6. Play with other kids. One of my favorite things from our trip was seeing our boys play with other kids. You can almost always find a playground, beach, piazza or soccer field to let them run around and make some new buddies. It didn’t matter that the local kids were speaking broken English or giggling at our boys’ first efforts at Italian. Laughter and play are universal languages and break down barriers in ways few other things can. 7. Let them document their experiences. Two of my favorite souvenirs from our trip are the journals and cameras we gave our boys to document things they found interesting or memorable. I’ll never forget them sitting at the feet of the Statue of David sketching their own versions of the masterpiece in their journals just like the college art students. Looking through the photos they took on their own cameras gave us a glimpse into the world through their eyes. 8. Get off the beaten path, but don’t ignore the tourist attractions. One of the most common travel tips you’re likely to read in your research is to “get off the beaten path,” and that’s great advice. Branching out from the crowded and sometimes overrated attractions into a more local neighborhood can reveal hidden gems and authentic experiences. But those tourist attractions became popular for a reason, and after climbing the Eiffel Tower or pretending to be gladiators in the Colosseum, kids will feel like certified world travelers the next time they see those places in movies. 9. Be realistic and flexible, but don’t underestimate your kids. We knew we would have to keep our plans very flexible and be realistic about what we could accomplish each day, but time and time again our boys showed us they’re often capable of more than we thought. Whether you’ve got a daunting flight ahead of you, you’re considering a strenuous hike or you’re worried about getting your picky eaters to try that new food, just frame it all as an exciting adventure and give them a chance. They might just surprise you!
(ABOVE) THE BOYS CHECK OUT THE ROUTE IN THE METRO STATION IN PARIS. (BELOW) WHILE SEEING THE MONA LISA AT THE LOUVRE IN PARIS, THE BOYS DREW THEIR OWN VERSIONS IN THEIR JOURNALS.
JUST LIKE THE COLLEGE
ART STUDENTS AROUND THEM, THE BOYS SKETCH THE STATUE OF DAVID IN THEIR JOURNALS.
46 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JAN-FEB 2022
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