Whether you're lounging on the coast or touring European museums, Bella Patel,associate director of the primary school at Laurel School, reveals how you can turn your family vacation into a learning experience for your little ones.
Play trip planner: Forget spending money on a travel agent, let your kids research activities for your family vacation. “If you hand them a tour book, they are learning how to take the information in the tour book and give it back to their family in a way that is useful,” Patel says. “They are practicing their reading and decision-making skills and evaluating what options are the most important for their family and their situation.”
Make them the navigator: Let your kids be the navigator and create a path to get to the restaurant for dinner. “It is great for kids to use their skills to help you get around. This way they can feel like they are in charge,” advises Patel. “And they learn how use the maps, which is a hidden benefit, navigating new streets and new towns.”
Write postcards: Keep grandma and grandpa happy by taking a few minutes to let the kids send a postcard. “Postcards are always a great way to practice their writing skills but also to be processing what they are enjoying and putting it into their memory,” says Patel.
