Educating Your Children While Traveling: 6 Key Tips to Know

Being a parent isn’t easy. One of the hardest parts of parenthood is teaching your children things you may have never been taught (or good at). The hardest time to teach a child is when you are traveling because the chances are their attention will be on other things. Still, just because something is difficult doesn’t mean you can’t make it work. This post’s intention is to help you navigate the complexities of mobile teaching, so you can be more confident when you are filling in for your child’s tutor.

Consider Homeschooling

Sometimes, parents find it difficult to communicate with their children. This is especially true when it comes to teaching them things. Beyond the basics like language and numbers, parents often struggle to teach their children. It can be especially challenging for parents to teach children who suffer from autism. You can arrange autism-friendly homeschooling for your child, which can benefit them tremendously. Autism-friendly homeschooling can make learning fun for your child. It can also make the information being taught to them more easily digestible. This kind of homeschooling is widely available and usually very affordable, making it accessible to families with restricted incomes.

Keeping a Diary

Keeping a diary is one way to teach your child while traveling. You can encourage them to write down their experiences, the things they see, and what they think of the places they have been. When you are a child, things move fast. It can be difficult for young people to take in and understand the entirety of what they are seeing, especially at important landmarks. Writing down their thoughts in a diary or journal gives your child somewhere to turn to when they want to reflect. It also makes it possible for them to go back and study what they have written, improving their understanding.

Maps and Geography

If you are traveling internationally, consider introducing your child to maps and geography. Introducing them to geography at a young age can be very beneficial for their academic performance. Geography is a topic a lot of people struggle to understand, mainly because they weren’t taught enough about it when they were young. Even basic introductions to geography like explaining where you are in the world to your child and showing them maps can have a positive effect on their intelligence and even IQ.

Encountering New Cultures

Traveling in a foreign country gives you an opportunity to introduce your child to new cultures. Rather than rushing through new cities and towns, stop and talk to people. Talking to people in the street will introduce your child to new languages, styles of dress, and people. This can boost their communication skills and make them more confident in daily life. In addition to introducing them to new people, consider taking them to cultural events. Attending cultural events and seminars, especially in foreign countries, can be especially beneficial.

History Talks

If you take your child to any historical landmarks, consider paying for a talk. There are usually tour guides standing outside of important historical places. You can ask one to teach your child about the history of the landmark. If this is not an option, Wikipedia is a great learning resource. Simply find the page dedicated to the place you are visiting and ask to read what you see to your child. Try to add some character to any ‘talks’ you give, i.e., talk about the exciting parts of the landmark’s history, so you can keep your child’s attention.

Practical Math

Practical math is always useful. A lot of young people today struggle with math. Teaching your child about practical mathematics, i.e., converting currencies and working out budgets, can be an extremely effective way to improve their performance in the subject. If your child is somebody who struggles with math, you may also benefit from hiring a tutor. Children who grow up intimidated or confused by math often run into problems when it comes time to manage their finances. A crash course in financial management can also be very helpful. Try to make lessons about math as understandable and digestible as you possibly can, so you don’t put your child off.

Natural Science

When you are traveling, you can teach your child about natural science. The chances are that if you are in a foreign country, you will encounter new animals, plants, and even weather types. Introducing your child to all of these things can improve their general intelligence and massively increase their chances of performing well in science. At the very least, they will be able to tell their teacher and other students about what they have learned. Each subject you introduce your child to is an opportunity for them to fall in love, so try to make everything you teach them as understandable and exciting as possible.

Reading Books

Reading books can improve your child’s intellect. However, it can be difficult to motivate children to read books. Some take naturally to books and others resist them. If your child is a natural reader, you should have no problem convincing them to read about the places that you are visiting. If they are more resistant, perhaps give them an audiobook to listen to. Alternatively, find pamphlets with short bursts of information. This can intrigue your child, but at the same time prevent them from becoming overwhelmed.

Being Creative

Creativity is a characteristic you should try to cultivate in your child. Being able to express oneself creatively is a massive gift. A good way to encourage your child to be creative when you are traveling is to give them a journal, as mentioned above. Alternatively, you can give them a set of pencils and a drawing book, which they can use to draw the things they see. Being able to draw is a great skill to have, even for people who don’t pursue careers as artists.

If you are traveling with your child, you will encounter various learning opportunities. Do everything you can to teach your child about these things. If you struggle with teaching your child yourself, you can always get in touch with a tutor and pay them to teach your child either at home or virtually.