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We know the joy you feel watching your child grow, evolve, learn, and develop their unique perspective. However, you might also feel nervous seeing them sprint toward adulthood, perhaps wishing you could keep them under your wing indefinitely. Watching your child become an adult isn't easy, but what’s even harder is preventing them from reaching their full potential. Beyond essentials like education, nourishment, and affection, time spent abroad is an incredibly valuable investment in your child’s future, especially in today’s global and complex world.
Even if you didn’t have the chance to live, travel, or pursue education overseas when you were young, here are five powerful reasons to ensure the next generation has this opportunity now:
1. Let Them Meet Their Tribe
Comfortable as your immediate home, neighborhood, and daily life may be, the world is vastly larger than our current interactions. Research consistently shows that strong relationships, not wealth or status, are critical for increasing happiness. For young people, the search to find their "people" is a constant, underlying drive. The support (or lack thereof) gained from their social groups profoundly affects their self-understanding and their place in the world. While family and existing friends are vital, there is a difference between those who surround us daily and our true "tribe." The people who form your child’s tribe will share deep interests, common goals, and significantly enhance their self-esteem.
Through travel and overseas study, young individuals are naturally encouraged to spend time with peers who share their values and intellectual interests. The relationships forged during this intense and challenging period often remain close for the rest of their lives.
2. Help Them Feel at Home Anywhere, with Anyone
3. Help Them Improve Their Language Skills
There is no more effective way to acquire a new language and become a more confident communicator than spending dedicated time abroad. The language and life lessons learned are invaluable, and in today’s job market, being bilingual and bicultural is genuinely superior. Young people who lack a working level in at least one other language—and the cultural understanding that accompanies it—risk being sidelined if they aspire to live and work internationally. The benefits of language learning are extensive, ranging from increasing cognitive function and reducing the risk of cognitive decline to opening the door to a truly international career future.
4. Make the Planet Feel Smaller and Bring Opportunities Closer
Following this initial foray into international living, subsequent opportunities become far easier to visualize and pursue. Believe this: the initial feelings of nervousness your son or daughter experiences will quickly dissipate as they immerse themselves in their time abroad—and later, they will be the ones actively seeking out new endeavors. This confidence stems from two things: the breakdown of the idea that people are fundamentally different (see point 2) and the motivating power of increased self-esteem gained from successfully tackling a major challenge.
5. Give Them the Leadership Skills They Need
Now, perhaps more than ever before in your child’s lifetime, the world is facing significant social and political divisions. Emotions and anxieties are running high in many corners of the globe. Your son or daughter is part of the upcoming generation of thinkers, policymakers, parents, leaders, and change agents whose contributions will guide the course of the remainder of this century. Young people must be equipped with the skills to effectively contribute to and shape the world they inherit; time spent abroad is an excellent way to help them develop these essential global leadership abilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is meant by finding a child's 'tribe' when they travel?
A child's 'tribe' refers to a group of peers who share deeply held values, intellectual interests, and common goals. Traveling or studying abroad provides intense opportunities to connect with people globally who fit this description, forming strong, lasting, and supportive friendships.
How does travel help develop empathy in young people?
Experiencing life and making friends in a foreign setting leads to the realization of shared human commonalities despite surface cultural differences. This direct, personal connection breaks down preconceived notions and significantly multiplies empathy and understanding for others.
Is living abroad really the best way to learn a new language?
Yes. Immersion in a country where the target language is spoken daily provides constant, real-world conversational practice, making the language learning process faster, more natural, and boosting communication confidence dramatically.
What kind of leadership skills do children gain from time abroad?
They gain skills crucial for global leadership, such as cultural competency, conflict resolution, increased self-reliance, and effective communication across different backgrounds—abilities essential for shaping the world in the 21st century.