What Travelling With My Young Kids Taught Me
Even before we had children, my husband and I both loved travelling. It was a big part of what we loved about life and we thought that having kids should not stop us from enjoying what we loved. We wanted to share this love of adventure with them.
Two kids later, we’ve discovered that travelling with them was not as hard as we thought. By the time our youngest was three, we had travelled as a family to New York, London, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Bali and Jakarta, with several road trips in Taiwan and Malaysia along the way. It was different but still fun; challenging at times, but incredibly rewarding. What I did not expect was all the things I learnt from my kids during our travels.
1. Travelling with Children is Worth It
“Aren’t your children too young to really appreciate the place? Is it really worth it if they probably won’t remember these travels later anyway?”
While several relatives have expressed these opinions, my husband and I feel differently. We believe that it is never too early to expose our kids to different cultures, languages, people, tastes, smells, sounds and sights. This kind of cultural exposure enhances empathy, broadens perspectives, and cultivates an appreciation for diversity, while also leaving impressions that help shape the people our children become.
At such a young age, travel experiences also open up a world of educational benefits in early childhood that transcend the traditional classroom setting. Travelling with kids fosters a sense of exploration, adaptability, and independence in them – all of which can help them become better global citizens and benefit them in the long-run.
Experiential learning is another key benefit of travelling with kids. Whether it’s learning about wildlife in natural habitats, historical landmarks, or different ecosystems, travel turns these concepts they’ve previously encountered only in books or the internet into tangible experiences. This hands-on approach to learning helps solidify knowledge in a way that is both fun and memorable. It encourages curiosity and ignites a passion for continuous learning, something that’s incredibly valuable in a child’s developmental years.
From immersing themselves into different cultures to experiencing global diversity first-hand, travel serves as a live interactive classroom for our kids’ growing minds. To us, this makes travelling with kids worth it.
2. Memories Make Better Gifts Than Things
When we travel with children, it brings us out of our usual family routine to create unique memories together. There is the saying, “Gift experiences, not things.” Our family truly believes in this because whenever we give our children new toys or material objects, the appeal always wears off eventually.
A travel experience, on the other hand, is like a gift that keeps on giving. It not only transports us, but immerses us in a new world where we can create unforgettable memories as a family to be cherished over and over again.
Embarking on adventures as a family is about more than just seeing new places; it offers endless opportunities for personal growth as well as strengthening the bond between parents and children. Travelling with kids is not just an escape from the daily grind; it’s a shared experience that can bring a family closer together, fostering understanding and creating a deep, lasting connection. All of you will have to step out of your comfort zones, navigate new places, and dive into novel experiences – which require teamwork, trust, and communication to pull off successfully.
As such, creating travel memories has also deepened our family’s relationship. Even after we are back at home, we continue to bond over “Do you remember that time in…?” moments, especially when we look at our travel photos and videos.
We also encourage our kids to document the trips for themselves so that they can feel and see things on their own. They like to take Polaroid pictures of everything, from a double-decker bus in London to the deer in Nara Park, or draw in their travel pads. Reminiscing on these memories together feels even more special when we see things through our children’s eyes.
My husband and I are also aware that these travel memories are gifts to ourselves as much as they are for our kids. When our kids are grown up, we will still have these memories of our family adventures to hold onto.
3. Be Flexible when Travelling with Kids
Whenever people ask about how to travel with kids, “Be flexible” is the first thing that comes to mind. Delays, getting lost, disrupted nap schedules (hello, jetlag), unpredictable weather – all of these can happen.
Some things are simply out of your control. Buying travel insurance helps us prepare for unforeseen circumstances and travel inconveniences. Otherwise, we try to remain flexible and look for the silver lining when things don’t go as planned.
Kids waking up at dawn due to the time difference? Not ideal, but it could be turned into an opportunity instead. We have learned that rather than trying (always unsuccessfully) to force our kids back to sleep, it is better to take advantage of the early hours and go for a family stroll before the rest of the city wakes up.
Meanwhile, a missed subway stop could turn into a spontaneous exploration of a cool neighbourhood. Staying on-course 100% doesn’t always allow for inspired discoveries. Travelling with kids has taught me not to be so strict on itineraries, and to embrace change as a good thing.
