Travel with Teens and Tweens

Your work as a parent is vital to your kids and to the world.  Listen to get a spring in your step to keep doing your good work.  Uplifting and supportive. 

Want fun, engaging book ideas?  Summer (or anytime) is a great time to read aloud to your older kids.  Not about travel, just great support for time with your kids.  This book list includes my family’s favorites. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/032-summer-book-list-for-read-aloud-to-older-kids/

Want book titles for homeschooling older kids?  Now is a great time to start planning a unit or a theme.  Listen for my family’s favorite books for Early American History, Native Culture, American Government, Roman history, Middle Ages history, and more. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/031-read-aloud-books-for-homeschool-unit-study/

These 6 simple steps will make a smoother homeschool life!  A feast for your kids, yet lower stress for you!  Vibrant learning and fun times.  You’ll stay centered and avoid overwhelm. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/030-6-part-checklist-for-smooth-homeschooling-during-coronavirus/

Want a rich learning environment at home?  Engage your family by using one topic (a book) and still cover the individual skills each of your kids need.  I’ll illustrate how to do this using the classic book, Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. You can take a topic (like a book) and use it to teach all (or some) of your kids’ academics.  Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/029-how-to-homeschool-using-a-chapter-book/

Gather your family and read aloud one of MY family’s favorite books!  Plus, while you’re enjoying this book together, you’ll be buoyed knowing other families are reading it, too!  Join us for the Great Family Read Aloud.

Discover book ideas to read aloud with your older kids.  I share my family’s favorite books for teens and tweens.  Shakespeare, Boys in the Boat, the Martian, or Jane Austen!  Reading is a great way to spend time! Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/027-favorite-books-to-read-aloud-to-older-kids/

Get immediate help homeschooling your older kids. Schedules, book list, and academic ideas are all covered in this episode. 

Step-by-step directions to make a healthy homeschool schedule now and anytime.  Start with the basic rhythm and add what your family needs for a smooth day. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/026-healthy-homeschool-schedule-during-coronavirus-covid-19/

How to choose where to sleep on learning-centered family travel. Nerdy traveler and parent, Margot Worthy, shares 5 tips for booking the best accommodations for your family. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/025-where-to-sleep-on-your-family-trip/

Practical travel advice during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  Learn where to get information, how to make your decision, and some possible safer travel plans.  Plan a Staycation or a camping trip.  Birdwatch, read loud, or learn the constellations: so many family activities!

4 tips to plan a trip that is learning-centered.  Plan a trip that is meaningful to your family and fun.  Get ideas for planning the logistics. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/024-how-to-plan-a-trip-with-your-family/

Not enough time, money, or know-how slowing progress on your family trip-planning? Finding it hard to stay organized? Hear specific strategies to leap over these hurdles (and sidestep around them with some mindset shifts). Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/023-ways-to-make-progress-planning-your-family-trip/

Explore your destination at home with your family using these 4 practical ideas.  You will have engaged travelers on your trip, if you do these (fun) simple actions at home in the months prior to departure, whether you homeschool or not.  Create extraordinary learning-centered travel with your kids: your best trip ever! Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/022-how-to-design-your-best-family-trip/

Want to design custom travel for your family?   I walk you through a pre-travel activity, helpful whether you’re just starting to plan or if you are far along in your planning. Your family will benefit from the time you spend doing the thinking in this episode.  You’ll get concrete, practical steps to build a learning-centered trip that bridges your family from who they are now into their amazing future selves.  Show notes, free activity packet, and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/021-how-to-choose-travel-your-family-will-love/

Use these 2 tools to reach your family travel goals.  Whether your kids homeschool or whether your kids attend school, you can use these strategies to create learning-centered travel.  This year you will create phenomenal travel (and have fun)!

Get the best strategies and tips, as voted by parents!  2 family-travel topics proved to be the most downloaded this year, so today I dive deeper into both topics: money and learning! MAIN TOPIC:  How to pay for your trip and how to learn together at home before travel were the two most chewed on topics this year!

