The lazy, carefree days of summer are coming to a close and it’s back to school time for millions of children across the nation. They’ll be learning the three R’s – that’s Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic for those of you born after the boomer generation – and upper grade levels will get to dabble in assorted other subjects that just may spark a passion leading to a future career. But all education doesn’t take place in the classroom. In today’s global society, it’s equally important to educate children though travel and expose them to cultures other than their own.

Technology has made the world smaller and today’s children are more likely than ever to travel to other countries or work for global companies as adults. To be good global citizens, they must learn to understand and respect the different food, dress, values and lifestyles of other cultures. Families that experience foreign cultures together and educate children through travel are gaining invaluable life skills!

The Journey to Global Citizenship

“Travel is now increasingly multi-generational. Families traveling together are on an intentional journey to create children and grandchildren who are global citizens,” said Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso. “Parents and even grandparents are looking at travel as a means of giving the next generation a leg up in the world. They’re even matching travel experiences to the topics their children or grandchildren are studying in school.”

“One of the smartest things you can do, if you have the means, is take your kids to China or India or Brazil,” said Upchurch. “These countries will influence much of the business being done now and in the future, and kids who have insight into these cultures, who learn to adapt in unfamiliar surroundings early on, and who gain an understanding of the world around them, will have a certain advantage when it’s time to enter the workforce.”

Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School, has authored multiple studies that show multicultural engagement increases creativity and professional success. Further, cross-cultural experiences can strengthen people’s connections with others from different backgrounds. Research shows that “traveling increased what’s called generalized trust, or general faith in humanity.” Aren’t these skills you’d like your children to attain?

Top International Travel Destinations

According to Virtuoso, travel to countries outside the U.S. is up 21% and over a billion people crossed borders last year. During Virtuoso Travel Week in July, the annual Travel Trends report was released detailing the top 10 current luxury destinations and 10 rising hot spots.

Four of the top 10 were European countries: Italy, United Kingdom, France and Germany. Not only are they easily accessible and offer a wealth of interesting experiences, but the softer Euro makes travel to Europe more economical.

The “Hot 10” are destinations that are seeing the fastest increase in travel. Countries like Vietnam and India have a strong cultural draw and relative value. Less traditional European destinations like Spain and the Netherlands also made the list. Latin America was represented by the culinary and eco appeal of Argentina, Peru and Costa Rica.

The Melting Pot of the United States

You don’t have to go abroad to educate children through travel. There are many places in the U.S. that offer a fresh cultural scene that differs from your own hometown. Families can learn about American Indian heritage throughout the southwest, or capture the spirit of the West with a vacation at a dude ranch in Wyoming. You’ll definitely experience a cultural immersion when you visit San Francisco’s Chinatown, or you can get a crash course in all things Basque in the well-preserved Basque Block of Boise, Idaho.

If you live in a rural setting, riding the subway in New York City can be a learning experience. If you live in a city, a visit to the Amish farm country of Pennsylvania can be a cultural eye opener. The U.S. is indeed a melting pot of cultures, so you don’t have to travel far to find someone with a different background than you.

Visiting any place that is different from home exposes children to the broader world and opens their minds to the fact that while we may have different lifestyles, eat different foods and wear different clothes, we share the common bonds of humanity. Travel simply makes us better global citizens. To educate children through travel is one of the most important gifts you can give them and the world.

Let Covington’s family vacation experts help plan your kids’ travel education.