4. Kids Deserve More Credit than We Often Give Them
Who said that parents have to do all the prep work? Kids can contribute to the planning. I have realised that involving my kids in the preparation stage is a great way to teach them to contribute and take ownership of how they want to explore a new place. Even young kids can answer questions about what they want to do and see and eat.
Based on our kids’ suggestions, we got to experience the Royal Melbourne Show, ice skate at the Tower of London Ice Rink, go strawberry-picking at a remote farm in Chiayi, and feed more baby lambs, goats and alpacas than we ever thought we would in our adult life.
I have learned that kids definitely deserve more credit as our travel partners and that their ideas are worth considering. Their contributions have made our trips all the richer. They have taught me that even “kids’ activities” can be fresh and fun for grown-ups too.
5. Simpler is Better
I used to be an over-packer until travelling with kids turned me into a minimalist by default. Kids demand a lot of attention, which means that everything else needs to be simplified, luggage included. Why spend more time folding, packing and keeping track of more socks than you need? Travel light, be resourceful with what you have, and remember that less is more.
The mantra, “simpler is better” reaches far beyond just “packing light.” It also means finding simple solutions, opting for simpler schedules, and maintaining a simple yet positive outlook because things can get chaotic quickly when you have little travellers under your wing.
6. Patience, Patience, Patience
The “go-go-go” mentality is not always compatible with kids. Their legs cannot walk at our pace. They dislike waiting in queues even more than we do. Their favourite question on buses, airplanes, and anytime, anywhere is, “Are we there yet?”
Again and again on our travels, I have to remind myself to be patient and answer their questions; to be patient when I’m queuing up with them; to be patient and walk at a slower pace. But along the way, a sort of transformation has taken place and I have mellowed out a bit. Plus, no longer rushing meant I got to experience some joyful perks (more ice cream breaks!).
As I take the time to savour seeing things through their perspective, I get to enjoy little moments and details that I would have otherwise missed. Had I been rushing, I would have missed the ice cream breaks.
7. Live in The Moment
Lastly, travelling with kids has taught me to live in the moment. It means embracing the occasional chaos and meltdowns (because young children will still get grumpy no matter if they are in Singapore or Rome). It means soaking up a new place alongside my loved ones and perhaps getting a bit lost along the way. It means savouring the closeness and intimacy of sleeping in one hotel room as a family. It means squeezing my husband’s hand when everything goes according to plan and when things do not go according to the plan, because we are a team and we have each other to count on.
Setting Yourself Up for Success when Travelling with Kids
From the moment you decide to travel with your young ones, it may feel like there’s an overwhelming number of decisions to tackle.
To start with, choosing the right destination to visit will go a long way to ensuring as smooth a journey as possible for the whole family! Family-friendly destinations should offer a blend of entertainment, education, and convenience, ensuring that the needs of both parents and children are looked after.
You can start small with family-friendly 3D2N short trips near Singapore or family-friendly weekend getaways, before moving on to more ambitious ideas like festive family-friendly Christmas getaways. If the grandparents have also caught the travel bug, you can even plan out a budget-friendly multi-gen family trip in Asia – with more hands on deck to help wrangle the little ones!
While travelling with kids can come with some challenges, it is also endlessly rewarding. With our kids depending on us, we buy travel insurance to make sure we are prepared for unexpected travel inconveniences.
As parents, we are responsible for our children, and this feeling is amplified even more when we travel. It is a huge stress-reliever to know that our family is covered for unforeseen travel hiccups, including unavoidable delays and loss of belongings. Travel insurance from Income Insurance gives us peace of mind during our family adventures, allowing us to truly live in the moment.
This article is meant purely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, recommendation, solicitation or advise to buy or sell any product(s). It should not be relied upon as financial advice. The precise terms, conditions and exclusions of any Income Insurance products mentioned are specified in their respective policy contracts. Please seek independent financial advice before making any decision.
These policies are protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact Income Insurance or visit the GIA/LIA or SDIC websites (www.gia.org.sg or www.lia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).
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