5 travel lessons at home for kids

With over a month of shelter in place orders, a lot of us are starting to feel the Spring Fever a little more acutely.  Every couple of days we hear from some of you with the little guys at home, wondering what to do with them when it’s “stay at home”?  While this may seem like an odd thing to tell your travel advisor, it’s actually more along the lines of “since we can’t go anywhere for Spring Break, or, our trip was canceled, little Demon, er, I mean Dylan, is driving us nuts at home!”  But, since we are full-service travel advisors, we do take this to heart. And it’s with that in mind that we’ve put together 5 fun things (travel-related, of course!) you can do with the homeschool set!

1. Create your own Renaissance art until you can visit the Duomo, the David, the Sistine chapel! 

Use this link to learn about the Renaissance artists from the known to the unknown.  Then, have the kiddos lay on their backs, and draw a portrait from Michelangelo’s perspective!  It’s easy if you use the “underside” of a desk or table, tape a piece of paper to it and draw away.  Anything from a nature scene, to a family (or family pet) portrait, an imaginary place, or a favorite vacation spot!  Can’t come up with anything to draw? Check out Art for Kids Hub on YouTube for step-by-step instructions for all kinds of masterpieces.

2. Cook a new dish from a faraway land! 

Here’s a favorite (and EASY) https://downshiftology.com/recipes/3-minute-hummus/ that can be made with a food processor (or a Vitamix will make it uber smooth and creamy) and in any variation (from cauliflower to red pepper) your Instacart groceries will allow.  And while making it with the kids, maybe have them read one of these folk tales from the Middle East.  If sweets are more your thing, make Madeleines from France (shockingly simple and very delicious) and read aloud from one of the many Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans.  Really, online libraries and your cooking/baking skills are all you need - you can even give an impromptu math lesson when you need to double the cookie recipe!

3. Missing the museums and field trips? 

One of our favorite museums is the Met in New York City.  Did you know that our “west coast operative” Erin takes a group of 8th graders there every year, all the way from Southern California?  The Met also has a great virtual tour which you can find here, as part of their Met 360 Series.  For those kids old enough to enjoy reading on their own, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler (by EL Konigsburg) is an outstanding story of a brother and sister duo who run away to the Met, live there undetected, and in the process, become wrapped up in a mystery.  And really, who wouldn’t want to be locked down in that museum?!  

4. Introduce your kids to National Geographic.

National Geographic definitely is near and dear to our hearts. Our preferred supplier, G Adventures has worked with National Geographic to prepare some incredible destination immersive family tours that are anything but cookie cutter. We’d be happy to share a couple of their sample itineraries, if you’re looking for a way to use travel to teach history, culture and geography. But did you realize that National Geographic has a “kid” version of their website? Well, they do, and it is fantastic!.  Check out this link for kids of all ages.  There are videos on the US and Native American cultures, and interactive geography, history, and cultural activities and games for several countries all over the world.  

5. GET OUTSIDE! 

No, really! Don those masks and take a walk around your neighborhood.  Several cities across the nation have started “bear hunts” with stuffed animals displayed prominently in windows and on porches for kids to “hunt” and discover.  Plus, the fresh air will reinvigorate everyone and make the long hours inside much more “bear”able. And, you might discover new small business and local haunts to try when the quarantining ends and the adventuring begins again!

We get it’s definitely a strange time to be stuck at home: the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming (that sneezing you hear is allergies, we swear!), and there’s even a bunch of caterpillars making cocoons out on the porch.  All this sunshine and Springtime makes us want to get out and do that! But it’s important that we refrain, at least for a while longer. And regardless of whether it’s the kids in your house, or you, who needs a change in routine, hopefully, these activities can be a welcome distraction.  And after that, let your mind wander to all the wonderful places you want to see when this is a distant memory.

Update: And, if you’re just looking for something fun, check out our Vacation Coloring Book, which also has some puzzles and games, which might keep kids occupied for a bit. You can access the file here.