10 marzo 2015

Moms with you at the Children's Tour

Anche quest’anno MOM WITH BACKPACK  IN VIAGGIO CON LEO torneranno al CHILDREN’S TOUR!!
Avremo un nuovissimo stand, dove ospiteremo tanti amici, che condivideranno con noi questa bella esperienza:
- Ruth di Exploramum.com, dall'Australia per raccontarci il suo viaggio intorno al mondo con suo figlio e il loro worldschooling;
- Morena e Andrea di www.mammamelacanti.it, per cantare insieme le introvabili canzoni dell'asilo,
e tanti altri amici di passaggio!!

Nuova edizione a ModenaFiere del Salone delle vacanze 0-14.
Dal 20 al 22 marzo si parlerà di viaggi per i più piccoli e di turismo formato famiglia.
Oltre 200 espositori, tanti gli appuntamenti per gli operatori.
Spazio alle escursioni, ai camp sportivi, alle fattorie didattiche, ai parchi avventura e alla gastronomia junior.
Numerose aree tematiche dove i piccoli visitatori potranno vivere per qualche ora l’avventura delle loro prossime baby vacanze.

Dai risultati delle statistiche Istat i piccoli viaggiatori, intesi come bambini e ragazzi in viaggio con la famiglia o da soli, aumentano: ogni anno il 60% dei bambini ha fatto almeno una vacanza.
La conseguente richiesta di tour, villaggi e campeggi per famiglie e campi scuola riservati ai soli bambini ha contribuito alla nascita e negli anni alla consolidazione di una fiera dedicata.
È proprio ai desideri e alle esigenze turistiche dei più piccoli che si rivolge Children’s Tour, il salone delle vacanze 0-14.

Organizzato da ModenaFiere, si svolgerà dal 20 al 22 marzo nel quartiere fieristico di Modena e rappresenta oggi in Italia l’unica occasione di incontro e confronto tra esperienze turistiche rivolte ai genitori e alle famiglie, senza trascurare i ragazzi che viaggiano da soli, con la scuola o l’associazione sportiva.

I genitori potranno incontrare direttamente località turistiche, villaggi e alberghi, parchi tematici, camp sportivi e centri per le vacanze studio, fattorie didattiche e percorsi naturalistici che hanno realizzato servizi ad hoc per il target 0-14.




Per i piccoli protagonisti gli espositori hanno predisposto numerose attività di intrattenimento per far sperimentare ai bambini un “assaggio” delle vacanze pensate appositamente per loro attraverso laboratori creativi, spettacoli, scoprendo l’avventura e nuovi sport con percorsi a tema e simulazioni.

La manifestazione è, quindi, il posto ideale per informarsi e pianificare la formula vacanza migliore: divertente ed educativa per i bimbi, rilassante per mamma e papà. La fiera ospita, infatti, località e strutture ricettive provenienti da tutta Italia che al tema bambino, alla sua sensibilità e alle sue esigenze, riservano progetti specifici.

Anche nella dodicesima edizione si confermano tante aree dedicate per proporre al pubblico un’offerta turistica a 360 gradi: itinerari escursionistici e cicloturistici, fattorie didattiche e agriturismi, camp sportivi e parchi avventura, fino al settore food.

Gli espositori di Children’s Tour inoltre possono contare sul Workshop professionale, organizzato da Tourism Trend di Bologna e in programma venerdì 20 marzo.
Un’occasione per entrare in contatto con buyers selezionati (tour operator, tour organizer, agenti di viaggio, federazioni sportive, associazioni culturali e istituti scolastici) interessati a proposte di vacanza per famiglie e per bambini/ragazzi da coinvolgere in camp sportivi, corsi di lingua e altri soggiorni pensati per loro.

Children’s Tour rappresenta una preziosa opportunità di incontro tra domanda ed offerta e di confronto sui nuovi servizi sviluppati sulle esigenze dei baby viaggiatori.

Fonte e maggiori info:



9 marzo 2015

Interview with Katie: the worldly education

This week I'm pleased to introduce you Katie Barnes, my new friend who has lived in Italy with her family for a few months.


Intro

"I have so many stories to share and pictures I wish I could capture, but, I get no time! Life with 3 kids :)"
"We continue to evolve our learning and living philosophy to best fit our changing needs, but believe that interest led learning and freedom to discover the the world to be the best education."
"We want to wonder about the world around us and research answers to these questions. We want to experiment, experience, and learn about life's magic. We want our children to love to learn and construct their knowledge in their own special way."




