Discover the Trend of Edutainment in Travel
Educational Trips for Kids
Traveling with kids is an enriching experience for both parents and little explorers. In recent years, the trend of Edutainment, which combines education and entertainment, has gained increasing popularity in the travel world. This approach allows kids to learn by playing and discovering new worlds, making every trip an unforgettable educational adventure. In our travel blog with kids, we want to share how we have integrated edutainment into our travels, making every stop an opportunity for Aldo and Giulia to learn.
What is Edutainment in Travel?
Definition of Edutainment
Edutainment is a combination of education and entertainment, a concept that aims to teach kids through play and fun activities. This approach is particularly effective in travel, where kids can learn in a practical and engaging way by exploring new environments and cultures.
Why Edutainment is Important in Travel with Kids
Edutainment offers numerous benefits: it stimulates the natural curiosity of kids, helps them develop new skills, and makes learning an enjoyable experience. For parents, it’s a way to make every trip meaningful and enriching, creating lasting and formative memories for the whole family. I have already discussed our way of doing school on the go in the article School on the Go with Kids .
Types of Educational Trips for Kids
There are countless ways to travel and study on the go, continue reading this article to discover the various types of educational trips for kids and their correlation with the new trend of edutainment.
Cultural Trips
Cultural trips offer kids the opportunity to explore museums, art galleries, and historical sites. During our recent trip to Barcelona, Aldo and Giulia discovered the architectural wonders of Gaudí, studying the Catalan modernism movement through visits to the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Gaudí’s three houses. These places not only amazed our kids with their beauty but also provided unforgettable lessons in history and art.
Nature Trips
Exploring national parks and nature reserves is an excellent way for kids to learn about science and geography. For example, during our days at the beach, we always observe the changing tides, explaining to Aldo and Giulia the natural phenomena behind this daily spectacle. This type of immersive learning helps kids better understand the natural world.
Technology Trips
Visits to science and technology centers offer interactive experiences that stimulate kids’ interest in science and technology. In Valencia, we spent an unforgettable day at the City of Arts and Sciences, where Aldo and Giulia explored the universe with particular attention to Earth, the Moon, and Mars. These activities made science fun and accessible, sparking an interest we hope will last a lifetime.
Theme Trips
Educational theme parks and customized itineraries based on specific topics are another way to make the trip an educational adventure. For example, visiting theme parks that offer experiences based on dinosaurs, space, or other kids’ passions can turn learning into an exciting game.
City Walks: When Historical Centers Become the Focus of Edutainment
Exploring the historical centers of cities with kids can become a wonderful edutainment experience, where education blends with entertainment. The cobbled streets, bustling squares, and historical buildings are not just a spectacle for the eyes, but also a living lesson in history and culture. Young travelers can discover ancient legends, learn architectural curiosities, and participate in educational workshops often organized by local museums. Every walk becomes an educational adventure, stimulating their curiosity and making the trip an opportunity for growth and fun.
Planning an Edutainment Trip
Choosing the right destination is crucial for a successful edutainment trip.
Choosing the Right Destination
It’s important to consider the age and interests of the kids, looking for places that offer educational and fun activities. For example, now that we are in Portugal, we are delving into the country’s history, with a particular focus on the Middle Ages, which deeply marked Portuguese history.
Organizing Activities
Planning educational activities during the trip requires some research and planning. We use online resources and often look for local Facebook groups to find educational workshops, guided tours, and other activities that can enrich Aldo and Giulia’s experience. The key is to maintain a balance between learning and fun, ensuring that kids remain engaged and interested. Always remember that an educational trip should not be solely museums, activities, and learning; kids and we parents, all need to unwind and have fun… after all, it’s when we least expect it that our kids learn the fastest.
Collaboration with Schools and Educational Institutions
Collaborating with schools and other educational institutions can further enrich the travel experience. Some destinations offer collaborative travel programs that combine visits to historical sites with lessons and practical activities. These programs can provide a more structured and in-depth educational context, but please do not overdo it and avoid exploiting volunteer organizations. There are far too many travel influencers online who showcase their volunteer trips in schools, but remember that not all kids need to be saved. Too often, the European traveler arriving in a so-called underdeveloped country presents themselves as a savior, disrupting balances that are actually perfect as they are. The most serious mistake I refer to is bringing plastic toys to kids living in African tribes where they are already severely affected by pollution issues or worse still, bringing candies to kids who then do not have the hygienic conditions to brush their teeth and obviously not the economic availability to access dental care.
