Planning big trips with your kids—especially when they’re very young—can be controversial. I’ve often heard people push back against the idea, since “they’re too young to remember the trip.”
But my two daughters, Margot and Meredith, have already crisscrossed the globe with me, and they’ve been doing so since they were in diapers. In fact, my oldest Meredith will be able to check all seven continents off her travel list by the end of the year!
Traveling with my children is an absolute must for me, and one of the biggest reasons I started Meridian Miles—to help other families experience the thrills and wonders that this world has to offer, no matter how young (or old!) they may be. Here’s why I make travel such a central part of my children’s lives:
It opens their eyes—and hearts—to different perspectives.
This might have something to do with growing up in a small town myself, and now raising my daughters in a small, more rural area as well. But hopping on a flight and going somewhere new together shows them how big, vibrant, and diverse the world really is!
In fact, I love traveling with my children when they are still young, before prejudices have become engrained and they’re more open to accepting differences without a second thought. In Saudi Arabia, Margot saw women wearing abaya, long, flowing robe-like garments that kept them completely covered—not a sight you see often at home in Ocala, FL. I’ll never forget how she looked up at me and exclaimed, “I love their dresses!” It’s in moments like these that I see how traveling to places that are so different from our own home breeds kindness toward strangers who may not look and act just like us.
It teaches them resilience and flexibility.
Kids today are so regimented, so scheduled down to the minute—mine included! When you travel, however, you stray from your at-home routine, and it can be so rewarding to watch your children learn how to go with the flow. In London, we had made plans to go to a local playground—but the gloomy local weather made other plans for us. We switched things up and headed all the way across the city to an interactive art museum, for a different kind of play session. Learning how to pivot is a valuable skill, one you have to learn when you travel.
It leaves a different kind of legacy.
At home, Margot and Meredith’s playrooms are overflowing with toys—it’s all too easy to equate “giving your children the world” with buying them more things. But travel gives them something far richer: an experience. Through travel, they’re able to explore, discover, and deepen their bonds with the family we travel with. I see them experiencing moments of awe and wonder, and I know that those are the moments that will stick with them for life. And as lovely as new toys or outfits can be, these memories—and an insatiable spirit for adventure and unquenchable curiosity—are the treasures I’m more interested in passing down to my daughters.
It gives parents more confidence and sense of accomplishment.
The “traveling with kids” conversation often centers on the kids. Are they really getting something out of the experience? Will they even remember it? But one of the biggest reasons I love traveling with my daughters is because it has helped me grow immensely as a parent!
Travel in general, but especially traveling with kids, often puts you in hard, uncomfortable situations (if you’ve ever been on a red-eye flight with a two-year-old, you know what I’m talking about!). Navigating my way successfully through those situations has shown me how capable I really am. It’s given me a sense of pride and helped me trust myself more. Through travel, I know that no matter what life throws at me, I’ll be able to handle it—even with the kids in tow!
Ready to plan your next family journey? Let Meridian Miles bring it all to life for you. Learn more about our custom travel design services, or complete our brief trip inquiry form to get started now.
