This post is part of the Multicultural Kid Bloggers book club. Each week, a different blogger will focus on a different chapter of Bill Richards and Ashley Steel’s book ‘Family on the loose: the art of traveling with kids’. I really enjoyed being part of the first MKB book club in which we read Ana Flores and Roxana Soto’s ‘Bilingual is Bettter’, and especially having the opportunity to interview Ana Flores. If you want to see more information on the book club and how you can get involved, please click here.
Chapters 1 and 2 of Bill Richards and Ashley Steel’s Family on the loose: the art of travelling with kids
The photo below is of me with parents just before we flew from Edinburgh to California in 1982 at the start of a year that we spent living in San Jose. I was a few months short of my third birthday and it was my first big trip overseas. I’ve always really liked travelling and exploring new countries and have been lucky enough to have traveled to quite a lot of different countries here in Europe in the last ten years. In September 2012, my wife and I went to Brittany in France with our baby son for what was our first family holiday. I should perhaps have read Bill Richards and Ashley Steel’s book before going as the first few chapters have already convinced me that it’ll be really useful when it comes to planning future trips. Their blog, also called Family on the Loose, is a great source of stories, tips and information for anyone with kids who’s interested in travel.
Right from the introduction to Family on the loose, I loved the way the book discussed not just how to travel with kids but also why. Here is one of the reasons for travelling as a family that I thought sounded particularly inspiring:
‘Travel is also a fabulous way to develop your family’s unique sense of shared values. As you explore other cultures and compare them to home, you will all learn more about yourselves and each other.’ (page 2)
Before getting married and becoming a parent, I had already realised that travel often involved me learning about myself through what I enjoyed most and what I enjoyed less. When I returned to the UK in 2004 after having spent three of the previous four years in France, I constantly found myself thinking about things in my own country in a different light. I look forward to seeing if we, as a family, will go through the sort of process outlined above after a few more trips.
Among the aspects of travel that I have always enjoyed are the ways that it leads to an exciting range of new sights and experiences which broaden the mind. At the start of the first chapter, the authors conveyed this vividly by beginning with a quotation from Gandhi:
‘I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible’ (page 7)
These words were a prelude for the way that the authors discussed the ways in which to expose kids to foreign cultures and customs (e.g. food, films, crafts) at home before and after going abroad in the second chapter, which was appropriately entitled ‘Sowing seeds of enthusiasm’. The first chapter (Scoping the journey) also pointed towards ways of making kids excited about travelling by seeing it as an activity which should be planned with kids and not just for kids. This sounded like a good way of empowering children and making them aware of the sorts of choices that travelling involves and also the consequences of these choices.
The opening chapter (Scoping the journey) was full of useful pointers for people unused to travelling with kids. These included both general principles and more specific tips on issues such as accommodation, transport and budgeting. The chapter concluded with some helpful timelines for planning trips abroad. I really enjoyed the way that the second chapter (Sowing seeds of enthusiasm) discussed ways of starting the holiday fun before the holiday by fun things like trying out food that is associated with where you are going and doing craft activities that have a link with your destination.
What I thought was particularly good about the authors’ pre-travel tips from chapter two is that they seemed to be geared towards providing kids with a greater understanding of the culture and traditions of where they travel. It seems like a good way of encouraging them to see foreign lands as a lot more than some sort of large exotic theme park, and I think that this is really important. As someone who has taught foreign languages for over ten years, I was delighted to see the authors suggest that it’s a good idea to encourage kids to learn some simple expressions in the language(s) of the places they are going to explore on holiday.
Having read and enjoyed the first two chapters of Family on the loose, I am very keen to see what the rest of the book has in store. Indeed, this almost mirrors the way in which I am already looking forward to more family travels as our son gets older.
I’d love to hear what you think of what I’ve said about Bill Richards and Ashley Steel’s book, and also travel in general. Here are some questions that you might want to discuss in the comments section below this post or on the Multicultural Kid Blogs Facebook or Google+ threads:
– What do you see as the most important things to do before going on holiday with kids?
– To what extent do you try to involve your kids in planning a trip abroad?
– What aspects of travel do your kids get most excited about?
If you’re interested in the topics that I’ve discussed in this blog post, here are three things that you can do:
– Share your ideas in the Multicultural Kid Blogs Google + Community.
– Link up your travel stories on Multicultural Kid Blogs.
– Follow the Travel with Kids Board on Pinterest.
