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Family Field Trips
Educational Adventures
By Teri Brown
Preteens are an interesting bunch. Half the time they adore going and doing things with their family and the other half they are bored by any suggestion you make. Educational family outings with the 9-to-12 set need to pass a rigorous set of criteria. They have to be challenging, fun and interesting to an age group that is wildly diverse in its taste – and that changes from day to day!
Why should you take family field trips? There are many reasons why taking your tweens on educational family adventures is a good idea. With the uncertain funding of our schools, field trips are often the first thing on the chopping block, but there are many children who still need that experiential-type learning. Other reasons include family bonding, educational inspiration, a love of learning, historical perspective and knowledge and empathy for the natural world.
Families are fracturing in this fast-paced modern world where time is the most precious resource a family has. Day trips are one way a family can slow down and spend some time together as a unit. Tweens, especially, need this extra time with their families – whether they think so or not! The experience, whether it's a trip to a museum, wildlife viewing area or farm, becomes a part of the family's collective memory, something to share and recollect for years to come.
Have you ever seen your children become fully engaged with something, an idea or activity that entranced them to the point of awe? Their eyes lit up and their faces almost glowed with an inner fire. It's hard to tell what will inspire a child, and that is why I think it's imperative to surround children with experiences rather than just things.
