Children
May 22nd, 2002, 09:33 PM
#27
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What was obnoxious about Another was saying that she didn't care what anyone else said about their child getting something out of it and remembering it, but it just wasn't true. if your experience is different from the people who got something out of their childhood travel or whose children did I think people would want to know about your expereince becuase you're not just saying that others can't be telling the truth and only you are.
May 24th, 2002, 02:03 PM
#29
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My parents took my brother (then 6) and me (3) to Europe for 18 months. (My Dad is an illustrator, and therefore had portable work.) It was wonderful and enriching for us, and we have always appreciated travel and history and art very much because of those trips. When I went to Catholic school, I had unique insight and appreciation for the stuff they were talking about, having seen all of the images and places first hand. I am so very grateful for that first excursion! We returned and toured around every year since then, and when I was a teenager, I never felt l like I didn't want to go for my friends' sake: I knew that they'd be there when I got back.
This is not to say that the travel will be easy. My husband and I are taking our 3 and 7 year old boys to Italy for three weeks, and I expect it to be fantastic and daunting all at once. We have done shorter practice trips. They both have been to Europe before, even at 4 months. They probably would have been just as happy staying home at that age, but they're essentially high-maintenance luggage at that point, and I'd have been miserable without them!
As far as planning the trip, don't expect to go to a lot of buildings or places where you're expected to sit still and quiet. There are so many outdoor things to do that you shouldn't have much trouble keeping the whole family entertained. Switching off childcare duties works, as long as you allow a realistic time for the museum-going adult to really see stuff: 45 minutes is just not enough time to go through a ticket line and really see the art, while 90 minutes is better, and not so long that the babyitter feels abandoned. There are often parks adjacent to museums. When I told my Mom we were considering staying in Florence for a week, she said that cities are tough on children: long walks on hard streets and across blindingly bright piazzas, and you spend half your time searching for patches of dirt to play in. We opted for Rome, so we can just taxi to the hotel, and I chose a hotel that has a garden (and patches of dirt!)From there we're going to stay in self-catering houses in the countryside, which we've done all our lives. You can choose when to eat out or eat in, which is a major time, cost and stress saver, and you can take a day off from traveling. My parents were dirt-poor when we did the first trip, and we camped all through Europe. We probably ate out three times. Once in France we woke up with a cow in our tent. I remember this well, and I was 5! Take the children and realistic expectations and no one will regret it!
This is not to say that the travel will be easy. My husband and I are taking our 3 and 7 year old boys to Italy for three weeks, and I expect it to be fantastic and daunting all at once. We have done shorter practice trips. They both have been to Europe before, even at 4 months. They probably would have been just as happy staying home at that age, but they're essentially high-maintenance luggage at that point, and I'd have been miserable without them!
As far as planning the trip, don't expect to go to a lot of buildings or places where you're expected to sit still and quiet. There are so many outdoor things to do that you shouldn't have much trouble keeping the whole family entertained. Switching off childcare duties works, as long as you allow a realistic time for the museum-going adult to really see stuff: 45 minutes is just not enough time to go through a ticket line and really see the art, while 90 minutes is better, and not so long that the babyitter feels abandoned. There are often parks adjacent to museums. When I told my Mom we were considering staying in Florence for a week, she said that cities are tough on children: long walks on hard streets and across blindingly bright piazzas, and you spend half your time searching for patches of dirt to play in. We opted for Rome, so we can just taxi to the hotel, and I chose a hotel that has a garden (and patches of dirt!)From there we're going to stay in self-catering houses in the countryside, which we've done all our lives. You can choose when to eat out or eat in, which is a major time, cost and stress saver, and you can take a day off from traveling. My parents were dirt-poor when we did the first trip, and we camped all through Europe. We probably ate out three times. Once in France we woke up with a cow in our tent. I remember this well, and I was 5! Take the children and realistic expectations and no one will regret it!