Interview

1.What was your travel style like before you had children?
When Jeff and I met, we worked at the same company in California. We took a few trips a year, mostly to Europe, once to Asia. We later bought and remodeled a house and when it was ready to sell we used to proceeds to buy a boat and travel by sea. We left from Florida and spent 3.5 years "cruising" (island hopping the Caribbean and along the coast of South America and then crossed the Pacific to New Zealand) where we sold the boat and returned to CA to work again and start a family. We were inspired to travel with kids by the many families we met who were sailing and we were inspired to do the same again someday.

2.What ages were your children when you started travelling with them?
We traveled to Europe a few times with our girls before moving here. Once when our first was 6 months we visited friends in Germany. Then when they were 3 and 1, we visited Germany and Croatia. Then when 2, 4, and pregnant with the 3rd we visited Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Then when the 3rd was born we moved to Prague, Czech Republic.

3.How long have you been traveling for and what countries have you explored?
Since we moved to Europe, 3 years ago, we have explored Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Croatia, Italy, England, Ireland, Spain, France, Morocco, Romania, and Bulgaria. We had a home base in Prague for the first year, were nomadic for a year, and now are on our second year having a home base in Spain to travel from.

4.You follow an unschooling or homeschooling or worldschooling approach for education?
We follow an eclectic homeschooling/worldschooling approach. It has evolved into a hybrid approach, where we travel and learn from where we are, intermittently use various curriculum for math and reading, and enroll the kids in as many classes, activities, and school when it suits us. We believe learning should be proactive and child led, but constantly open to inspiration and on the lookout for mentors or learning opportunities. In Prague, the girls took art, drama, reading class; in England they attended traditional school for a short time; in Romania they attended art camp, ballet, and art classes; in Spain they took tennis, ballet, craft class, art, an unschool "free" school" and currently we have one daughter in public school, they other has a Spanish tutor, art, and swim class. Our approach changes a bit as we move and they grow, trying to find what suits their learning style and interests.

5.Why did you decide that exposing your children to travel was important?
We met many families that were traveling with their kids by boat and found the kids to be so great to be around, outgoing, active, and closely bonded with their parents. Jeff had traveled by boat with his family as a kid and remembered it as one of the best times of his childhood and loved homeschooling. The more I traveled, the more I realized how much there was to learn from the world and how important it was to see other ways of life, question the status quo, and gain different perspectives. We want the kids to feel that all ways of life are valid and interesting. I want them to understand that there is no "normal" just different. I want them to be free thinking individuals with many experiences to draw from and free learn their interests and passions.


6.Can you tell us how your traveling lifestyle has enhanced his education?
I think thus far, since they have been young in our travels and I realize that there is a lot that they won't remember into their adult lives as far as the where and when, there have been many intangible benefits of travel. They are getting the sense that the adventures in stories are real, based on real places and people. They are growing up knowing that anything is possible, that if they have an interest, that we just have to figure out a way to make it happen, wherever that may be. They have become very adaptable, getting used to adjusting to learning and interacting with multiple languages around them. I feel travel greatly enhances the interests of a person. We can start reading something and more and more often, it relates to somewhere we have been or something we have experienced. I think it opens the doors to learning just knowing that places are real, not just on a map. Our oldest seems to be inspired by our travel life with aspirations to keep travelling and learning about food so she can one day have her own restaurant that will change the world.

7.How have helped your children to build your itinerary?
We base most of our travel experiences on what might interest the kids and there are so many opportunities everywhere for this. Festivals, workshops, classes, nature experiences... We recently had a "family meeting" to try to assess what the kids wanted to do in they next year because sometimes we question it all and wonder if they would rather go back to a "normal" life. Our oldest wants to go to Turkey, which we have been discussing because she found out there is a Hello Kitty cafe and because Jeff has talked about it having some of the best food in the world. Our other daughter is currently in a princess phase, so we will try to make that a focus of travel experiences. Next month in Ireland, we will attend a royal feast at a castle and I think she will love it.

8.How has it been for your children in regards to making friends on the road?
I will admit this is one of the challenges to a travel lifestyle. They made some friends in Prague through classes and finding other homeschoolers. The nomadic year we made friends with people we stayed with and another traveling family we spent time with in Italy and Croatia. They made some friends at school in England and some here in Spain. Sometimes I wonder if its enough, but they do have each other and are very close. I think its a skill that takes practice, making new friends frequently... I know I have become much better at making new friends through travel and I think they are starting to become more comfortable with it as they get older.

