Why Take Kids on Exotic Vacations If They Won't Remember It?
One of the most common objections to traveling with young children is: "Why take them on expensive, once-in-a-lifetime trips when they won’t even remember it?" It’s a reasonable concern. Travel is costly, and international travel can be especially so. If you’re going to make the investment, it’s natural to want your children to have lasting memories of the experience. But this perspective, while understandable, misses the true value of travel—especially for children.
When Do Memories Begin to Matter?
At what age do we assume children will start remembering travel? Adolescence? The teenage years? But think about it—how well do you really remember trips you took at fifteen? Sure, you might recall a few key moments, but many details fade over time. And yet, those trips still had an impact on shaping who you are today. Travel is more than just collecting memories; it’s about experiencing different places, cultures, and ways of life in the present moment.
The Benefits of Travel for Young Children
Even if children don’t retain vivid memories of a trip, they benefit in profound ways. Early exposure to different environments, customs, foods, and ways of life helps shape their worldview. Unlike adults, who are more “set” in their ways, children are still forming their perspectives. Travel at a young age teaches them flexibility, adaptability, and an appreciation for diversity.
Experiencing the world early on helps children become more open to different ways of doing things. They may not remember the specifics of a foreign marketplace, but they will have developed a comfort with the unfamiliar. They may not recall every dish they tried in another country, but they will likely grow up more adventurous with food. Seeing the beauty of the planet—from towering glaciers to vibrant coral reefs—can spark a lifelong love of nature and conservation, even if they don’t consciously remember the first time they saw it.
Memory Is More Than a Snapshot
Memory itself is a tricky thing. Our son was five when we took him to the Galápagos Islands. He’s ten now, and he still talks about that trip. He recently even did a school presentation on it. Does he truly remember it, or does he remember it because we’ve talked about it often, showing him pictures and sharing stories? Maybe it doesn’t matter. His sense of connection to that experience is real, whether it’s a firsthand memory or a reinforced one.
Why We Travel as a Family
We don’t worry about what our son will or won’t remember. We take him with us on incredible journeys because that’s just what we do as a family. And if he wants to revisit some of these places as an adult, he will. If he doesn’t, that’s fine too. What matters is that he has been shaped by these experiences in ways both seen and unseen.
Travel isn’t just about preserving memories—it’s about growing, learning, and shaping who we become. And for children, that impact is even greater. Whether they remember it or not, the experience stays with them.
