Controversy over letting children "move" early

"Every family has its own story"

Some people think that children who "travel" early will gain more experience, learn to adapt, and integrate with the world around them. Others worry about the child's health and are worried about the waste of time because the child cannot remember anything.

Generations in the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh in Thanh Hai commune, Thanh Ha district (Hai Duong) often disagree on letting young family members travel early. Ms. Thanh is a 9X generation, very open-minded and generous in raising her children. She always wants her 2-year-old daughter to be close to nature, to travel here and there to gain more experiences. However, the child's grandparents objected to this because they thought that the child was too young, if she traveled a long distance and went to a new environment, it would be strange and not safe for her health. The grandparents also thought that there were many dangerous situations that could happen on the road, and unfamiliar food would affect the child's daily routine.

Ms. Thanh complained: “Every time my husband and I intend to take our child on a trip, my grandparents are not pleased. Although I try to persuade them, they still maintain their point of view, wanting to protect the child and keep him in a safe zone.”

Like Ms. Thanh's family, members of Ms. Luu Thi Thu's family in Nghia An commune (Ninh Giang) also had disagreements about taking their children on a trip. Her husband did not agree with taking a child under 5 years old on a trip because the child was not yet able to perceive much and would not be able to evaluate and remember the memories of the trip. On the other hand, adding more people would be wasteful and more expensive. In addition, the troubles and inconveniences from young children such as fussy children, having to have a separate diet... made the trip incomplete.

"Although we really want the whole family to have trips during the holidays and weekends so that the children can learn new things and have more memories, we have to postpone it until the children grow up," Thu's husband expressed.

Prepare well

Every year, the family of Mr. Mac Minh Tuan, 32 years old, in Tan Binh ward (Hai Duong city) plans to travel 3-4 times. Mr. Tuan believes that taking children on trips will help them integrate with nature, the world around them and gain more experiences. Therefore, when his daughter was only 6 months old, she and her parents took their first "travel" trip to Ha Long. The whole family traveled by private vehicle and had grandparents with them, so taking care of the baby was not difficult.

“Because we have small children, my family often chooses destinations that are not too far away. If we travel by plane, we won’t sit for more than 2-3 hours,” Tuan shared.

Before going to any destination, the family always researches the hotel, carefully prepares baby items such as milk, diapers, medicine, etc. to ensure a smooth trip. The baby's grandparents are very supportive of Mr. Tuan and his wife's travel hobby. Many trips are accompanied by grandparents to help take care of the baby, so the couple has more time to explore, experience and fully enjoy each trip. Mr. Tuan's daughter is 4 years old this year but is strong, active, and loves to explore. "Through each trip, my wife and I hope to help our child enjoy a complete and happy childhood with her parents," Mr. Tuan expressed.

Taking your children on a trip can change their daily routines such as going to school, going to work, eating, and resting. Disrupting the daily routine will help everyone adapt to new things. Exploring new places, new lands, and new cultures with your children will help them learn more useful knowledge. There is no need to travel hundreds of kilometers away, places near home on weekends are suitable trips for families with young children.

To ensure the health of children before each "travel", specialist doctor 1 Le Hai Van, Head of the Department of Pediatrics, Hai Duong General Hospital recommends that families prepare clothes suitable for the weather conditions when traveling. Eat properly and enough meals, ensure food hygiene and safety, limit fast food and carbonated drinks. Prepare some basic essential medicines such as fever reducers, probiotics, cough syrup, burn spray, nasal drops. Note that some patients with chronic diseases who are treated as outpatients must bring their medicine with them, avoid skipping treatment such as bronchial asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.