9.Your backpack: what items would I find? What is a must for your children?
Paper, coloring books, workbooks, pens, pencil, books relating to where we are/nature guides, activity books, which could be considered curriculum, but to them they are fun because I don't make them do them. Maybe encourage, but when its not enforced, they do more than enough, when they want to. I have recently become accustomed to bringing a tablet, which holds a huge collection of ebooks, a few movies and games. Then of course, snacks, drinks, extra pants. Sometimes I feel I am forever packing snacks.

10.How you find your interactions with locals?
We have had almost all great interactions with locals. People we have rented houses from have been very accommodating and friendly. In the beginning it was hard, but I think I have gotten better and finding ways to interact and get involved and it has made all the difference.

11.Your family and friends were been supporting for your choice?
Our friends and family have been supportive, but I know they miss us and don't completely agree or understand our choice. It is hard being so far away for so long, since most of them don't travel to see us, we don't see them as frequently as I'd like.

12.Has your relationship with your children changed since you started traveling together?
It's hard to say how it might be different otherwise, since they were so young when we left and relationships change in any circumstance. Though, I think it has brought us closer.We have weathered ups and downs and learned to cope with different places together. Its work, but I think it is getting easier, and will pay off as time goes on. I think we have so many ways to relate as we can reflect on the past and talk about experiences we've had together.

13.If you could choose the best and the worst things about traveling as a family, what would they be?
The best and worst is so much time together. I wouldn't change it, but there are times when 24/7 together, husband working from home and kids underfoot all the time is hard. We have become more comfortable finding babysitters in various places because sometimes we need a break for our sanity. Also the best and worst is constantly re-evaluating what to do and where to go next. Even though we now travel with a home base, we are always thinking about the next trip and decisions for the next year. There is no status quo to rely on so sometimes the decisions are tiring. Trying to tune in with each person's needs and decide what is best is hard, but its also the best part of this life because we have the freedom to adjust and change as needed. There are higher highs and lower lows when you travel as a family. Days when everything is so perfect and amazing that you feel so grateful and then those when you are just so tired, you wonder why you do it.

14.According to your child, what is their favourite part about travel?
According to our 3 year old - "Its learning about trucks and tractors..." According to our 5 year old - "I like sleeping on airplanes and getting candies like we had in Morocco." According to our 7 year old - "I like seeing new places, learning about cultures and foods.

15.How much longer do you plan to be traveling and what are your intended destinations?
We do have travel plans set for the next 6 months, aside from living in Spain, one month in Ireland and one month in California to finally see family. Then we will return to Spain and find another home base. After that, its hard to say exactly... every year we seem to regroup and make decisions. However, if we had to say, and knew that Jeff would continue to have employment that allows for this nomadic life; we would spend the next year in Spain continuing to work on mastering Spanish and travel from here every few months. We want to visit Turkey, Greece, and Croatia again, maybe Egypt. We are hoping to continue a slow travel lifestyle and save money to buy a boat again to sail the Mediterranean and Pacific with the kids when they are older.

16.What tips would you offer parents when it comes to travel with children?
I think the best advice is just go, expect some days to be hard, but know there will wonderful experiences to come out of it. Not worry about bringing too much. I started out packing much more than was necessary and travelling light makes it much easier. There are always ways to adapt and get what you need where you are. We also find staying in 2 or 3 bedroom houses/apartments is the only way we can make it work. Jeff has to work wherever we are, so he needs his space, the kids need some space and we need a kitchen. Staying in a hotel or hostel is fine for a night or two here and there, but we need to be able to relax and feel at home where we travel.


“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain





You can find out more about Katie and her family’s adventures at her blogs:

27 febbraio 2015

Interview with "Wandering Educators"

This week I'm pleased to introduce you my new friend,  Jessie.

Intro

Jessie Voigts is a mom who loves sharing the world with her daughter. She has a PhD in International Education, and is constantly looking for ways to increase intercultural understanding, especially with kids (it’s never too young to start!). She has lived and worked in Japan and London, and traveled around the world.


Jessie is the publisher of Wandering Educators, a travel library for people curious about the world. She founded and directs the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program. She’s published six books about travel and intercultural learning, with more on the way. You can usually find her family by water – anywhere in the world.


