A child psychologist warned that frequent travels with kids, particularly in other countries, are not beneficial to their mental health. Dr. Oliver James said that parents' belief that constant exposure to different cultures, places and experiences contribute to their education is wrong.
Consistency and Repetition vs. Impracticality
Dr. James said that for small children, consistency and repetition are the keys to their mental development, according to News. Consistency can help when kids are small, so vacations that are home-based are what they want. Holidays in the same location year after year will be most enjoyed by kids. They respond to and enjoy adventures on the same locations rather than traveling to new places.
The rationale behind this, as explained by the cognitive health expert, is that children are pleased by simple things until they become teenagers. It's not only impractical but dangerous to bring them to foreign destinations no matter how magical and amazing those places are. Impractical in the sense that they pay full plane fares, accommodations and other expenses for their travel. In the end, they do not enjoy and become mentally tired.
Building Happy Memories Through Constant Places
Dr. James also explained that kids can get attached to one place which they will like. Their happiest moments can be experienced on the same park, the same rides, and the same foods. He elaborated that children are exposed to more than enough new stimuli on a daily basis, so visiting new vacation destinations regularly could give them mental stress. Familiar destinations can provide the most stable events in the life of the millennial kids.
Involving Kids in Planning Vacations
The Wall Street Journal advised that if the kids are brought to vacations, it is best to involve them in the planning, especially on the possible activities, but with restraint when it comes to control. In the planning stage, they learn to express what they want, listen to others decisions and make compromises to arrive at a common decision.
It can also become a practical school of learning about life. For instance, they can learn how to deal if things do not turn out right based on their decisions. They can also learn to respond in the face of the circumstances.
