This Christmas we’re travelling as a family to India. Our children are 10 and 12 and they’re very excited, but I’m wondering how to prepare them for the difficult things we might encounter. I don’t want them to be upset, but equally I want them to understand the realities of the country.
India is a wonderfully vibrant country and a really exciting place for your children to visit. However, the cities in particular can be crowded and you may encounter sights, smells and tastes that can be quite overwhelming. You are also likely to see quite extreme poverty in places, so preparing your children in advance is definitely wise.
Before you travel, I would invest in some educational books to flick through with your children. You could perhaps sit down with a map of your destination and talk about what you might see. Focus on the cultural aspects – the different languages, religions, festivals and foods.
In countries where there is real poverty it always helps to be taken around by a professional guide. When you go to places that aren’t main tourism sites, foreigners are likely to attract a certain amount of attention. Scott Dunn works with excellent local guides who are very knowledgeable and can let you know which places to avoid.
Wherever you go in India, you will at some point encounter begging, and you’ll see malnourished families. Your children’s response could be, “Why can’t we help them?” We advise selecting a charity at home to donate money to. It’s also a sensible idea to carry coloured pens and paper as a good alternative to give children who are begging. The most important point is to make sure you discuss what you see with your children. At 10 and 12 they are old enough to engage in quite in-depth conversations that will help them process anything they encounter. Overall, India is an amazing country, and going there can provide a life-changing experience for you and your children.
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