Over the next few weeks, a series of fellow bloggers will be hosting discussions of the subsequent chapters of Family on the loose. Here’s the schedule:
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Chapter 3: Discovering The World Through My Son’s Eyes – Jan. 16
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Chapter 4: Kids Yoga Stories – Jan. 23
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Chapter 5: MarocMama – Jan. 30
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Chapter 6: Spanglish House – Feb. 6
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Chapter 7: Spanish Playground – Feb.13
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Chapter 8: The European Mama – Feb. 20
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Chapter 9: Kid World Citizen – Feb. 27
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Q & A with Ashley Steel: Chasing the Donkey – March 6
journalofabilingualfamily
Jan 09, 2014 @ 19:14:16
Thank you for this great post that described many of the things that I love about this book as well (which I really hope we had had before our big trip to the US last summer!).
Before we go on a trip I like to familiarize the children with the place we’re going to and the culture there. As I love books I always get books that are written for children about our destination (for example, I love the series “graines de voyageurs” in French, and the “Not for parents” books on different cities by Lonely Planet). We read them, look up stuff on the Internet, try to watch films or documentaries that are relevant. We parents usually book the flights and the accommodation (although I’ve noticed that the teen is very happy to give her opinion on the hotel…), but involve the kids when it comes to our program there. They get to both pick things they’d like to do based on what they’ve read in the books and then we throw in a few surprises (like a Harry Potter studio tour for our Potter fan in February – I’m so excited and have to bite my tongue not to tell her as it’s her birthday present!!). Not sure what our kids are the most excited about on trips, taking pictures of new things with their own small cameras (shock proof!) and if there’s water (except rain), that’s always a big hit. I think they really enjoy the fact that the whole family spends time together and explores new things and places.
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:27:39
Thanks for commenting and sharing your experiences, I’ve really enjoyed heating from parents who’ve travelled with their kids since writing this post.
kidworldcitizen
Feb 28, 2014 @ 12:42:37
I love the “journalofabilingualfamily” comment- we also do some learning before we go through books or a movie so that the kids can understand a bit more before we arrive. For example, for spring break we’re heading to New Mexico and will be visiting some of the American Indian pueblos. The structures of the houses are cool themselves, but learning a bit about the culture before we go will help us keep an eye out for some of the folktales we’ve read and references to food and cultural symbols.
We did this before traveling in the Yucatan, and I think it made the trip more exciting. The kids would be hiking around the Mayan ruins and they would recognize “ooh, there’s chac the rain god like in the book!”
I also always have them pack their own little bags with toys/books/crayons so that they are “in charge” of their things (plus with 4 kids, that less for me to worry about:).
familyo8
Jan 10, 2014 @ 02:06:54
Thanks for this great post – the funnest part for me was reading (and seeing pictures) about your travel adventures. I was also fascinated to hear which parts resonated with you. Of course, no one can do everything perfectly before every trip but I really enjoy hearing how others prepare.
I was particularly glad to hear that you found something interesting in Chapter 1. We tried to start the book with a juicer topic but eventually we decided to simply start at the beginning. All trips start with an idea and logistics. Those logistics are so important but they are dry compared to the cultural preparation and all the fun of exploring a new place.
In full disclosure, we just got back from a 2.5 week trip to Thailand (mostly) with a few days in Taipei. About a week into it, we said, “could you point to a map and show me where we are?” Sigh …. No idea! The kids are older now so I just took it for granted that they knew (and cared) where exactly we were going. I also forgot to explain Buddhism (or refresh it). In some funny way, as they are older and busier, it’s harder to get their attention for trip planning.
As they get older however, there are some new bonuses. First, the family time (as Journal of a Bilingual Family mentioned) is even more precious. My teen sometimes doesn’t give me the time of day but when we’re all crammed into the back of a disco tuk-tuk, it’s pretty easy to feel “togetherness.” Second, my oldest is taking photography in high school. She doesn’t particularly love it but she used that hook to finagle the camera at every stop. This trip, taking pictures engaged her even more than when she was young. She has a fresh eye and took pictures I never would have taken. Fantastic to watch that development. Third, after all our harping on language and engagement, the kids really are contentious and considerate travelers. They learned enough Thai to order ice tea for themselves; they understood that they needed to respond in Thai to simple questions; they were willing to dress respectfully; and they were capable of understanding that the values and customs of other people are different from our own yet wonderful. My kids were mostly frustrated with other disrespectful tourists. Makes a parent proud! I loved your line “encouraging [kids] to see foreign lands as a lot more than some sort of large exotic theme park.” So many visitors to Thailand treat it just that way and it is exasperating! I plan to use your analogy for a long time to come.
