Expert shares why traveling with parents is important for young kids: 'Building blocks of family'

As February winds down, children everywhere are buzzing with excitement for the upcoming spring break. While parents may be tempted to just stay at home, travel expert Samantha Brown had a few interesting insights to share on why kids need to travel with their families. In an interview with standup comedian Micheal Kosta—who goes by @michealkosta_ on TikTok—she explained why travel was a crucial component of development for young children. The video has got 40.3K views and 78 comments so far.

According to Brown, memories of travel were the strongest in children compared to other important events in their lives, such as their birthdays or graduations. She explains, "And one of the reasons why this is so is that when you travel with your kids, it allows your kid to see you be a kid." Brown pointed out how such an interaction played an important role in fostering a sense of love and security for the kid. She highlights how it acted as the "building blocks of a family."

It's also a win for parents, who get to let loose, be playful, and momentarily set aside their daily responsibilities. Brown addressed how Micheal could act like a kid more often since he was a standup comedian. This allowed him to view the world in a light-hearted manner and with humor. She concluded by saying, "But it's so important that our kids not always see us in parent mode. And when they begin to love and trust us is when they see, 'Oh, we're just like them.'"

People who watched the video agreed with Brown's analysis and shared their own experiences in the comments section. @sassycassaline said, "This is so true. My kids remember details from a trip to Costa Rica when they were 3 and 4 years old. Those are their earliest memories, I think." Another individual, @andiii9989, shared, "We camp every summer in Canada. My kids love the cottage! And so does mom 'cause they're busy playing." You can check out Samantha Brown (@samanthabrowntravels) on TikTok for more travel content and follow Micheal Kosta (@michealkosta_) on TikTok for more funny content.

Almost a year back, Dr. Erika Velez, a child psychologist, posted a TikTok video stating how kids spending vacations with their parents was very important. Dr. Velez points out how many kids might not express a lot of enthusiasm before going on a vacation; they end up enjoying themselves quite a bit. She shares, "The things that they mention, especially the younger ones, have more to do with the time they spend with their parents." Kids also loved hotel rooms and sharing meals with their parents.

Things do get a bit more complicated with teenagers because most parents are reluctant to bring them along, seeing how they tend to complain most of the time. In certain scenarios, Dr. Velez acknowledges that not all vacations go as planned but that most kids would enjoy them regardless. She supports her analysis by revealing: "You'd be surprised at some of the positive feedback that I also get, despite what's happening on the outside. On the inside, when they share it, these are memories and core memories that you are creating with your family."