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Home / Type of trip / Active / 10 things my kids have learnt on holiday

10 things my kids have learnt on holiday

March 14, 2014 by Gretta Schifano 25 Comments

 

Fossil hunting, Isle of Wight. Copyright Gretta Schifano

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

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

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.

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Categories: Active
Tags: BritMums, learning on holiday, Wales4Kids

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Candy Cook says

    September 22, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    LOL! How to wrestle an alligator?? That’s too hilarious.
    Candy Cook recently posted…Happy Trails, Wild TalesMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Susanna says

    March 17, 2014 at 6:39 am

    Your National Trust working holiday sounds like it was a winner! And bats…. who knew?

    Reply
  3. Trish - Mum's Gone To says

    March 16, 2014 at 10:17 pm

    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-upMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Jen Walshaw (@Mum_TheMadHouse) says

    March 16, 2014 at 8:58 pm

    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 ExpeditionMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      March 16, 2014 at 9:00 pm

      Thank you Jen!

      Reply
  5. Cass@frugalfamily says

    March 16, 2014 at 7:11 pm

    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….My Profile

    Reply
  6. Clare Mansell says

    March 16, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    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 LondonMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says

    March 16, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    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 YearMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Steph @ sisterhoodandallthat says

    March 16, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    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

    Reply
  9. Sam @happyhomebird says

    March 16, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    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 LessonsMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Hannah Staveley says

    March 16, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    So many thing you can learn this is fab .x

    Reply
  11. Bek says

    March 16, 2014 at 11:09 am

    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 AwarenessMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Emmys Mummy says

    March 16, 2014 at 10:56 am

    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 – RecipeMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Lucy Dorrington says

    March 16, 2014 at 9:23 am

    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!My Profile

    Reply
  14. Michelle says

    March 16, 2014 at 8:38 am

    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]My Profile

    Reply
  15. Kizzy says

    March 16, 2014 at 6:53 am

    What great skills they have learnt
    Kizzy recently posted…#SatCap Saturday is Lamb Catching Caption DayMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Keri-Anne says

    March 15, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    What amazing experiences. I would love to see a man wrestle an alligator! x
    Keri-Anne recently posted…The blossom treeMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Kate on Thin Ice says

    March 15, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    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?My Profile

    Reply
  18. laura redburn says

    March 15, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    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 marchMy Profile

    Reply
  19. You Baby Me Mummy says

    March 15, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    Gosh they have had lots of great experiences x
    You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…Mums’ List #1My Profile

    Reply
  20. Rachel @ activities4kidz says

    March 15, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    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 PlayMy Profile

    Reply
  21. TwinsplusTwo says

    March 15, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    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 SunshineMy Profile

    Reply
  22. Sonya Cisco says

    March 15, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    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 UnsupportedMy Profile

    Reply
  23. Jo Bryan says

    March 15, 2014 at 12:02 pm

    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 ParmagianaMy Profile

    Reply
  24. Sarah Ebner says

    March 14, 2014 at 6:56 pm

    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?My Profile

    Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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