Holidays are always exciting, whether you’re 5 or 50. Despite the pandemic affecting international travel, UK residents still made 19.1 million visits abroad in 2021. As an adult, taking a break from the rigours of everyday life gives you the chance to relax, unwind, and put the stress of the world behind you. For kids, it means fun, fun, and more fun.

But just because they’re forming memories which will last a lifetime, it doesn’t mean there isn’t also an opportunity for them to progress on a personal level. One of the most effective skills which children can develop on holiday is their ability to socialise.

Today, we’re going to assess three of the most effective ways that a trip away can help to nurture this all-important aspect of a child’s personality

A sense of adventure triggers bravery

Half the battle when it comes to socialising is working up the courage to reach out and start talking to someone new. While this isn’t something which can be taught overnight, a recent study asked UK parents for the main reasons for travelling as a family. The results revealed that 33% wanted to travel to enable their children to learn and grow from new experiences.

Trying new experiences – whether that be food, a physical activity, or even a change of culture – can help to give them the push they need to get out and explore something new. This translates over into their ability to interact with new faces.

Immersion with other families

Some holidays will naturally lead people to mix and mingle with other families. Whether this is intentional, or just a byproduct of the environment you find yourselves in, interacting closely with other families gives your child the chance to practice their socialising skills (without even realising they’re doing it).

Kids always tend to be a bit hesitant to play with newcomers at first, but give them the time to settle down, relax, and embrace the new friends which they’re bound to make on their travels. Most of us have “holiday friends” we made when we were kids. Now the baton is passing to the next generation.

Breaking their conventional social circles

It’s perfectly normal to want to stick to what we know and trust. But would it shock you to learn that as many as 98% of people will probably never leave their own comfort zone? While having a close circle we trust is far from a bad thing, it becomes an issue when we lack the ability to branch out from them.

Placing kids in a position where they need to adapt and overcome something mildly challenging is a great way to help them learn necessary socialising skills. Just make sure to check up on them sporadically if they seem a little lost.

Do you have a better understanding of how a trip away can help a child to socialise? Keep these points in mind when deciding on your next holiday.