Learning Fast: The Perfect Excuse To Travel

In the first 24 hours of being on holiday, Mrs T has learnt several new things including…

Putting her foot in her mouth

Making a proper raspberry sound with her tongue and lips.

Going in the swimming pool for the first time- and loving it.

Having the longest laughing fit we’ve heard from her.

Grabbing the arm of my sunglasses and pulling them clean off my face.

Enjoying a lick of an ice lolly (Ok- this was not down to me – I came back to find hubby bent over the pram encouraging her to lick it, defending his actions by muttering something about ‘baby-led weaning’. Clearly he hasn’t grasped that concept even though the clue is in the name.)

Now, surely these are not mere coincidences? They MUST all be down to us being on holiday and therefore evidence that they are excellent for children’s development.

Based on my non-scientific ‘research’ conducted in a warm and sunny clime over a period of 24 hours under the supervision of my trusted husband, the hotel lifeguard, some random Russians sitting nearby and myself, I conclude taking your little ones into a new environment helps them relax and learn new skills, gives them time to explore their surroundings and their own abilities and opens their eyes and ears to different sights, cultures and languages. But most importantly, it gives both parents the chance to devote extra time to them – one on one – without rushing around the house doing boring jobs when you have a spare minute, like the laundry (yawn), vacuuming or putting up some shelves. It gives you time to talk and play with them which is DEFINITELY proven to help their development..

Here is your excuse, from me, Wander Mum. Holidays aren’t just good for you, they have been (unscientically) proven to be good for your kids too.

So, next time I feel a bit embarrassed about telling people we are off on hols again, I’ll say. “Oh, we’re going on an educational development break for Mrs T in Barbados”. That sounds much better.