In our family, I like to say we do trips, not vacations.
A trip is an adventure — a chance to explore, to ask questions, and to learn about a different part of the world.
While most people think preparing for a trip just means packing lists and last-minute errands, we prioritize using the trip as a learning experience. It has become an important tradition for us and our girls, now 5 and 7, to take a few weeks to learn about our destination before we ever get on a plane.
Our upcoming trip to Jamaica has been the perfect example of how this tradition comes to life.
Starting With the Basics: Where Are We Going?
Every trip begins with a map.
We have maps all over our house, including a massive hallway map at kid-height that we use constantly—whether we’re talking about where we live, where family members are, or where in the world our next adventure might be. The girls already know that the closer you get to the equator, the warmer it will be, and that big changes in longitude usually mean big changes in time zones.
For Jamaica, they immediately noticed:
- It’s an island in the Caribbean
- It sits almost directly south of us
- It’s much closer to the equator than we are
From the map alone, they’re able to make educated guesses about things like:
- Flight time: “It’s about as far as Mimi’s house, so maybe half a day!”
- Time difference: “It’s right under us, so there probably won’t be a time change.”
- Weather: “It should be warm and sunny because it’s so close to the equator.”
- Geography: “There will probably be a lot of beaches since it’s an island.”
These little predictions turn into fun moments of discovery when we look up the real answers together.
Learning About Life in Jamaica
Once they know where we’re going, we dive into what life is like there.
We scour our public library for anything remotely related to Jamaica—books about the country, the people, the animals, or stories by Jamaican authors. One of the highlights this time was finding a children’s book about Bob Marley.
Naturally, that meant we had to listen to some of his music. The kids loved the rhythm, and it led to conversations about reggae, instruments, and the stories behind the songs—all at a level that made sense to them.
We also look for kid-friendly movies, TV shows, or documentaries that feature Jamaican life, music, food, wildlife, or scenery. It doesn’t have to be perfect or comprehensive; the goal is simply to spark curiosity. Watching Cool Runnings together was a lucky win—especially since the Winter Olympics are happening during our trip!
Exploring the Food
Food can be one of the easiest—and tastiest—ways to explore a new culture.
We talk about the types of food we might find in Jamaica: jerk chicken, patties, dumplings, plantains, and all kinds of tropical fruits. Living in a small town means we don’t have access to much international cuisine, but we try whatever we can.
For this trip, we found Jamaican patties to try at home. Some liked them more than others, but I’m thrilled we’ve reached a point where they’re willing to try new foods with minimal complaints. Everyone is especially excited for fresh fruit, juices, and smoothies—a real luxury in Canada in the middle of winter.
Culture, Language & History (Kid-Sized Versions)
We keep things age‑appropriate but meaningful. We talk about:
- Language: Learning simple phrases and understanding that Jamaican Patois exists and is different from English.
- Religion: Exploring the major religions on the island in simple, respectful terms.
- Culture & history: Discovering important traditions, holidays, and stories that shape Jamaican identity.
The goal isn’t to make them experts. It’s to give them context—enough to spark questions, recognize what they’re seeing, and feel connected rather than overwhelmed.
Why We Do All This
I traveled a lot as a kid—and as an adult—and while I loved those experiences, I often wish I had understood more about the places I visited. In many cases, I couldn’t tell you much about the culture or the history of the places I was. It feels like such a missed opportunity.
Now, with the girls, I’m learning too. For Jamaica, I recently read Fried Plantains, a story exploring Jamaican culture and the experiences of Jamaican immigrants in Toronto. It’s been a meaningful complement to what the kids and I are learning together.
Learning about the trip beforehand:
- Builds excitement
- Encourages curiosity
- Helps them make sense of what they see
- Gives them confidence to ask questions
- Turns travel into a shared adventure instead of just a getaway
And honestly, it makes the whole experience richer for all of us.
Travel as a Learning Journey
Preparing for a trip has become one of my favorite parts of traveling with the kids. Watching them connect the dots—between maps and weather, food and culture, stories and landscapes—reminds me that the world is both huge and wonderfully within reach.
By the time we finally arrive in Jamaica, they won’t be stepping into the unknown.
They’ll be stepping into a place they’ve already begun to know, understand, and love.
As we look ahead to our upcoming sabbatical, we’re excited to continue this process—digging into each new destination and making it part of our worldschooling curriculum. The journey starts long before we step off the airplane, and that’s exactly how we like it.