Before and after the holidays, at the pickup spots where moms gather after school, during lunch breaks among office workers with kids, or in casual chats with neighbor parents—you’ll hear the question, “Where are you going for the break?” Behind this question isn’t a reflection of your educational philosophy, but rather: Are you well-off and free? Can you afford to play? Whether you genuinely want to take your kids out to “broaden their horizons” or are driven by envy, whether you want to or not, no matter your financial situation, you’re swept up in this trend—you feel you have to go, yet can’t clearly discern why.
A trip taken just for showing off? Better not go at all.
But when we take our kids to Hong Kong, South Korea, the Maldives, Europe, or America—now even featuring lists of the top ten resorts best suited for traveling with kids—these tailored, high-end trips merely move children from the small playgrounds at the mall near your home to bigger amusement parks, from one city’s ocean park to another city’s zoo or aquarium...
“Seeing what you haven’t seen before” is not the same as “gaining insight.” Expensive trips don’t necessarily deliver proportional growth in understanding. The story of Mencius’s mother moving three times was about finding the “right environment” to nurture her child, but today it has gradually turned into sighs over “material prosperity.”
The so-called worldviews and outlooks on life mentioned by some influencers are often reduced to indulgence and consumption in these more luxurious, modern settings. If we keep emphasizing travel without examining what kind of travel it is, the end result is that everyone ends up contributing money to airlines and travel companies.
A trip taken purely for pleasure? Better skip it.
“During a journey, seeing all kinds of lives, reflecting on why others live the way they do and how you should live yours—combining what you see with what you feel inside brightens your eyes, enriches your spirit, lets you experience life, and changes your life.” That’s the meaning of travel. But much of this is just presumptuous “I think” and “I believe.”
Young children, especially preschoolers, no matter where they go, just want to go to amusement parks. They don’t care about or have any interest in those famous historical sites. Yet adults insist they look—and worse, insist they find some deeper meaning. It’s truly ridiculous.
What kids can actually see, we have no way of knowing. But one thing is certain: what they see is definitely different from what adults see. So all the travel goals adults assume are, from start to finish, wrong.
No child enjoys this kind of travel. Yes, children don’t want this kind of trip. What’s so superior about dragging them to piano lessons or pushing them to get good grades? Traveling ten thousand miles to broaden your horizons—then what? To make your child more competitive, to land a good job, to have what you consider a good life. What does any of that have to do with the child’s happiness?
A trip without the desire to explore? Better not go.
It’s just like extracurricular classes. A parent with no hobbies can’t raise a child with artistic sensibility. Kids learn from their parents. You go travel ten thousand miles first—not just to take your child out, but because you yourself are interested in travel. Can you do that?
Ever had the experience of being caged and taken to a wildlife park? How do those leisurely animals outside the cage see us? In truth, many trips are nothing but cages. We often fool ourselves into thinking we’re traveling for the sake of travel. Have you really felt the meaning you claim to seek?
Parents who don’t love travel themselves? Better not take your kids.
Simple sightseeing and a pile of photos brought back—that’s not real travel. You have to live somewhere for a while to truly experience the local life and culture. A rushed tour leaves you nothing but physical exhaustion and echoing opinions. Where’s the observation or reflection on life or living?
If you could swap homes with a local family during the holidays, let your child ride the local bus, go to the local market, give her enough time to dip her feet in the village stream, nap under the old tree by the door, or make friends with local kids. We don’t know what this experience will bring her, but we do know: what she goes through isn’t artificially staged—it’s real, ticket-free life!
What’s the use of a rushed tour?
All the types of travel mentioned above, which we advise against for children—does that mean you shouldn’t take your child out at all?
When she reads “Gazing at Tianmen Mountain” and says, “I want to see Tianmen Mountain too,” then take her…
When we stick to outdoor activities and she starts showing interest, take her along…
Yes, that’s the starting point.
Travel isn’t only about flying somewhere.
No new discoveries can be made without prior thought and desire;
Without a role model, no amount of planning is worthwhile;
It’s better not to take children on trips at all than for parents to do so just because “everyone else is”—leave some experiences for them, let them do and want what’s appropriate for their age.Rather than forcing children to take photos for memories or admire what you consider beautiful scenery, let them experience and explore the meaning of travel on their own. As parents, treat travel as a form of challenge and self-cultivation. If it’s just a cursory sightseeing trip or driven by a desire to show off, then there’s no need to drag your children along for the hassle.