I Travel Globally with My Kids to Build Their Confidence—and Sense Of The World
My father worked for India’s national carrier. As a child, travelling was an integral part of my growing up years. In the late 80s and early 90s, going abroad, especially from a developing nation, was a matter of privilege. My father received travel passes as an employment benefit which afforded us an international holiday every other year. Travelling provided my brother and me with a sense of self-confidence and the ability to adapt to different cultures and environments. For this, I remain grateful to my parents who ensured that we travelled as much as possible.
Before the kids came along, my husband and I travelled widely, optimising every long weekend and bank holiday. So, when our first child was born, we were determined not to let that deter us, to not let our suitcases be forgotten. Our first born was on his first international flight at the age of merely four months. A nine hour flight at that. Our second born entered our lives just before the covid 19 pandemic commenced, pushing back his first flight to around eighteen months of age. This however was just the beginning.
So, why do I do this? Why do I take the trouble of travelling globally with two young children when I could have easily gone to the local park or tried my luck at a staycation?
Personally speaking, travelling as a child to globally diverse places provided me with skills for life - skills that I could not have acquired through reading books or watching videos. Global travel helped to build my confidence whilst also giving me insight into the world around me. I found it fascinating to observe new cultures - how people live, a glimpse into their everyday lives. And I want the same for my children because these lessons are invaluable. So, how does this confidence and a sense of the world come about through travelling? I have tried to capture this essence based on my personal experiences.
Being pushed out of one’s comfort zone
Travelling invariably pushes you out of your comfort zone. Right from navigating airport etiquette (standing in the queue to check) to travel norms (eating food during transit which may not be the most delicious) is all part of pushing you out of your comfort zone. To push your boundaries, to test your ability to step out of your comfort zone and adapt to change. This is even more true when you actually arrive at your destination and experience new cultures through food, language and so on.
Invoking a sense of curiosity
Travelling to a new place invokes a sense of deep curiosity, especially in a child. One of the privileges of childhood is a sense of wonder and travelling provides so many new experiences don’t you think?
New sights, new sounds, new smells, new tastes. A sensory adventure in a nutshell. All of this helps to increase the child’s curiosity. If a different language is spoken at the new global destination even better. I remember, as a child I would be entirely fascinated by new languages. I would seek out resources to help me learn and communicate basics in the local language. Today, I see my kids being intrigued by distinct sights and sounds and which they now associate with a particular travel destination. The sight of too many people on the roads? Mumbai they both shout out in excitement. Trams are associated with Berlin and snippets of our recollections of fond holidays become part of their reconstructed memory from when they were infants - “Banana that I ate in Croatia was the best” declares my now seven year old.
Reinforcing a sense of discipline
Travelling creates a sense of discipline and respect for time (your own and that of other people). Catching a flight on time means waking up on time, getting ready on time and reaching the airport on time. Missing the flight is a sore lesson, an expensive one at that. As a child, I remember being woken up at odd hours to catch a flight. However, the excitement and anticipation of travelling to a new place always made it entirely worth it. This sense of discipline was inevitably instilled in me and my brother. Even today, I am very disciplined when it comes to respecting time and I hope that through travelling my children too would appreciate time and its preciousness.
Accepting that there are different perspectives to living life
Travelling globally exposes you to new cultures and cuisines. It helps you appreciate new ways of living a life. It makes you realise that there are different perspectives and ways in which people live around the world. This may be due to where in the world they live and/ or the circumstances they contend with be it political, economic or social. Personally it has made me less judgemental and more open to accepting that there is no one right way of living your life.
Inculcating a sense of empathy
Finally, travelling to new places helps inculcate a sense of empathy. It encourages you to comprehend a new way of life whilst you try and adapt. And to be able to comprehend one must be able to empathise - with how people live in different places in relation to their circumstances. Empathy also comes into effect when travelling with copassengers by being mindful of their personal limitations e.g. offering to help a vulnerable individual with their baggage or being kind to parents travelling with a newborn.
In conclusion I am a firm believer in giving children experiences instead of things. After all, don’t we all treasure fond memories from our own childhood? Memories where we were involved in an experience rather than memories of things we received?
Written by Snehal Amembal
I am a freelance writer, editor and poet based in Surrey (UK). I currently freelance with Business Insider, Her View From Home and Motherly. I am also an Editorial Board member for Parkinson’s UK. My writing primarily reflects my motherhood journey, memories of my childhood and the essence of everyday moments.
I have authored three chapbooks, ‘Pause’, ‘I Am’ and ‘In Between Love' . My fourth poetry book ‘Magical Mundane’ and my debut memoir ‘PapaMa’s Portrait’ will be published in the latter half of 2025.
My work has appeared in anthologies as well as in literary zines. I worked as an Editor with Daily Life Magazine for 1.5 y 2020 - 2021). You can take a look at my work here https://linktr.ee/notessonthego
Finally, I am a Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) warrior and create awareness about the condition through my writing.