I share the top episodes of the year, while at the same time I shine additional light on each topic.  Find ways to create family travel, whether your kids attend school or whether your kids homeschool.  Local or international trips. MAIN TOPIC:  The number of times that episodes are downloaded reveal the topics that are most important to parents.  Find out which episodes were top this year, plus take your learning deeper. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Hear 7 examples from my house of ways you can learn together in the months before departure.  Learning together is a powerful way to add meaning to your family’s travel experience! The 7 vibrant ways are “sprinkle-able” into any family.  Don’t miss downloading the companion guide for this episode.  See the green box in the show notes. MAIN TOPIC:  Clear examples of 7 ways to learn together before you travel together—examples from my house. QUESTION AT THE END: “I feel overwhelmed by my family all doing different things at home!  How can I reduce the overwhelm?” CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END:  Hear from a mom who traveled with her kids, stepping out of her comfort zone. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Enjoy learning together with your kids in the months before travel.  Your home life will be remembered for being enriching and full of love.  Listen for an imaginative rendition of what your home might look like prior to travel.  From inspirational trip ideas to simple learning-at-home strategies, this episode will light your fire. MAIN TOPIC:  An imaginative narrative of what your learning-centered home might look like in the months leading up to your custom-designed family trip. QUESTION AT THE END:  Money—how to make it stretch. CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END:  A snapshot into Margot’s life and home. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Overcome the top challenges facing parents when planning travel. Use these tips to maximize learning and maximize family memories, both at home and on your trip. Plan a road trip or an international trip of your dreams before your kids leave home without going into debt or dropping a ball!  Margot shares with you the Top 5 challenges (expressed to her by other parents), and she includes ways to surmount those hurdles. You are not alone. MAIN TOPIC:  Challenges abound when parenting.  Planning a learning-centered trip has its own challenges.  Get forward motion on your dreams. QUESTION AT THE END:  How do I plan the learning before a trip focused on American History? CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END:  Centers on who you are and the nature of your dreams.  (You'll sit up straighter when you hear this tidbit!) Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Trip ideas + 3 reasons for TRAVEL. How to see your loved ones light up, plus turbo-charge your kids’ education, whether your travel is for learning American History, exploring your state, European art, or more.  Don’t miss the 3 kinds of connections which family travel creates, plus don’t miss Margot’s trip examples.  Your family will return home from your trip with new eyes.  (Yes: for parents of kids who homeschool or who attend school!) MAIN TOPIC:  Connections are made when you choose to travel with your kids. QUESTION AT THE END:  Where can I find good books to read?  CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END: Why plan your own trip? Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Should stinging ants, annoyances or self-doubt make you hesitate to plan a trip with your teens and tweens?  Don’t miss out on meaningful family trip experiences. Listen to find out two stunning reasons why you should plan a trip.  (Hint: the reasons involve YOU!)  Vigorous inspiration, whether you homeschool or whether your kids attend school. MAIN TOPIC:  Yes, trips have annoyances, obstacles and hassles.  I give two reasons why you should plan family travel.  Don’t miss the 3 “growth” stories about me from our Great Britain travel, geology & National Parks travel, and from our RV travel.  What you’ll learn is critical for your kids. QUESTION AT THE END: “How can I get my family to help with the work while on a trip?  Travel is a hassle!”   I’ve got a simple solution! CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END: The Magic Wand to make your travel smooth!  How certain actions now (at home) will give you power on your trip. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Engage your family in a trip to England by learning together BEFORE you go. Whether you’re interested in castles, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Downton Abbey, World War II sites, Roman history, this episode will help create meaningful travel.  Great, whether your kids homeschool or attend school. Find out what to learn and where to go in Great Britain. MAIN TOPIC:  Great Britain has so much to offer.  Learn a few of my family’s favorite places (like Stonehenge, the Globe Theatre and Hadrian’s Wall) plus how we LEARNED together in the months prior to departure.  Books, maps, and research. QUESTION AT THE END:  Should you drive in Great Britain? CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END: A golden tip so you don’t miss anything helpful. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Plan a trip about Early American History (and the learning to do at home in the months prior to departure).  Whether your teens/tweens homeschool or whether they attend school, you will learn WHEN to travel, WHAT to learn beforehand, WHERE to go, and HOW to handle multiple ages in your family.  A trip that includes Early American History sites will empower your kids as citizens. MAIN TOPIC:  Listen for ways to learn together before you travel together to Early American History locations.  I’ll share some of my family’s favorite locations (like Colonial Williamsburg and Plimoth Plantation), plus topics to learn about before you go (like the Constitution, slavery, and the Civil War).  Homeschoolers can plan an entire academic year prior to travel, and all families can find the “just right” amount of learning to add in. QUESTION AT THE END:  I share my method to choose where to go, whether it is choosing a trip or whether it is selecting places to see on the trip you’re designing. CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END: What is the most mentally-nutritionally-dense thing you can do at your house before a trip?  A small thing which is huge?  Listen and find out. Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Learn how to show your kids U.S. government at work.  Knowledge of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is critical to be an informed, active citizen.  Listen for my specific tips of what to read/listen to at home and, then, where to go in Washington, D.C. to best see our Constitution in action.  You’ll learn why booking too many tours in advance may prevent you from taking in some of the choicest government-in-action opportunities. (Yes, this tip is contrary to my usual book-it-ahead planning approach.) MAIN TOPIC:  Learn about the Constitution, at home and in Washington, D.C.  My steps help you navigate your choices, so you can plan your best trip to D.C. and give your kids a solid understanding of the Constitution. QUESTION AT THE END: How to not “burnout” inside museums CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END: My goosebump-inducing heart-moment regarding the U.S. Constitution that happened at James Madison’s Montpelier.  Inspirational! Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Maps can unlock the secrets of the places you go.  Certain maps can exponentially improve your trip.  The right map for the right job is essential.  I will share the specifics of what I use when planning trips and when traveling.  (Don’t miss Episode 008 when I discussed using maps to hook your family into the dreaming and exploring phase.) MAIN TOPIC:  Unlock the secrets of the places you go.  Maps hold the key.  This is part 2 of 2 in the Map series.  Part 2 covers my novel ways you can use maps when you’re planning and when you’re traveling. (Part 1 in episode 8 covered maps to use right now at home for dreaming and exploring with your family.) QUESTION AT THE END:   A bit tongue-in-cheek: “Margot, maps don’t thrill me.  Which are your 2 top picks from your plethora of tips?  Tell me the 2 essential maps.”  No problem!  I have 2 essentials to tell you. CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END:  What is the arch-enemy of travel-planning!? Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/  