Interview

1.What was your travel style like before you had children?
Our family traveled a lot when I was growing up. We also have a cottage in northern Michigan, so I know what it's like to travel to one place again and again, as a second home. It's lovely, and welcoming, and joyful.
I traveled and worked abroad before I had a child. 

2.What ages were your children when you started travelling with them?
Our daughter was a few months old when we started traveling with her.

3.How long have you been traveling for and what countries have you explored?
I have traveled my whole life! I lived and worked in London and Tokyo.

4.You follow an unschooling or homeschooling or worldschooling approach for education?

We unschool. It's a wonderful journey of global lifelong learning! Our daughter is 12 now, and she's very creative. She spends much of her day drawing, listening to music, watching videos, creating art, and learning about the world.

5.Why did you decide that exposing your children to travel was important?
I never decided - it's just our way of life!

6.Can you tell us how your traveling lifestyle has enhanced her education?

Travel has been shown to be extremely educational. But more than research studies, you can see it in yourself and your kids. The world isn't an unknown - you have tasted the food, walking the roads and beaches, breathed in the air, learned about cultures firsthand.

7.How have you helped your children to build your itinerary?
I always ask our daughter to help plan. When she was smaller, we'd look at activities and places and narrow down for her interests. Now, she comes up with lists of things she'd like to see, do, hear, taste.

8.How has it been for your children, in regards to making friends on the road?
This is difficult for us, since we aren't long term nomadic travelers, but often only travel for a few weeks or months at a time. We love homestays, and we always try to find people to meet up with.

9.Your backpack: what items would I find? What is a must for your children?
cameras! electronic devices for books, maps, apps. books, water, snacks.

10.How you find your interactions with locals?
When we make an effort, we can usually find some locals to hang out with, especially at playgrounds if you have younger kids. It works better beforehand if you can find people with similar interests. There's a new platform I'm excited about, called http://www.voyaj.com/ that matches people up! And, I love Homestay.com for learning how locals live (and making friends), while not staying in a hotel.

11.Are your family and friends supportive of your choice?
Our family and friends are very supportive of global travel and education - we all do it!

12.Has your relationship with your children changed since you started traveling together?
No - this is definitely part of our lives, and we grow and learn together.

13.If you could choose the best and the worst things about traveling as a family, what would they be?
We get tired and hungry during long trips. I don't like the getting there part (especially airplanes) - we much prefer BEING somewhere.
The best part? Travel seems to find the best of us, and we all shine when we travel.

14.According to your child, what is their favourite part about travel?
Art, of course. She's an artist! Also, new food, music, culture!

15.How do you fund your travels?
We have a travel library, www.WanderingEducators.com, that is our main source of income. We also save money for travel.

16.How much longer do you plan to be traveling and what are your intended destinations?
I am a co-founder of WritingWalkingWomen. This summer, we're headed to Newfoundland. Next year, India! I'm also a faculty member of the Global Leadership and Empowerment Summit for Teen Girls http://www.advicetomy13yearoldself.org/2015-global-leadership-and-empowerment-summit-for-teen-girls/about-the-summit/ for 2016. More details to come.
I will travel my whole life, as long as I am able.

17.What tips would you offer parents when it comes to travel with children?
Be patient, flexible, and kind. Know that difference is sometimes scary. Be excited about new places before you go - teach your kids where they will be going! Play with google maps, find a coffeeshop with great hot chocolate and make a plan to go there your first day. Give your kids a camera and see the world from their eyes. Have plenty of food on hand and planned - hungry people are not at their best. Involve them in planning, so that they know the trip is for them, and that their viewpoints are important.

Connect with Jessie and other members of the Wandering Educators community and check out the Wandering Educators website here: http://www.wanderingeducators.com/.


20 febbraio 2015

Singing "Life Is A Highway" to Carsland

Stiamo tornando nel west e vorremmo portare nostra figlia in California per un nuovo “on the road”.

Questa volta la richiesta della nostra piccola esploratrice è poter visitare San Francisco passando per il Golden Gate Bridge, come hanno fatto nelle loro avventure i “Little Einsteins”, l’influenza disneyana colpisce ancora.

Comunque siamo felici di poter assecondare la sua richiesta, perché una visita in California non sarebbe stata completa senza San Francisco e il Golden Gate Bridge. 

Con grande entusiasmo Maia ed io iniziamo a pianificare.