Thanks again! Safe & happy travels!
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:24:10
Thanks for your comments, I’m delighted to hear that you liked this post. As we’re only just starting out when it comes to travelling with kids, it’s been great to read your book and hear from others who have lots of experience of travelling with kids.
jennifer Brunk
Jan 10, 2014 @ 03:26:34
What a great post! I agree that travel makes you see your own country differently. I have also found that traveling with my children I see things through their eyes, with a different perspective than I would have had if they weren’t along. That perspective changes with different ages, and I love the insights they give me or the way they confirm what I am thinking.
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:21:05
Thank you for sharing that. I’ve loved hearing about other people’s experiences of travelling with kids since writing this post.
Leanna Alldonemonkey
Jan 10, 2014 @ 07:11:47
I love your family picture! I had no idea you spent time out here in California! I love the quote you picked about creating shared family values. That really resonated with me as well. Great post, thank you!
Jonathan
Jan 10, 2014 @ 10:59:58
Thanks Leanna. I lived with my parents in California for a year (1982-3) as my dad spent a sabbatical teaching at the University of Santa Clara. We lived in San Jose and I spent a year in kindergarten there at a place called ‘Mulberrry Pre-school’. My dad still has a very 1980s Mulberry pre-school t-shirt that he sometimes wears when he goes out running.
Anne Stone
Jan 10, 2014 @ 11:06:32
That sounds like a really good book, I’ll have to go and read the other reviews now. sharing some #PoCoLo
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:19:32
It’s well worth reading if you’ve got kids and like travelling.
Dean B
Jan 10, 2014 @ 11:23:28
Sounds really interesting! We hope to travel more and expose our 3-year old to different cultures too, although she kinda knows about that since I’m Filipino and my husband is British & we travel a lot between both countries, so she’s exposed to that 🙂 And I also explain to her the difference between her two countries and she also knows a bit of our language too, so that’s nice. I’m hoping to be able to teach her more. #PoCoLo.
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:18:51
Thanks for sharing that. It’s great that it’s. All possible to expose kids to different cultures at home without travelling.
Cordelia Newlin de Rojas
Jan 10, 2014 @ 12:52:38
My top tip from a post I wrote after a long journey alone with 2 little girls by plane and car us having the kids pack their own carry on/ toy bags. That way, when they whine “Mamannnnnnnn where is x, y, z toy” I just remind them they packed their own bag so if they didn’t bring it, they must not have wanted it with them that much. It has worked brilliantly on a number of trips!
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:17:25
Thanks for sharing that tip, it sounds like a really good one.
JDaniel4's Mom
Jan 11, 2014 @ 11:31:01
We haven’t traveled much. This post has inspired me. We need to travel more.
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:14:30
Thanks for sharing that, the book’s made me want to travel more ad well.
Chasing the Donkey
Jan 11, 2014 @ 17:58:20
I’m feeling even more great about this book now!
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:13:23
It’s certainly made me exciting about travelling more as a family.
discoveringtheworldthroughmysonseyes
Jan 11, 2014 @ 23:28:54
Little one has traveled quite a few times, but it wasn’t until he got a bit older that he understood the scope of what we were doing. He’s 5 yrs. old now. Playing with his toy plane, and showing him on the globe where we were flying to has been the most exciting part of the trip! It kept him focus on our great big adventure trip! 🙂 Jonathan this is a great introduction post to this month’s book club! Thanks!
Jonathan
Jan 11, 2014 @ 23:33:59
Thank you so much for your comments. As the dad of a nine month old, I’ve loved hearing these sorts of stories from people with older children who have a bit more experience of travelling.
Chasing the Donkey
Jan 12, 2014 @ 07:23:29
I’m really looking forward to the rest of this book. Thanks for linking up with us this week.
Jonathan
Jan 12, 2014 @ 11:11:44
You’re welcome!
Victoria Welton (@VicWelton)
Jan 12, 2014 @ 18:20:49
Now Grace is older it is much easier to involve her in the travel plans – we tend to sit down at the start of a holiday and decide which places we want to visit. This sounds like an interesting book. Thank you for linking to PoCoLo 🙂
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