stigskog Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 We are about to go travelling for a year (or more) with our boys who are nearly 5 and nearly 3. There are a few things I want to do with them, but I am short of inspiration... or rather there is too much choice. So far some of things I would like to do/show them. - learn to swim , and find some nice fish - go on an indian train overnight in 2nd class - do a tour of north korea and also visit south korea - visit our suppliers factory (we import stuff from india, nepal and south america) - meet homeschool/worldschool families , especially in Ubud in Bali - see the giant redwoods in California - see the dinosaur bones place in Canada - Hawaii for the vulcanoes and the stars Like most boys they are interested in all sorts of vehicles. They also like pirates, monsters and mysteries. Volcanoes, Icebergs, stars. I'm looking for new ideas , so if you have some, please share with me !
shirgall Posted January 10, 2015 Posted January 10, 2015 Have you asked them what they'd like to do? What sort of history are they interested in? I did a lot of travel with my kids (I had the kind of job where we'd have a big international trip every year), and admittedly they had no idea until they got places what they'd be like. They were a little older than yours for most of our travel. 2
tasmlab Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 We did five weeks with our kids (age 3, 6, and 9) just visiting New England and it was exhausting. I can't even comprehend the list you've come up with. Not even considering the expense. Sorry, I don't have any ideas, but good luck and enjoy!
ribuck Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 Don't feel that you need to over-plan this. Children can find fun and adventure anywhere, if you have a loose enough schedule so that you can accommodate their needs and desires. Teaching them to swim is a great move, as beaches are a sure-fire hit with most children. Don't be surprised if they sometimes end up making sandcastles or chasing crabs or racing down sand-dunes instead of swimming. Beyond that - lots of outdoor time, and as much contact with other children as possible.
shirgall Posted January 12, 2015 Posted January 12, 2015 Don't feel that you need to over-plan this. Children can find fun and adventure anywhere, if you have a loose enough schedule so that you can accommodate their needs and desires. Teaching them to swim is a great move, as beaches are a sure-fire hit with most children. Don't be surprised if they sometimes end up making sandcastles or chasing crabs or racing down sand-dunes instead of swimming. Beyond that - lots of outdoor time, and as much contact with other children as possible. Indeed, went on a big cruise around the Caribbean, at 4 Ryan remembered the beach. This is a later shot... My recipe for success for vacations (especially travelling ones) is give them choices, let them pick something and live up to the choice, give a little time to explore, and don't cram the day full. 2
J. D. Stembal Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 My recipe for success for vacations (especially travelling ones) is give them choices, let them pick something and live up to the choice, give a little time to explore, and don't cram the day full. You are a parenting genius, but every day parenting should also be like this. I don't understand why parents don't get this. Kids are forced into schedules that are busier than most adults. Aside from public school, my brother (9) and sister (7) have Tae Kwon Do class at least twice a week, soccer league in the fall (brother), Language All-Stars - a program for exposing your children to conversation in many different languages, Chinese classes and tutoring, and my brother also plays the viola. At some point, my sister was doing dance or ballet, but I'm not sure if that's true any more. Then my dad laments to me about how he doesn't have enough money to send them to day camp during the summer. Apparently, it costs a child's weight in gold to attend the local day camp. I asked him how it was possible that all these activities were voluntary decisions by the children. He replied that besides the language lessons (and public school and the associated insane amounts of homework), every other activity the kids picked themselves. I find this difficult to believe, and on top of it, if one of the kids decides they don't want to go any more, he still forces them to go because of the investment involved for buying the requisite equipment. It sounds like a bait and switch parenting tactic that involves absolutely no negotiation after the initial choice is made. "Does hockey sound fun, Junior?" "Yeah, Dad, the players get the to skate around the ice rink so fast!" "Ok, we'll get the equipment used, so we can save some money in case you don't like the sport." ... "Dad, I don't want to play hockey any more." "Junior, you have to keep playing until you wear out or outgrow the equipment we bought. It's expensive!"
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