{"id":50554,"date":"2019-12-30T10:23:02","date_gmt":"2019-12-30T18:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=50554"},"modified":"2019-12-30T10:23:02","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T18:23:02","slug":"new-cultures-new-experiences-4-ways-to-keep-kids-learning-while-travelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/new-cultures-new-experiences-4-ways-to-keep-kids-learning-while-travelling\/","title":{"rendered":"New cultures, new experiences: 4 ways to keep kids learning while travelling"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The school year is over and holidays are upon us. But that doesn\u2019t mean your children\u2019s learning experiences can\u2019t continue.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning an overseas trip with your family, you\u2019re in for many benefits. Research shows travel has a\u00a0positive impact<\/a>\u00a0on mental and physical health, and family relationships.<\/p>\n

Travel is also an\u00a0educational opportunity<\/a>. It\u2019s a rich experience seeing different parts of the world and understanding other cultures. And there are several things you can do to support your children\u2019s learning.<\/p>\n

How travel educates<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The way children learn while travelling is in many respects comparable to what educational researchers call\u00a0play-based learning<\/a>. Play-based learning and\u00a0travel stimulate children\u2019s minds<\/a>\u00a0by boosting their creativity and imagination. Both can also help develop social and emotional skills and encourage language development.<\/p>\n

Travelling exposes children to new scenarios and problems to solve \u2013 such as following a certain route on a map. They explore new food, encounter people communicating in a different language, notice cars driving on the opposite side of the road and billboards showcasing products they have not seen before.<\/p>\n

All of their senses are challenged as they go through these new experiences.<\/p>\n

New experiences can provoke some anxiety, which is what sociologist and education professor Jack Mezirow refers to as\u00a0disorientating dilemmas<\/a>. He argues such dilemmas are the first step to\u00a0transformative learning<\/a>, where the learner\u2019s existing assumptions are challenged and beliefs transformed.<\/p>\n

Although Mezirow often associates transformation with elements of life crises,\u00a0others<\/a>\u00a0suggest transformative learning can happen in different contexts, most notably travel.<\/p>\n

But transformative learning usually comes at an emotional cost, such as a\u00a0change of routine<\/a>\u00a0which can lead to mixed emotions, especially for children. This is why travelling as a family provides a buffer, as it often promotes a safe environment.<\/p>\n

What you can do<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Some of\u00a0the richest learning<\/a>, for a child, can be disguised as exploration and adventure. Parents can maximise such learning during travel by subtly incorporating\u00a0intentional teaching<\/a>\u00a0to the experience, just as educators do in play-based learning scenarios.<\/p>\n

Here are some ways to do this.<\/p>\n

1. Do some pre-reading about the destination<\/strong><\/p>\n

This will help you identify where and how learning might occur. You might also engage your children in this. Say you\u2019re going on a cruise to the South Pacific. Prior to departing you might look at a map of the Pacific with your children to identify the various islands located in this part of the world.<\/p>\n

You could also encourage your children to discover the special landmarks of different places using\u00a0Google Earth<\/a>. Such activities will support the development of your children\u2019s\u00a0prediction<\/a>\u00a0skills. This helps children anticipate future experiences which increases their intellectual involvement with them.<\/p>\n

Educational research<\/a>\u00a0has shown the act of predicting strengthens connections between children\u2019s new knowledge and their existing understanding of the world.<\/p>\n

2. Learn some of the language together<\/strong><\/p>\n

Learning even a little of the local\u00a0language<\/a>\u00a0will open up aspects of the culture you may not have otherwise experienced.<\/p>\n

Together with your children, you can start learning the basics of the new language by downloading some\u00a0interactive language apps<\/a>. Another fun way to expand your vocabulary and improve your pronunciation is by singing songs in the target language.<\/p>\n

Knowing a bit of the local language is a demonstration of respect which means people are more likely to open up to you, further supporting learning opportunities.<\/p>\n

3. Model an inquiring mind<\/strong><\/p>\n

By asking and responding to\u00a0questions<\/a>\u00a0with your children, you\u2019re encouraging new knowledge and helping them engage in critical and creative thinking.<\/p>\n

For example, when you are walking down the street of the city you are visiting, encourage your children to take notice of what is going on around them and engage in\u00a0open-ended questions<\/a>\u00a0such as:<\/p>\n