Are children missing out if they’ve been abroad?

[Shopperami]

Are children missing out if they’ve never been abroad?

This travel broadens the mind issue is true if you are broad minded in the first place.

I have known seasoned expats to be closed/narrow minded bigots.

Shocking I know.

So don't fall under this pressure that you have to have your kids travel from a young age. Exposure is always good but not the end of the world if they cannot

Thanks for all the replies.

I have known seasoned expats to be closed/narrow minded bigots.

True, some expat communities are v. "enclosed," barely integrated into the local community. I think that's weird, why bother moving to a new place if you're not interested in the culture/language?!

@Shopperami

So no point to an all inclusive beach holiday then? As they could be anywhere?

Basically, unless you’re going for the guaranteed sun. Plus I’ve heard that the kid’s swimming skills improve massively on a holiday like this.

But they learn very little about the country, culture. You could be in any country

Rubbish we've been to all inclusive resorts all over the world. We still go out and visit museums, temples, archaeological sites, jungles, botanical Gardens, churches, ruins, go diving, sailing, snorkeling etc. All inclusive just means food and drink included. You can exoplore just s much as if you're jpt all inclusive!

The chance to see other parts of the world, to see other cultures, to see the opportunities that exist outside the uk, to meet people from all over the world, to see and talk about the history around the world (and also do all of this in the UK) to see how to navigate all the different transport systems, have the opportunity and confidence to try different languages is, IMO one of the greatest gifts you can give a child, without doubt, it increases confidence, independence and appreciation of opportunity as well as an understanding of the implications of world events and how they are important for example my 6 year old was very interested in the fire at Notre Dame because he had been there, he could relate to it being a real place.

Oh and we’ve done plenty of all inclusives, they don’t actually lock you in the resort you know. We hire cars, tour the country, experience the culture. We even eat out some nights! An all inclusive is basically a description of what meals and drink are included! But the pools and kids clubs are often better in all inclusives

My parents were very anti-flying, but they took us for holidays in Europe on train and local transport. We saw a lot of archaeology, tasted different food, but I think the real benefit was the awareness of different languages: that other languages, other cultures were as real as our own. Being encouraged to try a few words out in a shop or restaurant, bringing back books in another language to try to decipher with a dictionary. Realising that there are different ways of expressing yourself, different ways of being polite. Definitely worth it for me.

The environmental impact of flying is a major issue for me.

I can't reconcile the fact that I'm farting around trying to reduce our plastic and meat consumption, and buy local and seasonal to help reduce our carbon footprint, but then go and book a return flight for four to somewhere hot and exciting for a week or two. It doesn't sit right for me any more.

The DC have been all around the UK. When we get abroad it'll be by boat, train, bike or car.

Not necessarily. I don't think kids get that much out of a fortnight in an Ai abroad other than swimming and other activities that you could do at home etc though i'm sure most would enjoy and get good memories.

I was dragged around (willingly!) many countries as a child and definitely benefited from the experience and went on to do a languages degree and now teach MFL.

On the other hand we never explored the UK as children and I missed out in that respect I think. Making up for that with my children who enjoy a mix of foreign and UK holidays, typically we get a self-catering house and explore the local area.

I am not saying no point to a beach AI holiday btw. The kids would have a good time. But it's hardly a powerful educational experience.

They could probably get a similar experience at Center Parcs or Butlins. But a bit warmer is often a good thing!

DH didn’t go abroad until late teens. He’s made up for it since.
Obviously travel is brilliant and if you only stay at home you are missing out compared to if you travel. I don’t think it has to be abroad though. I have visited many many countries throughout the world but have never been to Cornwall, Ireland (Northern or Eire), Edinburgh and most of Scotland, Glastonbury and many other places. So I’m missing out on those...
DS is 7 and has been abroad 15 times. We need to start holidaying in the U.K. more but I can’t cope with the increased risk of rubbish weather!

To add, DS has visited Florida, Lapland, Spain/ Balearics, Greece and Cyprus so although we’ve had a fantastic time it hasn’t been that educational.

@Snazzygoldfish agree
Apparently in the past year 25 % of swedes have vowed to fly less thanks to the efforts of Greta Thunberg. I thought that was quite impressive.