Case Study: Successful Edutainment Experiences
Exploring Ancient Egypt
During an educational trip to the Egyptian Museum, Aldo and Giulia participated in educational workshops that took them on a discovery of the wonders of ancient Egypt. They learned to write in hieroglyphics and explored the stories of pharaohs and pyramids, making ancient history come alive and tangible.
Discovering Nature
In a nature reserve, Aldo and Giulia participated in environmental education programs that brought them closer to local fauna and flora. They learned the importance of conservation and sustainability, developing a deep respect for the environment.
Innovation and Technology
A visit to an astronomical observatory allowed Aldo and Giulia to experience firsthand the observation of the sky and stars. They participated in interactive experiments and demonstrations, stimulating their interest in science and technology.
Tips for an Unforgettable Edutainment Trip
I cannot enter our families and organize your trip as I am convinced it is a personal and intimate moment of the journey itself; however, I can remind you of the main tips to organize the perfect educational trip with kids.
Involving Kids in Planning
Involving kids in planning the trip is essential. We always ask Aldo and Giulia to express their interests and preferences, and we try to include activities that excite them. This approach not only increases their enthusiasm but also makes them more involved and responsible for the trip. For us who live on the go and often change places, it is also important to make them understand well where we are moving geographically. Even the move becomes an important moment to learn new things: jet lag, meridians, time zones, Earth’s rotation, terrestrial geography, states and continents, sea and ocean, habitats, plains and hills, the various climates we move through… these are just some examples of the topics we discuss during our travels.
Balancing Play and Learning Time
Finding the perfect balance between play and learning is essential. We alternate educational activities with moments of fun and relaxation, ensuring Aldo and Giulia always have something fun to do. For example, after a morning spent studying Portuguese history in the historic centers of the most authentic villages, we dedicate the afternoon to games on the beach or other recreational activities. If you are interested in discovering the most authentic places in Portugal that we found during our months in Ericeira, I leave you the link to the in-depth article: The Most Authentic Places in Portugal.
Using Digital Resources and Educational Books
Digital resources can enrich the edutainment experience while traveling. We use applications and online tools to integrate the lessons learned during visits. Obviously, we can never leave without our MiniLonely, the travel diaries for kids.
FAQ on Edutainment in Travel
What does edutainment mean in travel?
Edutainment is a form of educational entertainment aimed at both educating and entertaining. It is a neologism coined in the 90s by Bob Heyman, a National Geographic documentarian, to indicate the possibility and necessity of teaching and learning while having fun in a group. When related to travel, it shows us how much kids can concretely learn simply from their experiences and adventures.
What are the benefits of educational trips for kids?
Beyond the educational choices of each family, educational trips, whether with family, in class, or independently, are unique opportunities to learn in a different and dynamic way. An occasion for kids to have fun while learning. Personally, I believe that travel is the quintessential embodiment of edutainment.
How can I choose the right destination for an edutainment trip?
There is no right or wrong answer. Each family or class has its own needs, budget, and time. My advice is always to choose based on the kids’ interests, regardless of their age. Aldo and Giulia went to the Science Museum in Valencia at the ages of 5 and 8. Aldo was captivated and fascinated by the section on the human body, which is actually recommended for high school classes because it is very complex. Of course, he didn’t learn everything and surely won’t remember everything he saw, but there are concepts he made his own, regardless of his age. This is to say that when you choose to take an educational trip with your kids, you shouldn’t be overly influenced by school programs.
Is it possible to combine edutainment with relaxation and fun?
YES, and not only that: you must! A full immersion in museums or temples certainly won’t be beneficial for anyone. Everything makes sense if balanced correctly. After a few hours of learning, the whole family needs some fun, whether it’s an ice cream, an afternoon at the beach, or a simple walk.
Educational trips with kids, for us, is a big YES!
Edutainment has transformed our family trips into enriching and unforgettable experiences; not all our trips are centered on education, but living on the go, we often find ourselves looking for destinations that can be useful for kids to learn something new, providing them with the right education, balancing school and pleasure.
Every destination offers a unique opportunity for Aldo and Giulia to learn something new, making every stop an educational adventure.
We hope our story can inspire other families to discover the world through the curious eyes of their kids, combining education and fun in a never-ending journey.
We invite you to share your experiences and tips on edutainment in travel in the comments.
Digitally Yours
☀️ Sara ☀️
