Want to Give Your Children the World? Start By Inspiring Them to Explore It

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Whether you’re a child or an adult, traveling helps you experience new things and broaden your mind. And one of the best ways to instill a love of travel in your kids is to start early. That doesn’t mean that you have to take a trip every weekend, but you can create activities that will encourage your kids to explore the world on their own as adults.

 

And if you’re looking for ways to prioritize your time with them, you can even delve into these activities together. Keep reading for a few tips from the Museum of the City of San Francisco to help you accommodate your children’s unique personalities.

 

For the Dreamer

 

One of the best ways to inspire a dreamer child is to tell them stories about other cultures, both current and present. You can start at a young age with bedtime stories . In fact, bedtime stories are an excellent way to connect with your children, as this routine can allow you to spend quality time together. And while fantastic places in faraway kingdoms will captivate little minds, mythology is the way to go for older kids.

 

Virtually every culture and history has wild mythology showcasing magical beings that molded the world. From Norse to African to the better-known Greek and Egyptian mythologies, your tweens and teens will never get bored reading about beliefs from days long past.

 

For the Sports Lover

 

Kids who love sports are not destined to live their lives on a single court or field. While we tend to think that our home teams are the only way to go, the truth is that there are hundreds of sports teams in the United States. Of course, if your child isn’t particularly interested in mainstream sports, support their interest in other sports – maybe even sports from different countries! Teens, especially, may be interested in games like Italy’s Calcio storico or Senegalese wrestling , or even Brazilian jiu jitsu.

 

For the Foodie

 

Many children are skittish about trying new foods. But, if you’re the parent of a self-proclaimed foodie, you’ll find it very easy to excite them about travel. Let them take a look at different websites that discuss food in different cultures around the world.

 

You might also consider investing in a snack subscription (such as Universal Yums or Try Treats) that sends your child a handful of delicious foods from other countries, usually in a themed box. The subscription services also provide information about the country of origin. Similarly, don’t be shy about visiting cultural markets in your own city, as well as visiting restaurants with more exotic cuisine. Think Thai, Indian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Nigerian, British, Japanese, Venezuelan, Cuban … the options are endless.

 

If your child really shows interest in all things culinary, consider supporting them by opening a food-related business together . They could tackle food photography, start their own subscription-based snack company, make chocolate confections, teach cooking classes, or so much more!

 

For the History Buff

 

History is one of the few things in your children’s lives that won’t change. Many children find it interesting to go back and see how things were in days gone by. They are especially drawn to unusual stories about famous (and infamous) landmarks throughout the US and abroad.

 

You can search online for the coolest events and stories in history, and then talk to your child about how they would feel about visiting the locations in them in the future. You can also visit local history museums like the Museum of the City of San Francisco so that your children get a better understanding of how their own hometown was in generations past.

For the Adventurer

Some children are born adventurers. You can spot them easily by the bug catching nets and binoculars that they lug around with them in early childhood. These are the kids best suited to be free to explore the world in their own way. A simple solution here is to log them into Google Earth and visit anywhere in the world. You can also take them for their passport, which may excite them about the prospect of being able to leave the country. Keep in mind here that both parents must go with their child in person to apply.

 

For the Humanitarian

 

Sometimes, the littlest members of your family have the biggest hearts. These are the children who grow up to do missionary work and volunteer in locations where children don’t have the same opportunities as they do. Consider sponsoring a child from Africa, which you can do through the nonprofit World Vision . This is a great opportunity to discuss privilege and how the privilege of living in the Western world can bring about change for everyone.

 

You can also speak with local volunteer agencies – your church may already have an outreach group – so that your child can start planning their first humanitarian or mission trip, which often allows children between the ages of 14–18 to participate.

 

Support Their Passions

 

Simply coming alongside your child and asking them about their passions will help to cultivate their interest, but there are other things you can do, too. Join them on some of their adventures, whether it’s making a new recipe, fishing by the lake, or volunteering in your community. You can also set up a designated space in your home for their budding hobby. Not only does this choice show your support, but it can actually increase the value of your home.

 

Follow Your Own Dreams

 

Another way you can inspire your children to chase their dreams is by letting them see you pursue your own. Is there a hobby or business you’ve always wanted to start? What about going back to school? Involving them in the process is a great way to demonstrate your passion, whether that’s launching a side-hustle or choosing the right program to advance your education and give you an advantage over the competition. In addition to giving you the opportunity to show them what hard work looks like, you can also model critical thinking and research as you map out the course you want your life to take – then demonstrate flexibility, maturity, and humor if things don’t always go the way you want.

 

Show Your Child a World of Possibilities

 

The world is a big place. Unfortunately, most children only see a very small fraction of it. When you start from an early age, you can instill a love of travel and an open heart for adventure in all children. The above tips are just a few ideas based on common personalities. But, remember, the world is an open book, and you can turn to whatever page you want to give your kids the opportunities and inspiration they need to get excited about seeing it.