@Frazzled2207 that's rubbish. Can kids do a padi certificate, learn to sail, spend a week snorkeling with whale sharks, visit ancient ruins, temples, jungles, rainforests, archaeological sites at Butlins or center parcs? No they cannot. My children have done all that and much much more whilst they happen to be staying at all inclusive resorts. All inclusive just means you don't pay extra for food and drink. Although we sometimes do because we're out and about zip wiring down rivers or cucli round ruins or whatever. What is this obsession UK people have with all inclusive holidays meaning you're stick in a hotel on the beach and can't leave. What nonsense!
Enjoy butluns though 🙄

Just to add we do also like center parcs and generally go a couple times a year for a long weekend

Ah the good MN 'sneer at AI' has come out again.
I'm on a AI in Mauritius at the moment. Yesterday I went out on a boat and with another family swam with wild dolphins. It was amazing.
But yeah sure, Butlins is exactly the same.
I would also say that actually guaranteed weathers a safe pool and clean beach are all important things to foster some nice family time. My parents used to take us to Devon and we ended up watching TV for most of it cos the weather was shit.

Yes we've done all inclusive in Mauritius and it was fantastic. Loved the hindu temple, the wild dolphins, horseriding on the beach, the rainforest and plantations. I also like luxury and fabulous sunsets. But apparently they now have all that at butlins, who'd have thought!

There is nothing wrong with a holiday that is all about relaxation and fun. It's a holiday.

I don't remember a thing about the educational places I was taken to as a child. I enjoy them so much more now I'm an adult and can experience them in the way I choose. My DC have travelled far and wide, they've been to places I have yet to visit (and vice versa). The holidays they remember with most affection from their childhood involved lots of sun, sand and swimming.

If you fancy an AI, OP, you go for it. Your DC will have a ball.

I agree that you can be bigoted and well travelled like certain members of my family, and open-minded and never leave the UK. I also agree that spending a week at an all-inclusive abroad is far less mind-expanding that spending a week exploring some corner of Britain.

We holiday in both the UK and abroad and I don't really see the difference, to be honest. Yes, DC experience different languages and cultures when abroad, which is great, but you can have an amazing adventure in the UK. You can climb mountains, go kayaking, visit ancient or modern cities, ride a steam train, see dolphins in the wild, go bird watching, sunbathe on a white sand beach, etc, all in this wonderful country. Similarly, you can travel 8000 miles and never leave your luxury hotel and see fuck all of the country you've sat on a plane for 12 hours to reach.

Travel and a sense of adventure are all you need and those can be provided here as well as there. Having said that, I love going abroad and we regularly take our DC abroad, but we love our holidays here in the UK just as much as the overseas ones and we have just as many adventures.

I think flying off on holiday will be seen as pretty naff soon. I want my children to understand the world and the impact we have on it. We don't need to be constantly consuming resources to understand different cultures etc. I see the travel culture a bit sickly and contrived sorry.

My DC go on school trips abroad but I do not feel obligated to ferry them all over the world to broaden their horizons.

There's nothing wrong with an all-inclusive beach holiday. Mine all loved them. They were excited from the minute they arrived at the airport! It does depend on the child though, mine loved the kids clubs etc. They met children from other countries and were introduced to different foods, languages, etc along the way. The only thing I never "got" was taking a baby on holiday - that to me was pointless. We took ours away when the youngest was about 5 years old and they still talk about/ remember it. As they got older we got a bit more adventurous and moved away from AI. Over the years they have learnt how to surf, scuba dive, etc so they have got something to show for their time there.

I also don't understand this idea that an AI holiday is being incarcerated in a hotel.

We did all inclusive in Mauritius and even within the hotel, we were able to do things that aren't possible in the UK. Our hotel had a boathouse and I was able to take my daughter out on a glass bottom boat that went over the coral reef. She also gained first hand experience of a cyclone, although that wasn't part of the plan .

A holiday anywhere is what you make of it.

Exactly, there's nothing wrong with not taking kids abroad. But to pretend that it's pointless because it's 'just like butlins' is plainly bonkers.