at what age??

[Cesar349]

Ive been planning my trip around the world :smiley_drive: and the wife and I would never leave without the children my question is at what age should a 1 to 2 year type of trip around the world be right??

we dont mind taking them out of school for something as unforgetable/educational as this (they can be world/home schooled)

my oldest is 21 months and my son is only 10 days old so I still have ways to go before we can do it


any one done a long trip with their children?? if so at what age and how did it go?

the idea is to travel alot with them to get them use to living out of a car

[Harald Hansen]

Our longest trip as a family has been 3.5 weeks, and it went swimmingly. Hopefully some more hard-core families will chime in. Good luck with your planning!

Edited to add: Our kids were 1.5 and 5 years old at the time.

[Cesar349]

the main reason I would want to bring them is so that they will have good memories of the trip so im guessing 10 and 8 YO might be a good age

[thebrassnuckles]

my daughter is almost 11 months old. as soon as i get the rig ready, we'll be taking her along with us.

[1leglance]

anything past 6 or so would be good....
think back on your earliest memories, what age can you remember things from?

If you leave when the youngest is 6 & the older is 7, then go for a year they return at 7 & 8 and will only have missed kindergarden/1st grade...maybe a bit of 2nd. Nothing mission critical and easy stuff to teach on the road.

This will have laid a great foundation for later travels as they get older.

Just avoid travel around transition years like elementary to jr high or jr high to high school as those are tough enough as it is. Or continue to home school when you get home :)

No matter what just go, anytime, just go :)

[cwsqbm]

anything past 6 or so would be good....
think back on your earliest memories, what age can you remember things from?

If you leave when the youngest is 6 & the older is 7, then go for a year they return at 7 & 8 and will only have missed kindergarden/1st grade...maybe a bit of 2nd. Nothing mission critical and easy stuff to teach on the road.

This will have laid a great foundation for later travels as they get older.

Just avoid travel around transition years like elementary to jr high or jr high to high school as those are tough enough as it is. Or continue to home school when you get home :)

No matter what just go, anytime, just go :)

+1 The trips my parents took when I was 6 and 7 are still burned into my mind. I definitely agree with keeping them in school from Jr. High on. Its not the knowledge they'd miss, but the close life-long friendships that form at that age.

[thebrassnuckles]

+1 The trips my parents took when I was 6 and 7 are still burned into my mind. I definitely agree with keeping them in school from Jr. High on. Its not the knowledge they'd miss, but the close life-long friendships that form at that age.


:Wow1:

all my friends from those ages have faded from sight. I have a few acquaintences from then, but I dont hang out with any of them. I dont miss them one bit.

My life long friends were made, during my adult life, in the military. I wish I could see them everyday, as it is now I see one or 2 of them ever few months.

I enjoyed hanging out with my friends in school, but I would trade it all for a few more hours with my brothers in the military.

The experience learned from camping and other similar activities is of far greater importance to me than a few more days with friends friends from school.

Quality bonding time with family is much more valuable than time spent with friends.

[CalgaryMcLean]

One year long family trip through Central and South America last year; daughter was 10-1/2 when we left, son was 8-1/2, and dog was 1-1/2.

All worked out great (although the dog could have been a bit brighter :) )

http://mungoeatsla.ca/2009/6/01/

Met other families travelling with younger kids and they were having a great time too.

Any age is perfect; just have to plan around different needs/wants.

Kevin

[Cesar349]

One year long family trip through Central and South America last year; daughter was 10-1/2 when we left, son was 8-1/2, and dog was 1-1/2.

All worked out great (although the dog could have been a bit brighter :) )

http://mungoeatsla.ca/2009/6/01/

Met other families travelling with younger kids and they were having a great time too.

Any age is perfect; just have to plan around different needs/wants.

Kevin

great info thank you all keep it coming

[ExpediT-100n]

I would suggest sending a PM to Colorado Ron. He has six children and sold everything to take off on an extended trip such as this, but not before a neighbor called Child Protection on him :yikes:

He might be able to share some good insight on his preparations.

Kevin

[1leglance]

One year long family trip through Central and South America last year; daughter was 10-1/2 when we left, son was 8-1/2, and dog was 1-1/2.

All worked out great (although the dog could have been a bit brighter :) )

http://mungoeatsla.ca/2009/6/01/

Met other families travelling with younger kids and they were having a great time too.

Any age is perfect; just have to plan around different needs/wants.

Kevin

Hah there you are!
I really enjoyed reading about 1/2 your blog when I lost the link and have not been able to find it again.
Thanks for posting as it is great reading for my family regarding future trips...however as my boys are 19 & 12 we are ahead of you time wise.

[Ford Prefect]

Personally I think you can GO NOW. Soon as you are ready and set up, then just leave. If you look around here, there are many who travel with younger kids. Jay Shapiro comes to mind, and I just read about a couple that is traveling China right now with their little kids. I believe Jay's kids were 2 and four when he left. No reason you can not go right away, as far as the kids are concerned anyhow.

Now if you are hoping that this will be some mystical memory for them then you need to wait several years, but if you are more about the trip for you than for your kids, then just go for it as soon as you are ready and able.

A big thing would be to do a lot of shorter trips with them first. IE plane trips to grandparents gets them used to travel well. Driving four or five days is good. Just learn how your kids travel and do that. For instance some kids really can do it just fine, my son goes ten hours straight without concern. Some people will only go about three hours and then let the kids out to run around a lot. Some will just simply go three hours and leave it at that, no more travel that day. So learn what your kids will do, and hey kids are tough and learn fast.

Have fun!

[Ford Prefect]

...six children and sold everything to take off on an extended trip such as this, but not before a neighbor called Child Protection on him :yikes:
Kevin

Just goes to show, some people are just evil!

[ExpediT-100n]

Just goes to show, some people are just evil!

My Child protection coworker went to pick up some gear I purchased from this member. Upon hearing the trip plans, he shook Ron's hand and said that he thought what he was doing was awesome!

[racingjason]

Check out this blog: http://www.ons4.reproroom.com/

We met Jean and Hannelie in Morocco in 2009 as they were on their way back down the continent. They were a big inspiration for us as we plan our African trip, with our son (he will be four when we leave). I think any age from 2 and up would be fine but obviously as the child gets older the more of the experiance they will take away with them.

[The Adam Blaster]

I wouldn't go with kids that couldn't walk/explore a bit safely on their own - for a couple of reasons:

If you're taking a newborn (or very young child) on this trip you'll spend a lot of time just looking after the kid vs. enjoying what is going on around you. And the child (at that age) isn't going to appreciate the trip either.

That young of a child doesn't have a very well developed immune system, and if you're getting into "primitive" areas, there may be some health concerns. As for immunizations, I think I'd rather get an 8 year old shots than a 6 month old! :Wow1:

I agree that the 8-10 range is really good, they're probably a bit better at keeping out of trouble and actually listening to you, but that is going to differ from child to child. lol
But at that age, they can make friends pretty easily and be able to form lasting memories of this type of trip, as well, they could probably help with the maps, or around camp etc. etc. They'll be more involved overall.

[jgolden]

I have 3 boys, ages 5 months, 2 and 4 and I'm planning the same type of trip.
I think the youngest should be at least 5 yrs old when you leave and the oldest no more than 11 or 12 when you return.

I'm trying to hit that "sweet spot" in age where all 3 are mature enough to enjoy the trip, but not yet "too cool" for the parents.