Fossil hunting, Isle of Wight. Copyright Gretta Schifano
On some family holidays – like skiing or sailing trips, for example – learning a new skill or improving an existing one is the focus and the reason for going. We’ve not been on a specific family skiing or sailing holiday but I think my children learn something whenever we go away. For instance….
- How to wrestle an alligator out of a water hole so that your cows can drink. A cowboy showed us this trick in Florida last summer. This isn’t something I expect to have to do myself back home in England but it was interesting to see all the same.
- How to use escalators. There are no escalators in our village and my kids found them tricky and bothersome until we spent every school holiday for a year in Budapest and their escalator aversion was cured.
- How to use a bat detector. On a National Trust family working holiday in Wales my youngest was thrilled to learn this skill. We should probably actually get one of these machines at home as there are flocks and herds of bats that hang out (!) in our loft.
- How to make olive oil. We helped with the olive harvest at the beautiful Dionysos Estate in Turkey. The kids enjoyed the whole process except the olive oil tasting session at the end after which they needed a lot of chocolate.
- How to find a dinosaur fossil. We went on a brilliant guided fossil walk on the Isle of Wight and came back with some unexpected dinosaur remains in the form of fossilised poo.
Indoor skydiving on the Costa Brava. Copyright Gretta Schifano
- How to skydive in a wind tunnel. On the Costa Brava the eldest and I found out that we both love this kind of flying and I learnt that I can’t bear to watch her while she does it. I’m hoping she doesn’t become an astronaut.
- Where prejudice can lead. My youngest learnt about this on a trip to Amsterdam. We visited the house where Anne Frank lived in hiding with her family and some other Jews until they were betrayed to the Nazis. The only one of the group to survive the concentration camps was Anne’s father.
Quote from Anne Frank’s father, Otto
There are also some less tangible but very important things which my kids learn when we go on holiday:
- To look beyond their own lives.
- That there are many languages in the world but we’re all really saying the same things most of the time.
- That wherever they go and whatever they do, our home is always there for them to come back to.
The next trip we have planned is to Wales and I’m looking forward to seeing what we learn there. What do you think your children learn on holiday?
This post is an entry for the Visit Wales #Wales4Kids Family Holiday Challenge. Wales is the perfect place for a fun-filled family break.
LOL! How to wrestle an alligator?? That’s too hilarious.
Candy Cook recently posted…Happy Trails, Wild Tales
Your National Trust working holiday sounds like it was a winner! And bats…. who knew?
This is a fabulous Top Ten. Wrestling alligators and using escalators…hopefully not a the same time.
Great memories of your family trips 🙂
Trish – Mum’s Gone To recently posted…Weekend catch-up
I believe that children learn so much with their family on holiday and this is a great post
Jen Walshaw (@Mum_TheMadHouse) recently posted…Review – Ravensburger Science X Maxi Prehistoric Expedition
Thank you Jen!
My two loved indoor skydiving! I’m a big believer in travelling to new places with children – that’s one of the reasons I hate that you can’t take them out of school now even for a day or two to allow a long weekend!
Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…50 Date night ideas….
This seems a rather apt post when the debate about taking kids out of school for holidays is still going on!
Clare Mansell recently posted…Fabric love in London
Its amazing how much children can learn on holiday, they always seem to be more interested to learn 🙂
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins recently posted…10th March – 16th March 2014 – One Picture Everyday for One Year
So true – the kids learn so much on holidays, wherever it is – just a break from the norm. What I love most is spending time as the family with no distractions. Always seems the kids develop heaps when we’re away together
Your children have had some wonderful experiences and I agree, holidays are a great chance to learn new skills or be absorbed in a new culture. We are also off to Wales this year so with our son that is a great opportunity to learn about the things we see. Can’t wait!
Those bat detectors are great, I used to survey bats and that’s what we used. Many local country parks do bat walks which are brilliant.
Sam @happyhomebird recently posted…Forest Lessons
So many thing you can learn this is fab .x
Wow! Your children are very lucky to have taken part in so many great activities! The skills they have gained and the ideas about life that they will carry with them are very important ones. Great! 🙂
Bek recently posted…Cycle Safety Awareness
You’ve had some amazing holidays and visited places I’m only dreamed of.
What a great experience.
Good luck with the competition
Emmys Mummy recently posted…Easter Birds Nests – Recipe
I haven’t been able to take my children on holiday for a few years, but we do have some nice days out. The experiences we build for our children in new environments are so priceless. I wish you many more! 🙂
Lucy Dorrington recently posted…Quiz Night Success!
Children can learn so much by going on holiday, a great read. Thanks for sharing.
Michelle recently posted…Plus Size Fancy Dress Costumes at Jokers’ Masquerade[Review]
What great skills they have learnt
Kizzy recently posted…#SatCap Saturday is Lamb Catching Caption Day
What amazing experiences. I would love to see a man wrestle an alligator! x
Keri-Anne recently posted…The blossom tree
Loved hearing about such diverse learning experiences on your holidays. I love those lessons that you reflect on towards the end of the post. Commenting for myself and on behalf of BritMums and thanking you for taking part.
Kate on Thin Ice recently posted…What are my reasons to be cheerful this week?
this is fantastic. i love that there’s some things you can learn on holiday without even realising! …also the indoor sky diving looks fuuuun!
laura redburn recently posted…snapshots of my week – 15th march
Gosh they have had lots of great experiences x
You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…Mums’ List #1
Sounds like you have had some truly incredible holidays! I’ve always wanted to visit Anne franks house, it is on my bucket list!
Rachel @ activities4kidz recently posted…Catching Stars Water Play
Children learn everywhere, all the time – it’s lovely to actually stop and think about their new skills/knowledge etc after having fun.
TwinsplusTwo recently posted…Everyone needs a back-up Sunshine
Wow- your children have had some fantastic experiences! Mine mostly learn how to nag for more ice cream… 😉
Sonya Cisco recently posted…Barnardo’s Support The Unsupported
They learn so much all the time, rockpooling, seeing the different species, learning about pollution and ecology of beaches at sea life centres. Rock climbing, archery, forest skills, all in this country and Ireland as young children, but also just family bonding, doing nothing more than eating an ice cream and the pure joy of busy doing nothing.
Jo Bryan recently posted…Chicken Parmagiana
It’s amazing really how much they have learnt from holidays already – think of how many more experiences they will have too. We’d love to make olive oil and I know Rob would love to go skydiving!!
Sarah Ebner recently posted…What can you learn on holiday?