When you are a family that loves roaming around different countries to see what it has to offer, there can be some dangers. By teaching your child about the potential hazards that come with travelling, you can equip them with some good life skills that they can take into adulthood, especially
if they plan to continue travelling independently. While there is a lot you can learn when exploring, you need to keep in mind the ways you can keep
each other safe. A poor or impulsive decision can lead to getting lost or injured during the trip, which can hamper your experience and even cause you to feel wary about taking future trips. Here’s what I’ll be teaching Jolie as she gets older.
Being Sensible with Money
For your child to be able to enjoy their trip, they will need to be able to properly fund it. Paying for any flights or other transportation, as well as accommodation and meals, all comes at a cost. By getting into the habit of sharing your saving tips with your children, and showing them how to invest money, they will be better equipped for saving in the future. You can also support this saving with a child stocks and shares ISA, which will allow you to put money aside or even invest some of their pocket money in an account which will become accessible to them when they turn 18.
Sticking to the Path
Adventures can be fun while travelling, but veering too far in an unknown place can lead to trouble. Some areas can be exceptionally easy to get lost in, whether urban or rural, which can cause panic and anxiety. Likewise, some paths must be adhered to, especially if you want to avoid injury. This
can be more common when hiking through wildlands and mountainous hiking regions, where traversing off the path can lead to trips and falls.
Alongside this, straying from designated routes can also cause damage and disruption to local wildlife, and may also see you get in trouble with rangers, police, or others who wish for the land to remain undisturbed. Some land may also be privately owned, so it is vital that you stick to routes
that avoid trespassing.
Check-in
Whether you have been travelling for 1 year or 20, frequently getting in touch with loved ones at home can be a good way of alerting people to your whereabouts and safety. Knowledge of your planned itinerary can also prove to be crucial should you get lost. While you want your child to be independent, calls on a regular basis can also be useful if they find
they are missing home, or even if they need help. One thing that you want your child to understand is that no matter what age they are, they can still call you should they need support, such as if their money gets stolen. This is also why they should keep their phone charged at all times, and avoid
using it constantly when out and about, in case of emergency. Allowing your child to grow up to be independent, and have a love of exploring, can be a wonderful thing. By teaching them the means of staying safe when looking around their destination, they will be able to be more confident, while doing all they can to keep themselves from harm.
Aways Wear spf
This is a biggie. I used to be so rubbish with sun protection but it’s something I’m now all about, even on cloudy days. Always pack suncream in your hand luggage (under 100ml of course) along with any other essentials, this way you can stay safe in the sun from the minute you land. I always pack a bikini, mini SPF, eyedrops, contact lenses and Auris Ear Care (anyone else prone to ear infections from hotel swimming pools?) so I can go straight to the pool or beach if the hotel room isn’t ready.
What advise would you give your child about travelling?
*This was a collaborative post.
