What life lessons do you want to share with your children during your travels?

cotrim via Pixabay

A South African road trip is a wonderful way for families to reconnect as they discover back roads and hidden gems. It’s also a great opportunity to expose your kids to some valuable life lessons, ones they will never forget.

Here are just five life lessons you can teach your children while out on the road:

1. It’s not all about you

Infants are born thinking that they are the centre of the universe. It’s completely natural, for the first couple of years their very survival depends on having their needs met. Children are completely vulnerable and should feel loved, secure and safe. At some point though, however, they need to learn that the world does not revolve around their wants, needs and expectations.

Travel is a fantastic window onto life beyond their existence. Children will have the chance to meet new people, experience different cultures and learn to treat everyone with equal respect and understanding. With any luck, they’ll meet unforgettable characters and realise that the world is actually filled with wonderful people with interesting stories.

They will learn patience, humility, kindness, confidence and respect for the world around them.

2. Less is more

There is a lot to be said for travelling light. A plethora of possessions and heaving suitcases actually makes for an uncomfortable and exhausting journey. All a good summer road trip requires is a map, a few good books, shorts, t-shirts and cozzies, one jersey and a deck of cards.

Teach your kids that you don’t have to be rich to travel – and that hidden gems, lesser-known spots and unexpected encounters are worth way more than 5-star luxury.

They will learn the joy and value of experiences over possessions.

3. Never stop learning

Eleanor Roosevelt said that if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow her child with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity. Travel is perhaps the best way to encourage your child’s curiosity, to get them to try new things and open their minds – establishing the foundations for life-long learning.

They will learn the art of storytelling, a knack for research and a love for the unusual and out-of-the-ordinary.

4. Resilience and adaptability

Isn’t it great that the best travel stories always have some element of drama? No memorable road trip goes exactly to plan. Whether you’re changing a flat tyre outside of Pofadder or camping in the pouring rain, travel teaches your kids resilience and adaptability – both excellent attributes later in life. Mistakes happen. Even the best-laid plans sometimes go awry. But if your children learn to embrace the obstacles, roadblocks and detours life throws their way, they’ll be happier and more able to cope.

They will learn not to sweat the small stuff.

5. Disconnect and be present

One of the greatest frustrations for parent’s today, is our offspring’s reliance on (or addiction to) mobile devices. TikTok, Fortnight, Instagram or Minecraft – we just want to get them offline and back into the real world.

An off-the-beaten-path holiday is a great way to disconnect (both literally and figuratively).

Dr Nomvuselelo Songelwa, CEO of Jurni, says that South Africa has a wealth of tourism operators, products and services just waiting to be discovered.

"Enjoy discovering SA’s hidden gems. It’s a wonderful way for your children to learn more about our country’s extraordinary diversity."

Allow your children to choose some of your family’s excursions, encourage them to buy their own souvenirs, take photographs and collect mementos – and watch them grow in confidence. They’ll be more present and enthusiastic, collecting memories to last a lifetime.

They will learn that they can survive without technology. Songelwa says: "Technology does not change society; people change society. They may do so with the assistance of technology, but the primary drivers of change remain people."

And finally? Teach your brood to dream big. Travel opens up a whole new world of adventure and opportunity. They’re busy learning more about their own likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams. Allow them to create their own 'bucket list' of experiences and nurture their wanderlust. It’s an amazing gift.