Leggiamo le guide e proviamo a tracciare il percorso su una mappa stradale, per verificare le distanze e creare nel modo migliore il nostro circle tour.
Anche se i sistemi GPS rendono tutto più facile, Maia potrà imparare preziose competenze sulla geografia, l’orientamento e la lettura delle mappe, inoltre potrà tenere traccia dei progressi di viaggio.
Così dopo qualche mese di piacevoli ricerche il nostro viaggio ha preso forma.


Mio marito ed io abbiamo pensato di fare una sorpresa a Maia portandola a Carsland al Disney California Adventure Park, tornando verso Los Angeles da San Diego; dopo la bella esperienza di Disney World a Orlando e amando molto il film di Cars, ne sarebbe stata felicissima, inoltre la visita al parco sarebbe alla fine di un circle tour di 2.000 miglia di american route, come degna conclusione di un’altra grande avventura. 


Arriva IL giorno…
Ci alziamo presto e arriviamo al parcheggio del parco che Maia ancora non aveva colto i suggerimenti che le indicazioni stradali le stavano comunicando da qualche miglio.
Scendiamo dall’auto e lei inizia a osservare i riferimenti dei posti nel parcheggio tipici di tutti i parchi Disney con i suoi personaggi Disney preferiti, ma non avendole detto nulla non riesce ancora a realizzare.
Saliamo sulla navetta che ci condurrà all’ingresso e i segnali sono ormai veramente troppi e i suoi occhietti si fanno sempre più curiosi.
Davanti alla biglietteria dobbiamo cedere e spiegarle della sorpresa, che abbiamo custodito a fatica ormai da mesi, e la sua felicità esplode in una frenesia contagiosa.

Disney’s California Adventure Park

Il nostro obiettivo è chiaro, Carsland, ma all’interno del parco vi sono altre aree tematiche per tutti i gusti: Buena Vista Street, Paradise Pier, Grizzly Peak, Pacific Wharf, Holliwood Land e Bug's Land. 

Vi consiglio di andare subito al Radiator Springs Racers, perché la fila è lunghissima!!


L’attrazione riproduce una gara tra alcuni personaggi del film e si svolge nel fantastico mondo di Cars.
Vi è una parte esterna che si sviluppa tra le colline della Ornament Valley e la Route 66 e una parte al chiuso dove si incontrano tutti i personaggi principali del film che, con simpatici diversivi accompagnano le vetture alla linea di partenza.
Se valutiamo la lunga fila che abbiamo fatto, la gara è durata veramente poco, ma ne è valsa la pena…anche se nella foto acquistabile all’uscita mia figlia ed io sembravamo spaventatissime, è una giostra molto divertente.

La tematizzazione, la musica, i personaggi, la velocità, la gara in cui si è tutti vincitori...è tutto fantastico.

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Quest’attrazione è proprio il tipo di giostra che piace a me, simile al Mad Tea Party, ma ispirata ai Mater's Junkyard con i trattori come vetture che girano a grande velocità.
Essendoci poca fila Maia ed io ci siamo state più volte ridendo come matte, con Mater che cantava in sottofondo.

Luigi’s Flying Tires
La coda verso l’ingresso si sviluppa nel Luigi's Casa della Tires shop e nel giardino nel retro si svolge la gara. 
Luigi esegue il countdown poi un compressore pompa l'aria nelle grandi gomme fino ad alzarle dalla superficie della pista.
E’ stata un’attrazione molto particolare, non sono semplici direzionare, infatti i movimenti risultavano abbastanza lenti, ma ci siamo ugualmente divertiti.
Per fortuna c'erano grossi palloni da spiaggia che i piloti si passavano l'uno all'altro che ha aggiunto al divertimento.

By night
Cars Land è sorprendente, cattura perfettamente il look e lo spirito di una “sonnecchiosa” cittadina lungo la Route 66, ma, come ben sappiamo, la Mother Road è nota per le tante luci al neon che esplodono di notte e la rendono un luogo accogliente e confortevole durante un lungo viaggio.


Dopo aver esplorato il parco, camminando e giocando per ore, rimaniamo affascinati dal tramonto che si mostra a noi in uno spettacolo di incredibili colori.

Passeggiando lungo la Route66 vi sentirete come un membro di "Cars".

E voi ci siete stati? Raccontateci la vostra esperienza!
Qual è il vostro personaggio preferito di Cars?


Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UdZIh8_xGc
Radiator Springs Racers POV Complete Experience Cars Land Disney California Adventure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmfR7VkpFD8