Many parents get surprised when their children bring up the idea of traveling abroad. Perhaps they have always been talking about it for many years. Children get thrilled at the idea of exploring a new country on their own. However, their parents might not have similar excitement. Parents want to protect their children in the best way possible. This article has top concerns for parents about their children traveling abroad.
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Not understanding why the child wants to travel
Children have various interests. Parents should listen to their teens’ interests and why they enjoy such activity. Traveling abroad might mean that your child is passionate about learning a foreign language or indulging themselves in a new culture. Parents might not have similar feelings but you have to understand your child’s interest in a new language or culture.
Travel abroad is expensive
It requires a significant budget to travel abroad. However, there are other activities and things you might spend a similar amount on. When choosing priorities, travel abroad is very important for your child. Your child can travel abroad after fundraising or doing some work to raise money for the foreign exchange program. This allows your child to develop a work ethic and appropriate budgeting skills without costing you anything.
Why travel alone
Perhaps you always travel as a family on vacation. Well, a family vacation can be educational but without the same cultural immersion offered by the best high school study abroad programs. The study abroad experience allows your child to learn to live normally in a new country. This allows the child to learn to communicate with peers and to learn new cultural practices for a rewarding experience.
Additionally, traveling alone without the whole family gives the child time to grow. Exposure to new things and figuring them out on their own is very rewarding to the child. Traveling alone abroad is the most influential part of your child’s life. It gives them a chance to feel independent to make them capable of handling thing on their own.
It’s risky
This is the number one concern for parents to let their children travel abroad alone. Perhaps you have never been in that particular country. It is obvious to have hesitations about trusting people you don’t know with your child. The reality is even the safest place might seem daunting when unfamiliar with it. A reputable agency will choose a location for your child with a vetted host family. Such an agency usually has experience handling other children for foreign exchange programs.
Just social media inspiration
By the time your child makes up their mind to travel abroad, they should have reflected on the reasons for traveling. Ask your child what they are looking forward to from the experience. In addition, be open-minded when hearing their response. Most teens who travel abroad have a great interest in enhancing their communication skills, interest in world issues, and desire to get out of the comfort zone. Luckily, the company will select the ideal program with your child’s interest in mind.
Making getting into college harder
It is wrong to think like this about travel abroad. With the college application becoming more competitive, your child has higher chances with something that makes them stand out. The experience of studying abroad will obviously make your child stand out. It portrays how your child is ready for the college experience. Students who complete foreign exchange programs showcase the ability to grow in a foreign environment and having self-motivation and passion for learning new things.
Nothing is different abroad
Some parents think that whatever their child wants to do abroad is possible at home. The right study abroad program offers authentic activities and excursions specific to the host country. Even when doing similar activities, the experience won’t be the same while interacting with locals. These experiences will give your child a chance to understand variations in cultures. This will allow your child to thrive in a multicultural working environment.
Too much waste of time
Joining a high school exchange program is not a waste of too much time. And, your child will not miss out on anything. The ideal program selects schools in other countries having similar programs like those offered by your child’s current school. This will allow your child not to miss their regular schedule.
Your child’s friends will always be there on coming back. Spending time abroad will make your child develop an understanding of who they are. Additionally, the child will come back with leadership skills and a sense of independence. Travel abroad offers various opportunities for high school students including getting a better understanding of a foreign language and cultural immersion. These will become helpful in the child’s academic and professional career.
But I will miss him
Well, your child will miss you too. However, the child will come back with a feeling of accomplishment with a better appreciation of the world. You child will have a better understanding of things around them with the capacity to make more independent decisions. Immersion in a new culture and a better grasp of a new language will make your child’s college application stand out.
Wrapping up
Every high school student deserves a child to study abroad. Parents have a significant role to give their child this chance to grow academically and professionally in a new environment.
