Kids and Traveling Do Mix!

10 Tips for traveling with your kids.

Traveling with your kids should be one of the best experiences you have as a family. You expose your children to new learning opportunities through visiting historical landmarks, eating new foods, hearing different languages, and so much more.

We want to help you make this experience as easy as a walk in the park. Check out our top 10 tips for traveling with children below:

1. Take it Slow and Leave Plenty of Time

Keep your schedule loose and leave plenty of room for adjustment. A flexible schedule will create less stress for you and your family and lead to a happier trip overall.

2. Don’t Over pack

The less you bring, the easier it is to pack, the less you have to carry, and the more room you have for souvenirs.

3. Explain the Trip

Once your children understand what’s going on, they are less likely to ask questions while you’re trying to take care of travel logistics. They will be happier, more comfortable, and excited about what’s coming next.

4. Snacks, Snacks, Snacks

Having a few small and easily transportable snacks with you at all times can keep everyone happy until you can refuel.

5. Ask for Child Discounts

You never know unless you ask. We’ve found that businesses are often willing to give us a discount for our kids. If we hadn’t raised the question, we never would have known. It pains me to think of how much extra I’ve spent on trips when I didn’t think to ask for discounts for the kids.

6. Give Kids Your Contact Information

If a child gets lost despite your best efforts, you’ll want them to have your contact information.

Your contact information should include the following items for all of the adults on your trip so you have multiple opportunities for help locating your child.

  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Local address

7. Travel with Basic Medicines

It’s always a good idea to take a few over-the-counter medications your family might need while traveling. Over-the-counter medications may include:

  • Headache medicines
  • Allergy medicines
  • Medicine for upset stomachs
  • Motion sickness prevention medication
  • Other medication that might apply to your family or the specific trip

8. Identification Documentation

Having the proper paperwork is especially crucial if you’re traveling without your child’s other parent or if you’re traveling with children who are not your own. In either of these cases, some countries may require that you have documentation to prove you have permission to travel with the child.

Required documentation may include:

  • Birth certificates
  • Copies of birth certificates
  • Notes from the child’s non-present parents
  • Other items

9. Give Kids a Camera

Having a camera and trying to get the best photos will help your child focus more on the things they’re seeing all around them. It will help them see the beauty in the landscape, the amazing features in the architecture, and the details of the crowds and bustle of the city.

The photos they take will be great for showing friends and relatives when they get back home and for helping them remember the trip for years to come.

10. Be Flexible

Be flexible, go with the flow, and have a great trip with your family.

SAE Global: Looking for a way to experience different cultures without leaving home? Hosting an international exchange student is the perfect way to have your children experience a new culture from the comforts of home. You’ll learn the student’s language, customs, and traditions, amongst other learning opportunities. Meet our current students needing a host family here: http://saeglobal.org/student-exchange-photolisting/

Original article by upgradedpoints.com

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Dear Future Host Family…

Dear Future Host Family,

I am Mateo from Burgos, Spain. My home country is beautiful and known for its Gothic Cathedrals. I live with my parents and little sister, Alma. As a family, we enjoy hiking and visiting museums.

I am anxious and excited to meet you. Becoming a foreign exchange student wasn’t an easy choice. I was torn between leaving the comforts of home and traveling the world. However, I know these new experiences are a once in a life time opportunity for me.

Mateo and Alma exploring the city

Because of your family, I get the opportunity to learn a new culture and expand my education. In turn, I will teach you about my culture. Have you ever tried lazos de san guillermo? It’s my favorite dessert! I will make it for your family.

I am grateful for you choosing me as an exchange student. As we say in my home country sincero gracias meaning thank you.

Te veo pronto (See you soon),

Mateo

About Student Ambassador Exchange:

At Student Ambassador Exchange, we impact the lives of students like Mateo every day! Join our global mission today by becoming a host family. Applying is easy at SAEGlobal.org. Have a question about the program? Call to speak with a Program Coordinator at (512) 323 – 9595.

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Happy Father’s Day!

In celebration of Father’s day, we want to celebrate all our wonderful SAE host dads! What makes our host dads so special is the bond they create with our exchange students, the effort they go to be there and the love they have for them.

Host dad, James from Arizona shares with us what an unforgettable experience he and his family had hosting Ben, an exchange student from China.

Ben has been an amazing addition to my family and friends. When he arrived in August he was a somewhat shy and reserved kid. Typical, right? But soon after, he opened up and became fully engaged with his exchange experience.

We had great times together attending sporting events (mostly NFL Games) and Ben embraced our local teams and got into all the excitement, being a “true fan”. We also took him on trips to show him different places and landmarks in the U.S., including Salt Lake City and San Diego.

We learned from the beginning that he was self-motivated and loved to contribute at home. He even enjoyed grocery shopping! He was also open to trying new things like cooking some egg drop soup! I have to say, it was delightful! 

My friends think he is such a great young man and ask about him every day.

When I think back to our year together and all the memories we made, the moment he made me most proud, always stands out. That moment was when he decided to join the school soccer team. Ben never played organized soccer in China, but decided to give it a go. Lots of other kids dropped out for various reasons but he persevered and was chosen to be on the team. Initially, because of his inexperience he only played in the last few minutes of a game when they were well ahead. However, as the season progressed and his skills improved, he started the last 4 games of the season (as a defender) and played in 2 playoff games! The school finished third in their division. That’s really remarkable for someone new to the game and our country to step-up and stay with something new and different! 

Ben is a terrific kid and he will go far in life. He has goals in place for his future that I know he will accomplish!

Happy Father’s Day James and all our SAE host dads!

Interested in becoming a host dad and creating unforgettable memories with an exchange student? Check out how to host this fall on our website!

Post originally by AYA blog

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