Heading overseas with children is about more than just dodging the school run or chasing the sun. It serves as a real-life lesson in being human. For parents and foster carers, a family holiday provides the perfect setting to teach empathy. The aim is simple: help young people approach new places with an open heart rather than a critical eye.
Start the Discovery Early
Curiosity should kick in long before you pack the suitcases. Get the children involved in looking up the destination weeks in advance. Beyond checking out the hotel pool, encourage them to dig into the local history, food, or customs.
If you are caring for a foster child, this preparation is a brilliant way to bond. Try mastering a few basic words like “please,” “thank you,” and “hello” as a team. When children see that they must make an effort to communicate, they learn that English isn’t the centre of the universe. It teaches humility and shows them that trying is what counts.
Watch Your Own Behaviour
Children are excellent mimics. They will copy your reaction to anything unfamiliar. If you recoil at a local dish or complain loudly about a different way of queuing, they will adopt that same narrow view. Conversely, if you tackle delays with a shrug and new experiences with a grin, they will follow your lead.
Show respect by asking before taking photos of locals and dressing right for religious sites. Explain why you are doing this. These small acts teach them that we are guests in someone else’s home and should behave with courtesy.
Valuing Faith and Background
For carers fostering with Active Care Solutions, specifically those matched with a child based on religious or cultural alignment, travel takes on extra weight. Taking a trip to a country where that faith is vibrant can be incredibly affirming. It allows a child to see their religion as a living, global community, not just a routine practiced at home.
It broadens the perspective for biological children too. Seeing their faith expressed in a new setting reinforces that core values often transcend borders. It creates a deep sense of belonging and shows that while rituals might look different, the meaning remains.
Encourage Curiosity, Not Critique
It is natural for a child to find things odd when they step outside their bubble. The job is to swap the word “weird” for “different.” When they point out a difference in clothes or manners, turn it into a conversation.
Encourage them to ask “why” rather than making a statement. Ask them why they think that custom exists. Is it the weather? The history? Instead of judging what they see, they start trying to figure out how the world works.
We all want our kids to grow up kind and open-minded. When we take the time to show them how to connect with others, whether through faith or just a smile, we are giving them skills they will actually use. The holiday might only last a week, but the attitude they pick up can stick with them forever.