Why You Should Travel with Your Kids (& Tips to Make it Easier)

Aubrey DeJesus • March 10, 2025

Traveling is hard. Traveling with kids is even harder. Between trying to pack in sites and activities, you’re also juggling nap times and the unpredictability of children and their attitudes.

Is traveling with kids really worth the extra mental and physical work it will take? Short answer: YES; and here’s why:


When older, children often remember trips more vividly than their everyday activities growing up. Because trips are out-of-the-ordinary and often include fun and exciting activities, they leave a lasting impression on their developing minds much more deeply. Even if they can’t remember every detail of the trips you take together, they’re definitely remembering a lot from them. 


Traveling encourages cognitive development. Navigating new places and experiences encourages adaptability in children. While it is understood that children thrive under routines and predictability, life isn’t always predictable. Traveling helps children learn to go with the flow of the day, pivot when plans don’t work out, and learn to live in the moment and appreciate experiences. This is a critical skill to have as an adult, and traveling helps hone that skill. 


It creates cultural empathy. Entering into new environments and cultures not only exposes children to new people, places, and cultures, it also helps them develop an appreciation for those people, places, and cultures. It broadens their perspective, allowing them to better understand and have respect for those who are different than they are. Plus, they get to practice gratitude for what they have, and appreciation for God’s beautiful creation. 


Traveling helps strengthen family bonds. Having shared experiences with parents and siblings is so vital to the strength of the family. Not only through the shared experiences, but also through the shared memories. 


Now that we know why we should travel with our kids, how do we make it easier for all of us?


Manage your expectations and plan wisely. When my husband and I are able to travel without the kids (because that’s important, too), our trips always look different than when we travel with our kids. We are able to pack in a lot more activities, and usually they are much more physically demanding. When you are traveling with your children, keep your expectations low. Make plans for your trip, but be okay if you’re not able to get to them all. Include activities that won’t exhaust everyone, and don’t overplan every minute of your days. Try to hang out at the hotel pool, or visit a local park. Some of your activities might even be nixed because your baby needs an extra nap, or the kids are just not feeling it. 


Traveling can be overwhelming for kids, so they can be a little more difficult, and that’s normal. Be patient and understanding, and be aware of what they’re able to handle. Don’t let your unmet expectations steal the joy from your trip. Remember that you set the tone for the trip, so keep the enthusiasm high (even if you have to fake it till you make it). 


Utilize their help when planning.

One way to keep your kids excited and interested in the trip is to give them some ownership within the trip. Before the trip, help your kids research things to see or do at your destination and let them help you pick some of the activities or sites. While on the trip, choose a few options for breakfast/lunch/dinner and ask your kids their opinion. If they feel like every aspect of the trip is already planned and they don’t have a say, they’re more likely to complain or be less enthusiastic about what you end up doing. 


Bring some comforts of home AND new surprises.

Traveling requires strategic planning when it comes to packing. When we travel, each of our kids gets their own small backpack with their own snacks, books, and a few small toys. Since traveling can be overwhelming, including a favorite stuffed animal or blanket can bring a sense of comfort when everything seems too loud and strange. However, I also like to buy a small new toy/stickers/snack/book to bring a little excitement and something special to each particular trip. 


As Spring Break and Summer quickly approach, hopefully these tips will not only encourage you to take a family trip together, but also make it a little bit easier for all of you.

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