Learn about a place before you go: activities for family trips

Kids get more out of a trip when they know a little about where they’re going. A child who has read about geysers will run to see Old Faithful. A child who hasn’t might just see a crowd. A bit of learning before you leave turns sights into “I read about this!” moments.

Before the trip

• Read about the place together. A short, kid-level article about the history, nature and landmarks.
• Find it on a map. Trace the route you’ll take.
• Make a “things to spot” list. Animals, buildings or foods to look for.
• Learn three words if the language is different.

On the way

Long car rides and flights are the perfect time for puzzles about the destination. A word search with the place names, a crossword about what you’ll see, a maze for the youngest. They’re quiet, screen-free and build excitement.

Tip: Put the puzzles on a clipboard with a pencil tied on. It works much better in a car than a loose pile of paper.

During and after

• Postcards. Kids write a postcard describing something they saw. It’s descriptive writing practice in disguise.
• A trip journal. One page a day: draw something, write one sentence.
• Tell the story. At dinner, let each child tell one thing they learned.

Trip packs on Puzzld

Type where you’re going, pick an age, and a trip pack gives you a reading article about the place, a word search, a crossword, a postcard writing prompt and a story, all about your destination. For preschoolers it’s a story, a word search, a dot-to-dot and a maze. We keep trip packs to real, kid-friendly facts about nature, history, landmarks and culture, and strictly non-political.