Do you want your typical family outings to become more memorable and exciting for everyone? The perfect day out doesn’t always come naturally and it is important to inspire curiosity, especially in our children, to achieve this. No matter the destination we will help you turn your ordinary family outings into something you’ll all being talking about for years to come. Your child and your family will thank you for making this a special experience.

1. Pick a Destination with Built-In Wonder

A great field trip is one that makes your kid curious and inspired. Find a location or activity that peaks your child’s interest and they will have fun no matter what. There is something for every kid and you can even ask them if they have any ideas of places that may be fun for you to visit together. Don’t just pick a place that sounds interesting to you, remember your child might have completely different interests and that is okay!

You might want to check out:

• Museums
• Art classes
• Natural areas such as the beach, a hiking trail, a park
• A farm or nature center
• Musical theatre or a play

2. Turn Your Kids Into “Explorers”

Turn your outing into a puzzle, mystery to solve, or game. Giving them a simple “mission” can make the activity feel meaningful to them and keep them interested. This is basically fun homework! For example try:

• Do a wildlife scavenger hunt. Make a list of animals to find and check them off/take a photo when you see them

• Compete to find the weirdest or coolest fact! Have your kids write down their favorite discoveries of the day and all review your answers together.

• Have kids collect nature they find (where allowed) such as leaves or flowers, then have them construct their collections into an art project

3. Pack Snacks and Curiosity

Food is fuel and kids need fuel to have a day of fun! Not to mention, field trips always had snacks, right? Pack your little one’s favorite snacks and use snack time as an opportunity to ask questions and start conversations! Your kid being able to nibble on their favorite treat will make their day that much more special and you’ll have some down time to discuss your day so far. You can even make this a part of your activity, bring a picnic blanket and find a nice place to sit down outside.

Whether your indoors or outdoors you can ask your child questions like:

• “What was your favorite part of today so far” and “why?”
• “What do you think would happen if… changed?”
• “Why do you think that… is that way?”

4. Get Hands-On (If It’s Allowed!)

Kids learn best when they’re able to utilize their five senses! As a child there is still so much to learn by touching, creating, experimenting, etc. So many kid friendly spots now cater to this as well. Find something that sounds up your kid’s alley and check out an activity like:

• For animal/nature loving kids: Visit a touch tank at a local aquarium. Boca Aquarium hosts these events! 
• For your kid who love to create: Go to the beach and make an epic sand castle
• For your artistic child: Bring out paints, coloring books, or markers with you and let them illustrate what they see on your outing

5. End with a “Family Reflection” (But Keep It Fun)

Reflecting is a powerful tool for everyone. When you ask your child to reflect it helps them to think critically about the things that they did. This way of thinking encourages children to absorb their experience and connect with it in a way that they may not have initially. This is also a great exercise for your family to practice communication and family bonding. Reflecting is a great way for your child to learn in a care free environment without feeling like they’re being tested.

After your activity you can ask each family member:

• “What was your favorite part of today?” and “why?”
• “What’s one thing you learned from what we did today?”
• “Would you come back here again?”/”would you do this activity again?”
• “What did you like/dislike about today?”

Why This Approach Works

When you introduce a learning activity in a fun way, your kids are more likely to be receptive to it. Making things into a game or exploration of sorts, helps kids feel involved and entertained. Kids learn best and retain the most information when they’re in this type of atmosphere. The ultimate goal as parents is to teach and lead our children, this will help them to grow even outside of the classroom.

So next time you’re planning a weekend trip, skip the expected. Make it your own type of field trip.

Ready to Plan Your Next Adventure?

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