Local Travel Tip

Traveling allows us to get outside of our box. We meet new people and have new experiences. When we return to our home, we are more mindful of strangers in our area. We will then have more opportunities to reach out and help them.

We will also be more mindful of those far from our home who are suffering. We will also be able to help them. Traveling is one of the best ways to become mindful of the needs of others and it will lend us the opportunity to help more people.

On trips to other countries there are often long lines and long flights. It is very easy for children to lose patience and become cranky and bored. Here are some ideas for times like this:

1. Pick up a nearby object. Challenge your child to think of new ways to use it. The imagination of children is vibrant and you may be impressed by what they come up with. When you get stuck think about how the various parts could be rearranged to meet more uses. Talk about what a person from another planet who had never seen one before might do with it.
2. Another great imagination game is called Sniglets. Sniglets are words that are not found in any dictionary that describe different objects that should be added to the dictionary. Come up with as many words as possible. For example, Airdirt describes a hanging plant that has be neglected and ignored for several weeks.

Waiting in line provides a host of opportunities to get to know your child better and to pass on some of the hard learned knowledge you have gained throughout the years. You can change what used to be an irritating occurrence into a valuable opportunity and unforgettable memory. Here are some things that you could talk to your child about:

1. Foreign language: if you know part of a foreign language or are fluent in one, this is a great opportunity to teach your child a few key words. If they appear disinterested, hint that the language is a secret code and pretend that you are spies.
2. Favorites: Talk about your favorites. You may be surprised that much of what you think you know about your child is different than you expect.
3. Math: quiz your child on addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. You will be surprised by how much this can help them in school. (Or quiz them on spelling, reading, and so forth)