May 24th, 2002, 09:06 PM
#30
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We went on our honeymoon to Europe and loved it. I had never been before and we did a lot of things we couldn't have done with my six year old. (My Mom took care of her, and I was real comfortable with that.) I think its nice so many other posters have taken their children since they were very young, but it seems like most of them have been a lot and have probably seen some of the things already that I had been waiting all my life to see. Maybe next time we'll take her along, but I don't regret having gone without her!
Jun 13th, 2002, 10:22 AM
#31
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We went to Venice, Florence, Rome and Sicily with our 5 year old son last May. We were treated very well by all the Italians because of our son. They are much more accomodating for kids then Americans are. All meals can be ordered in half portion for the kids or your son can eat off your plate. My son ate pizza, tortillini, pasta with red and pesto sauce, bread gallons of gelato and tons of fruit. Never an issue.
Before we went to Italy I got alot of books from Amazon.com for him such as coloring books in Italian etc. We also rented videos from the Library which showed where we were going. We taught him some basic Italian such as please, thank you, hello, goodbye and how to order chocolate gelato.
We made reservations at the museums ahead of time by booking at Weekendinflorence.com and didn't have to stand in line to see the David or go to the Iffizi. Prior to going into the museum we would get a children's book at the museum gift shop about the museum. This helped. My son went on all the tours with us--Doge's palace in Venice, Iffizi, Accademia and Borgello in FLorence, the Coliseum, the Forum and the Vatican. there was enough history regarding battles that he was always fascinated. However, his most memorable event was the David. He also was thrilled when we took him to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa (so was I)
The trip was fabulous for all of us. My son talks about it all the time. It will definitely sink in. He talks about the Arno river, the Piazza Novona, the David and the Coliseum
We are planning another trip in two years. If you want any further info, please e-mail me.
We also went to
Before we went to Italy I got alot of books from Amazon.com for him such as coloring books in Italian etc. We also rented videos from the Library which showed where we were going. We taught him some basic Italian such as please, thank you, hello, goodbye and how to order chocolate gelato.
We made reservations at the museums ahead of time by booking at Weekendinflorence.com and didn't have to stand in line to see the David or go to the Iffizi. Prior to going into the museum we would get a children's book at the museum gift shop about the museum. This helped. My son went on all the tours with us--Doge's palace in Venice, Iffizi, Accademia and Borgello in FLorence, the Coliseum, the Forum and the Vatican. there was enough history regarding battles that he was always fascinated. However, his most memorable event was the David. He also was thrilled when we took him to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa (so was I)
The trip was fabulous for all of us. My son talks about it all the time. It will definitely sink in. He talks about the Arno river, the Piazza Novona, the David and the Coliseum
We are planning another trip in two years. If you want any further info, please e-mail me.
We also went to
Jun 13th, 2002, 12:33 PM
#32
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I just saw this thread, which I thought had ended long ago. What ever makes you think I was speaking about MYSELF? I did not have a privileged childhood, did not travel as a child, and have never had the pleasure of taking children to europe. Nevertheless i would not dismiss the thouyghtful comments of people who DID travel as children or who HAVE taken their children to foreign countries, with positive and meaningful results. For that reason, I found the comments by "another" rather rude and offensive, not designed to offer "another" point of view, but rather to deny the validity of the point of view that others had already articulately expressed based on their personal experiences. There were some intersting parents who posted here and their comments deserved respect.
Jun 14th, 2002, 06:58 AM
#34
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I'd love to afford to take the kids to Paris, and will one day! I have only been there once, but it will help me in making their trip memorable. Some people are better travellers with or without kids.
It's a very personal decision to make on whether to take the kids or not. I remember being shot down on this site last year when I was planning my trip and said I wanted some time alone with my husband!
What I would like to know is if I should take a stroller for a 5-6 yr old? She doesn't use one these days, and I know the roads can be bumpy, but I'm thinking of her little legs getting tired in museums, etc.
It's a very personal decision to make on whether to take the kids or not. I remember being shot down on this site last year when I was planning my trip and said I wanted some time alone with my husband!
What I would like to know is if I should take a stroller for a 5-6 yr old? She doesn't use one these days, and I know the roads can be bumpy, but I'm thinking of her little legs getting tired in museums, etc.
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