TRAVEL + LEISURE / MARCH 2016
FROM TOP: AFP/STRINGER/GETTYIMAGES; TORU YAMANAKA/GETTYIMAGES10 Questions
Every Holiday-Planning
Parent Should Ask
Insteadoffocusingsolelyontheusualbucket-listdestinations,
considerwhichplacesandactivitiesmightbenefityourkidsand
enrichtheirlives.HereareafewquestionsIaskmyselfwhen
evaluatingtripideas.BY RAINER JENNS
FAMILY TRAVEL
Q Which destinations will
strengthen our connections
to wildlife and nature?
Love for animals is a common
denominator among kids the
world over. Going to a zoo or
an aquarium is a great start,
and you can further it by hiking
in a national park, exploring
a rainforest, or snorkeling at
an island.
Q What activities will spark
their curiosity?
Travel is a great way to release
a child’s natural sense of
curiosity. Sometimes it’s as
simple as trying new foods.
You might not think your child
will like sushi, love astronomy,
or want to see a musical—but
they’ll never know unless you
let them try.
Q What kind of trip brings
the family closer?
Given our busy work and
school schedules, try to make
it a priority to spend vacations
in each other’s company. The
hotel kids' clubs might be a
nice reprieve for parents of
preschoolers, but when the
children get older, allow them to
help plan your holidays. It’s one
way to ensure they’ll be excited
to spend time with you.Q What activities enhance
the kids’ education?
Before you fi nalise plans for
your next family vacation,
take a look at your child’s
curriculum for some trip ideas.
Will they be taking American
history? Learning about
volcanoes in science class?
Studying Greek mythology?
How about a language course?
Not only will your trip be more
interesting for the kids, it will
reinforce what they’re learning
in school.Q How can the trip
promote self-discovery?
Travelling can be just as
much an inward journey as
an external one. Sometimes
travelling allows children toexplore their interests with peer
pressure. Perhaps they’ll learn
new forms of self-expression
or become more self-confident.
Kids (and their parents) can also
learn a lot about themselves
by visiting a house of worship
different from their own.Q Will we meet new people?
Chances are, when you travel
asa family you’ll cross paths
with like-minded people who
enjoy the same places and
activities as you do. So don’t be
surprised if you return fromyour next family vacation with
lasting friendships with some
of the people you met while
travelling.Q Isthe itinerary/
destination safe for kids?
Don’t feel comfortable planning
everything yourself and making
your own arrangements? Not
sure if a place is child-friendly?
Tour operators are a great
way to ensure everything is
safe, and handled for you. And
remember that everyone has
their own threshold, so make
sure to respect it.Q Willthekidshavefun?
Warning: The term 'family
friendly' can be limiting.
If you’re planning a holiday
that includes children, do you
consider only the options that
are kid appropriate? Conversely,
if you’re on a trip sans little ones,
do you instinctively avoid doing
anything with this label?
The truth is, unless you
absolutely refuse to be in the
company of anyone under
the age of 18, family-friendly
activities can be the highlight of
anyone’s vacation, whether you
have children or not.WHERE CAN WE
EXPOSE OUR KIDS TO
NEW CULTURES AND
PERSPECTIVES?
Travel is the gateway
to understanding the
world—and all that’s in
it. Just remember that
gaining new insights
and appreciation for
different cultures doesn’t
necessarily require
leaving the country. Want
to learn a little about
Chinese traditions? Head
to a Chinese New Year
Parade in Chinatown.WHERE CAN WE LEARN NEW LIFE SKILLS?
Skiing in Gulmarg; horseback riding in Ladakh;
making origami art in Japan; taking pictures of
elephants in Kenya—family vacations are a great way
to try new things, and you never know what might
spark an interest in a new hobby.