Travel experiences are learning experiences. While preparing for a trip, we pick just a few simple ways to learn about the place before we go. This gives the new learning something to stick to!

There are many ways to prepare your kids for travel. It’s important to keep the learning fun and engaging. Here are our go-to favorites: Choice Cards, Art Activity, and Science Experiment.

Choice Cards

Choice Cards have become a go-to activity for our family. When preparing for a trip, we look through books, internet searches, and kid-friendly travel videos on YouTube. This gives a wide overview of what might be possible to see, do, or eat in our destination. From there I add the list of activities with a matching visual to our Choice Card template.

These can be used in a few different ways.

• Map the Itinerary: before the trip, sort the cards to places around a map. Create the route you plan to take.
• Flexible Itinerary: while on the trip, families can use the cards to make a plan for the day.
• Journaling: kids can add the cards to a journal entry and write about the experience.

As adults, we would likely do these processes internally or using a tool like Excel or Favorites on Google Maps. But for kids, the tangible card is more concrete. Our kids are learning how to prioritize and make decisions while traveling in a group. You’re going to make a plan that includes what your kids like to do anyway. Let them be a part of it!

Art Activity

There are so many reasons to learn about artists or styles connected to our destination. It’s not realistic to connect with them all- but for each trip, we prepare by doing at least one activity.

• While preparing for Colombia, we created roller cylinders like those used to apply ink patterns to fabric long ago.
• The Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe has a great scavenger hunt for kids. A month ahead of our visit, we created our own imitations and it made the experience even more interesting. Read about it here.
• Before going to Spain, we learned about Picasso and the patterns used by the Moors.

If I’m being honest, the very first consideration when picking an activity is a selfish one. In Amsterdam, the Van Gogh museum was a high priority for me. So for sure, we started with Van Gogh when picking art activities. The museum visit was such a joyful experience with our kids that it helped me see how powerful these activities can be.

After gathering a list of potential local artists or styles, I look up the place where we would see the work. Is it a museum that is kid-friendly? Are they likely to encounter the work in more than one place? Is it similar to something else they’ve learned about?

One of the simplest activities to plan is to imitate the work. This is something artists do as well. It helps you think about the artist’s process and technique. To dig a little deeper, you can ask what they notice about the 7 art elements the artist uses to see how the work is unique. Here’s an overview of the 7 art elements. Pinterest and museum websites can also provide ideas connected to a particular artist or style.

Science Experiment

Geology, Geography, Meteorology…if it has to do with science, our kids are all about it. They are curious about how and why things work the way they do. Science activities are a great way to observe what is unique about our destination and to understand what is important to the people who live there.

• Netherlands would be underwater if it weren’t for the continuous efforts of the Dutch working together.
• Geography and climate contribute to the olive oil industry’s success in Italy.
• People in Barcelona orient themselves and give directions using the geography “up towards the mountains” or “down by the sea”.

Think about what is unique about the climate and geography of the region. These have likely shaped the culture, food, and industries. Are there any unique engineering points of interest like aqueducts, bridges, dams, pyramids? Our kids have loved trying to recreate structures.

Preparing for Our Next Adventure: Ireland

There are many ways we get our kids ready for an upcoming trip. But this are our simple go-to combination: Choice Cards, an Art Activity, and a Science Experiment.

After looking through a few books about Ireland from the library, we made a list of what we might like to see, do, or eat. I used the list to create our Choice Cards. We have a general idea of our road trip route, but there’s flexibility in what we do each day. We can use the cards to make our daily plans.

Throughout our time in Ireland, we’ll see examples of Celtic artwork in the Book of Kells, signs, castles, crosses, etc. An art activity using the lines and patterns seems age-appropriate and it’s something they’ll recognize in many places. A quick internet search pulled up some paper-layering and drawing activities for simple Celtic Knots. Bingo!

One of the Ireland books mentioned that the bogs of Ireland create conditions that have preserved artifacts and bodies well. Archaeology is something the boys are interested in and this fact about preservation in bogs piqued their interest. For the science experiment, we’re going to simulate an archaeology dig with materials in different conditions (wet vs. dry) to see what seems to preserve better. We’ll see how this goes!

No matter what you choose, keep the learning light and fun. Our activities are typically 10-15 minutes. Model interest and curiosity in learning more about the place and people who live there. You may find this preparation leads to a deeper travel experience for you too!

Add a Comment: Which idea will you do in preparation for your next adventure?