What does education theory have to do with travel?

When you think about planning a family vacation, education theory probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. You're more likely focused on finding kid-friendly hotels, choosing sights to see, and figuring out how to keep everyone happy during long travel days. But here's something fascinating: the same principles used in our education system are the keys to transforming ordinary family trips into extraordinary learning experiences.

A Common Misconception

Five years ago, a friend asked me why her child wanted to stay inside drawing instead of visiting a flower festival in Girona, a small city north of Barcelona.  “Doesn’t she know she’s in Europe?” my friend asked.  Put simply, the answer was no.  Children are concrete thinkers, while geography and culture are abstract concepts that don’t have the same meaning for them.  On the other hand, American adults have incredibly romantic connotations of Europe that they’ve gathered from books, movies, and travel blogs. 

So will merely being in Europe motivate an elementary school child?  Not likely.  Will being with their parents and feeling connection motivate them?  Some.  How should we think about creating engaging travel experiences for children?

The Foundations for a New Way to Travel

We are writing this blog to give you a new set of tools for traveling with your kids.  The basis for these tools comes from the men and women that developed the theories of education in general.  We believe that education theory should be applied much more broadly than just the classroom, and that travel is one of the areas that can benefit most from these concepts.  Over time, we’ll dig into each of these theorists in detail, but here are a few tidbits to get things started.

The Constructivist Connection

Educational theorists like Jean Piaget and Maria Montessori have long emphasized that children learn best through direct experience and active engagement with their environment. This "constructivist" approach to learning isn't just for classrooms - it's perfectly suited for family travel. When children physically explore a new place, interact with different cultures, and navigate unfamiliar situations, they're not just having fun; they're actively constructing knowledge about the world.

Think about visiting a medieval castle. Rather than simply telling your children historical facts, you can let them climb the spiral staircases, peek through arrow slits, and imagine life as a knight or princess. This hands-on experience creates deeper, more meaningful learning than any textbook could provide.

The Zone of Proximal Development: Adventure with a Safety Net

Psychologist Lev Vygotsky introduced the concept of the "zone of proximal development" - the sweet spot between what a child can do independently and what they can achieve with support. Travel naturally creates these optimal learning conditions. Whether it's ordering food in a foreign language, navigating public transportation, or adapting to different cultural norms, children are constantly pushed slightly beyond their comfort zones while having parents nearby for support.

The Lasting Impact

When we apply educational principles to family travel, we're not just creating vacations - we're crafting transformative experiences that contribute to our children's development. These adventures become part of their internal narratives, shaping how they see themselves and their place in the world.

This means that every family trip, whether it's across the ocean or across town, has the potential to be an educational experience. By understanding and applying these principles, we can help our children develop not just as travelers, but as curious, confident, and culturally-aware global citizens.