This summer, I road-tripped for 5 weeks with my children – ages 14, 12, and 6 – from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts and back. And I had so many people who thought I was crazy for doing it – “Super Mom” was what someone called me. Believe me my friends, I most certainly am not a supermom.
What I am is adventurous, eager to show my kids this amazing world. Personally, I traveled with my kids at every age (and will continue to do so). But here are a few reasons why I think traveling with tweens was a great age for this trip.
6 Reasons Why You Should Travel with Your Tweens:
Show Your Kids the World – The world has so many amazing experiences to offer. What’s most popular with kids this age? VIDEO GAMES. Whether it be the Smithsonian or Niagara Falls or the WWII Exhibit at the museum 20 minutes away, please do not pass up this opportunity to expand their minds. Believe me, my tweens lived without video games for over 6 weeks this summer – and they didn’t miss it a bit because their days were filled with their own real game of travel.
Open Their Eyes & Minds – I firmly believe that kids need to know that people live differently across the world. Traveling opens their eyes up to see that people live in different circumstances and lifestyles then they do and allows them to have appreciation for the environment they live in. Tweens are especially impressionable and it’s great to give them a sense of perspective before they become entitled teenagers.
Help them Develop & Explore new Interests – Exposing children to new things only peaks their curiosity about it. My son was fascinated with the story of the discovery of Sue the T-Rex in South Dakota when we visited the Field Museum in Chicago. For months he checked out books about dinosaurs, fossils, and archeology. We had discussions about it daily and all learned about it as a family. All because of a cross-country trip to an amazing museum.
Tween years are hard. This is a great opportunity to figure out some interests and determine what they like.
Best Way to Bond – What did we discover most this summer? That you get to really know your kids when you strip away all the outside commitments. Sports, dance, and other after-school activities pull you in different directions and take you away from each other. When you are traveling, there is a ton of one-on-one time, allowing you to focus on one other.
I can point to a dozen moments are I had such sweet conversations with my tweens on our road trips. These are moments that I will hold dear to me over the years. My hope is that my kids will too.
Most Adaptable Kids Ever – Traveling is never smooth. Planes are delayed, luggage is lost, and itineraries are not kept. Though it doesn’t seem so at the time, it’s actually great when things don’t go the way they were planned. Kids will learn a great deal of patience and responsibility thru travel. Of course that is if the parents model that behavior…..
Time is Fleeting – This my friends is the saddest reason to travel with your tweens. You see, before too long their friends are going to be WAY cooler than you and thus, your kids will not want to travel with you. Either that or they will be too committed to sports, clubs, or even a summer job that you will have to now work around to travel with them.
When I decided to take the road trip this summer, I knew that my oldest would soon have busy summers with the sport commitments she has. And with 4 summers left until she heads to college, I selfishly wanted this time with her and my boys. Looking back, I couldn’t imagine a better time to take them on this trip.
So I encourage you to take these 5 reasons and plan that trip with your tweens NOW. Sit down with them tonight and brainstorm where to go. Get their input and let them help you plan it. Make it a trip of a lifetime – one that you all will remember!
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Travel Guard® insurance from AIG Travel. All opinions are my own.