Maps at home are an effective first step in bringing your trip alive for your family.  This podcast tells you how to use maps right now with your family, whether you’re dreaming up a trip or currently well into the planning of a specific trip.  You will hook your family with these simple steps.  (See Episode 009 for novel ways to use maps for planning and while traveling.) MAIN TOPIC:  You want to hook your family into your trip, right?  You want to bring this trip alive at your house in the time prior to your departure.  One of the easiest and most impactful ways to hook your family in (and visibly bring the trip alive) at your house is to use maps.  This is part 1 of 2 in the Map series, covering using maps right now at home for dreaming and exploring. (Part 2 covers my novel ways you can use maps when you’re planning and when you’re traveling.) QUESTION AT THE END:  "How do I deal with butterflies (and stress) before a trip? Is it common?" CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END:  An easy-to-implement activity to connect your family with your trip (centered around maps). Show notes and more available at: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/  

If you could save money on a trip by doing something that actually increases family memories, you’d jump at it, right?  Picnicking will help you stretch your travel dollars while enabling you to create phenomenal experiences.  MAIN TOPIC:  Picnicking is not just my favorite way to stretch our travel dollars, it is also my family’s favorite way to eat on a trip. We’ll go through why picnicking is so great and practical ideas to write down so that you’re armed with ideas before your next trip (yes: shopping lists for both simple gear and for food ideas). QUESTION AT THE END:  I’ll share a few great books to read aloud (or listen to) on trips. CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END: Listen for what to keep in mind about making purchases of souvenirs on trips.  (You’ll laugh at one of my favorite trip purchases.) Listen to more at https://dreamconnecttravel.com/podcast/

Don't let trip experiences be forgotten. Learn how 3 simple ingredients will make your trip's moments be long-remembered by your family.    MAIN TOPIC:  3 ingredients of creating memories. Learn (through examples) how to make events stick in your family's hearts and minds.  Including... Should your kids keep a journal? What happens when someone melts down at a museum? Do you have to buy trinkets at gift shops for memories to stick? Why are casual discussions important (and what is the biggest SQUISHER of family discussions)?   QUESTION AT THE END: How do I pay for our trip?   CHEWY TIDBIT AT THE VERY END: 2 ways BOOKS equip you to maximize both learning and family memories at once.   Show notes (including free download): https://dreamconnecttravel.com/006-3-ingredients-for-memories-creating-memories-part-2/   Part 1 of this “Creating Memories” series: https://dreamconnecttravel.com/005-create-memories-part-1-your-angle

Create memories when traveling by following your family’s interests.  You’ll be inspired in this episode by the memories from a couple amazing people in my life.   This episode is part 1 of 2 parts (because I didn’t want to cheat you out of the life-changing motivation you’ll get after hearing the tales from these incredible individuals).  The next episode (part 2) will give you the recipe for creating those memories.   Also in this episode, I answer, “How do I stay organized?” by giving 3 practical strategies.   And, finally, the tidbit is something to chew on when doing your OWN unique travel.   Visit DreamConnectTravel.com for the helpful info mentioned in the episode.

Money for travel: how to align your dreams with reality.  Grab your partner/spouse (or at least some paper and a pen) and go through the 3 steps in this episode to pay for your family trip without going into debt (and without raiding your retirement account).  Let’s get your travel rolling!    This episode will get you centered, not only about money, but about the mindset driving your travel.   Also in this episode, I answer,“What are some more of my family’s favorite places to travel?” by first turning a similar question back on to you, “What travel would be meaningful to you?”   And, finally, today’s tidbit is about a favorite location (Colonial Williamsburg) and, more importantly, how to be open to pivoting during a trip to go deep on a place that captures your family members’ hearts.   Don’t miss the helpful download at DreamConnectTravel.com   Fuel up your meaningful travel!

Create engaged travelers on your trip by reading aloud together at home with your older kids in the months prior to your trip.  This episode gives you the steps to find and choose reading material, plus ways to work it in to your busy life.  Margot will also answer a question about American History locations and she’ll give an appetizing way to learn about your trip.

Why, where and how will you travel with your teens and tweens?  These are the questions discussed in this episode.  Margot will also answer a question about learning and traveling with a range of ages, and she’ll give you the way to get started with your travel idea.  You’ll be inspired, bolstered, and raring to go!

Interested in traveling with your teens (or tweens)?  Create engaged travelers (and eliminate bored sighs) with the 3 pretravel strategies and the 3 simple at-home tips in this episode. You'll create meaningful travel!