What if, in addition to making happy memories, children came back from their holidays having learned something new? How to light a fire, create an authentic Neapolitan pizza, identify a paw print. Holidays are an amazing opportunity for children to interact with, and learn about, the world around them – often without even realising it. Welcome to ‘Stealth Learning’. Whether it’s studying constellations with an astronomer in Chile’s Atacama Desert, mastering the steps of a Bollywood dance routine with a choreographer in Mumbai or discovering how to track wildlife in the Botswana bush with a local ranger, travel is the best teacher. Read on for our stealth learning top tips…
- Walk on the wild side
- Hands-on
- Let’s dance
- Animal aficionados
- Little chefs
- A sporting chance
- The sky’s the limit
- Once upon a time
- Artists in the making
- The big screen
Walk on the wild side
Do your children dream of becoming the next Amelia Earhart or Indiana Jones? A world of adventure awaits. By day, climb volcanoes in Iceland or the Canary Islands, cross glaciers in Patagonia, descend into canyons in the American West, ride across Argentina’s pampas with gauchos, learn how to track wildlife in the Botswana bush or explore the Moroccan desert by camel. Come evening, spot Panama’s nocturnal creatures on a jungle walk at dusk, dine around a campfire in Botswana that you helped build and fall asleep in a hotel that’s more fun than fancy (think: teepees, treehouses and beach cabins).
Hands-on
In today’s tech-centric world, young hands spend more time typing and texting than crafting and creating. Dive into the world of traditional craftsmanship and make your own mementos to bring home, whether it’s a hand-painted azulejo tile from Portugal, a piece of pottery from Peru or a beaded necklace from Kenya. Crafting a keepsake by hand is the perfect chance to master a new skill while also forming a deeper connection with the country you’re visiting. Stealth learning at its finest.
Let’s dance
Dance is one of the most exciting and immersive ways to connect with a new culture. Put dad’s dance moves to the ultimate test during a hip-hop class in LA or NYC. Watch a dramatic Argentine tango performance in Buenos Aires – a dance with intricate footwork and sweeping leg movements that originated in the city’s working-class neighbourhoods. Or make for Mumbai, where a Bollywood dance choreographer can teach you how to embody the energy and emotions of the music.
Image by Lucy Laucht
Animal aficionados
If you had to leave the family cat/dog/hamster at home, chances are some tears were shed. But your youngsters will soon be smiling again when they come face to face with some of the world’s coolest creatures. See whales breach in South Africa; cuddle a koala in Australia; spot the Big Five (or maybe even the Ugly Five... yes really) on a Namibian safari; swim with dolphins in Oman; or snorkel with manta rays in Hawaii. Before you know it, you’ll be raising the next David Attenborough.
Little chefs
Do your little ones drag their feet whenever you ask them to lend a hand in the kitchen? That will soon be a thing of the past with stealth learning. In Puglia, shape pasta by hand under the watchful eye of an apron-wearing nonna. In Thailand’s Chiang Mai, join a local chef for a family cooking class where you’ll learn to make dishes like pad thai and khao soi – a creamy coconut-milk curry. And in Kyoto, step inside a machiya (traditional wooden townhouse) to discover how to make the best tasting crispy tempura.
A sporting chance
Surfing with turtles in Hawaii, learning kung-fu in China, mastering capoeira in Rio, river rafting in Costa Rica, cycling down volcanoes in Iceland, riding in the American West... these active adventures are sure to tempt even the most tech-obsessed teens away from their screens. We work with the best family guides and instructors who will take your youngsters under their wing and maybe even unlock a new sporting passion.
Image by Faustine Poidevin-Gros
The sky’s the limit
Shooting stars, solar eclipses, the Milky Way... nothing lights up young minds like the night sky. Head to Iceland, Norway or Swedish Lapland for a chance to see one of Mother Nature’s finest spectacles: the Northern Lights. Watch as ribbons of green, blue, pink and yellow dance across the night sky, transforming the heavens into a luminescent light show. Or, if you’re raising a budding astronomer, travel to Chile’s Atacama Desert – one of the world’s best stargazing destinations – to study the constellations with a specialist.
Once upon a time
Bring history to life with stealth learning as you follow in the footsteps of ancient pharaohs, mighty emperors and fearsome warriors. In Egypt, cruise the Nile aboard the Steam Ship Sudan (a restored paddle steamer from the 1920s) and introduce your youngsters to archaeological wonders like the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple. In Pompeii, discover the perfectly preserved streets and buildings that were buried under ash. And in Latin America, see the remains of ancient civilisations, from the Incas in Peru to the Mayans in Belize and the Aztecs in Mexico.
Artists in the making
Looking to unleash your children’s creativity? The world is your canvas. Hunt for your favourite artworks in New York’s MoMA on an interactive family tour. Snap a family manga portrait at a purikura photomaton (Japanese photo booth) in Tokyo. Walk along graffiti-adorned side streets in Valparaiso, the Chilean port town famous for its colourful murals. Or head to Florence to discover its famous frescoes and learn how to make your own during a hands-on workshop.
The big screen
Bring your family’s favourite films to life on a set-jetting adventure. Meet the real-life cast of The Lion King on a Kenyan safari; dance your way around Greece on a Mamma-Mia-inspired escape; or follow in the footsteps of Paddington on a family expedition to Peru. And don’t miss a trip to Hollywood where youngsters can wander the sets of their best-loved films and television shows at Universal Studios, and see their cinematic idols immortalised on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Image by Birgit Sfat
Written by Ella Mawson | Header image by Ludovic Jacome/Getty Images/iStockphoto
