best prices on other Trafalgar experiences for North and South American destinations? Save 5% when you book before 24 April 2018.
There is a brand new Pilgrims and Patriots Family Experience itinerary (where travellers retrace the steps of America’s Founding Fathers and experience life with the Amish), as well as time-tested favourites such as Wild West Cowboys and Buffalos (visit Mount Rushmore and stay on a live ranch in Montana, horseback riding under the wide-open skies).
Contact your nearest Sure Travel agent today to book/enquire, or call 0861 47 48 49.
Trafalgar is giving away an Easter hamper filled with yummy surprises and worth R750 to one lucky person!
Simply tell us why you think travel is a great teacher and name the Trafalgar Family Experience that appeals to you most.
1. Put your answer in the comment section of the Facebook competition post followed by the hashtags #SimplyTrafalgar #SureTravel
2. Share the competition post on your own Facebook page.
That’s it. Winner will be announced on social media on 31 March.
Competition Terms and Conditions
1. Entrants into the Prize Draw shall be deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions.
2. The closing date for entries into the Prize Draw is 12h00pm on 30 March 2018. Entries received outside this time period will not be considered.
3. One winner will be chosen by The Promoters (Trafalgar Tours and Sure Travel) of entries received in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
4. The winner will receive 1 x Easter hamper as specified in the competition entry.
5. The prize will be delivered to the winner.
6. If the winner does not respond to the promoters by 2 April 2018, then the winner's prize will be forfeited. If a winner rejects their prize or the entry is invalid or in breach of these Terms and Conditions, the winner's prize will be forfeited and the Promoters (Sure Travel and TravCorp) shall be entitled to select another winner.
7. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and is not redeemable for cash or other prizes.
8. The Promoters retain the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value in the event the original prize offered is not available.
9. The winner consents to the use by the Promoters, both before and after the closing date of the Prize Draw for an unlimited time, of the winner's name for publicity purposes, in any medium, on the internet, including any websites hosted by the Promoters and its related companies and in advertising, marketing or promotional material without additional compensation or prior notice and, in entering the Prize Draw, all entrants consent to the same.
10. The Promoters accept no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Prize Draw or accepting the prize.
11. The Promoters shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control.
