Your travels may look different once you have kids but by no means do they need to end all together. In fact, several studies have proven that there are many benefits for families who travel together.
Break Away From Stress and Routine
Most families spend their days dealing with deadlines, tasks, errands, and other monotonous activities. Whether these are a result of work, school, extracurricular activities, or household duties, they often bring stress. Chronic stress has been linked to many health problems, ranging from headaches to heart problems. So, do you and your family a favor and take a break! With the fast pace of our lives, it is inevitable that we will need a break sometimes, so take advantage and reap the benefits!
Learning Experiences
Traveling can expose your kids to new places, people, cultures, and things. Most kids live in a bit of a “life bubble,” meaning they have no idea what is happening beyond their own lives and communities. By taking kids outside of this bubble, they will learn new things including exposure to a new language, different foods, unique cultures and beliefs that may differ from their own. Another aspect of this learning is the ability to witness and try things firsthand that they may have learned about in school. For example, perhaps they learned about the unique cuisine of Honduras in school, but actually getting to taste mangos verdes from a street vendor in the capitol is taking that learning to a new level.
Helps with Fitness
While traveling may get you away from your daily fitness routine, it creates numerous other opportunities for your family to exercise together. For instance, you may feel more inclined to try surfing when you’re on a beautiful beach in France or you may notice yourself walking over ten miles to and from historic sites in Italy. While it is a different type of physical activity, it is still physical activity being done with your family, and that’s the best combination!
Traveling with your family is not all for the photos. There are actual health benefits such as stress relief and increased fitness that come with family travel. Not only that but you and your children gain the cultural experiences that you’d be unable to find at home.