The Cognitive Benefits Travel Brings to Children

Travel is not something that is often associated with younger children. For most parents, especially those with multiple children, traveling can be a hectic experience and a big decision. But experiences accumulated during early childhood, whether advantageous or adverse, contribute to the formation of one’s cognitive and social-emotional development even decades down the line. And whatever events occur in early childhood depend largely on their guardians.

For instance, enrolling in preschool early, allowing them to make friends with peers their age, or in this case – travelling, will have a profound effect on how their mind develops. Here’s how:

Travel Improves Self-Esteem

Besides receiving praise from parents and getting high grades in the classroom, travel is one of the ways in which self-esteem can be developed at a young age. According to a study by SYTA, 56% of students showed improved self-esteem as a profound and instant effect of a travel experience inside or outside the education system, which boosted their personal development. When kids see and feel that they have the capacity to navigate unfamiliar situations, they are more confident in tackling such things as they grow up.

Travel Encourages Independence

Children old enough to travel to and from school on their own are reported to experience a variety of mental health and developmental benefits. These benefits include improved independence, risk assessment, and wayfinding skills. Those who don’t often lose natural opportunities to explore the local neighbourhood, stippling cognitive development in the process. Encouraging children to attend field trips and summer camps are both great ways to slowly introduce them to independent travel.

Travel Brings About Brain Growth and Maturation

In understanding the positives travelling has on kids, researchers have also discovered that travel puts learning into context, therefore improving motivation to learn. Children who travel frequently end up developing higher ambitions to grow, learn, and explore the world. There are some lessons that only real-life experiences can teach, and travel is one of the most productive ways in which a child can learn through active engagement. Those who travel at a young age are also inclined to travel as they grow up, encouraging further growth.

Travel Creates Memories

One of the most significant motives for travel is the creation of many memories for families. But besides gaining happy thoughts to look back on, memory serves as a fundamental capacity that is important in societal and cognitive functioning. It’s essentially the basis for one’s sense of self, and what guides our incoming thoughts and decisions. In fact, research on infants and young children has made it clear that they can recall certain events – and even make long-term-like memories out of them.

Travel as a Physical Activity

A lot of parents steer clear of bringing children on their travels because tired kids make for pesky behaviours. But time and again, research has proven the link between physical activity and children’s overall cognitive development. Improvement in the latter could be attributed to structural and functional changes in the brain that rapidly develop during childhood. Aspects such as memory, inhibition, planning, and scheduling all benefit from physical activity, especially aerobic fitness.

Travel Improves Relationships

Whether you’re travelling across the country or overseas, it is still highly likely that your family will be exposed to other people and cultures. They may have to practice travel etiquette on planes, learn local phrases and customs, and be on their best behaviour for the family. Travel also broadens a child’s horizons and their perception of the world, and they may be able to gain new life perspectives at a young age! Tolerance and respectfulness for others will improve as a result.

Conclusion

Through travel, children enjoy learning and understanding different cultures, languages, and customs. This helps them become more flexible thinkers and better problem solvers in the future. Travel also helps children build confidence as they explore new places on their own, or with their beloved family. To learn more tips and tricks about travelling with family, check out the rest of our articles here at Club Hub!