Building Self-Esteem: Travel with Teens

Travel with teens is an indispensable tool for building self-esteem. It prepares them for greater independence, gives them much needed perspective, and helps them see just how big the world is. Below find out why travel is crucial to the development of happy, self-confident young adults.

Factors that Influence Low Self-Esteem

According to a survey conducted by Stage of Life, 95 percent of teens report having felt low self-esteem at some point in their lives. This feeling is linked to three primary factors:

• appearance (59 percent)
• ability in some activity (49 percent)
• intelligence (38 percent)

While these categories aren’t mutually exclusive, they show where teens could use a boost of confidence. Luckily, trips with teenagers build confidence, accomplishments, and intelligence.

Expanding Cultural Horizons

Today’s teenagers face more peer pressure than ever before. They deal with electronics, a selfie-obsessed culture, and the constant white noise of social media. Teens need to know and feel that the world is bigger than Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube.

They also need to recognize that real beauty is not defined by Hollywood. They need to see different body types, skin tones, hair styles, and cultural standards. And they need to come to terms with the fact that current standards of beauty are unattainable and unhealthy. Travel brings all of these insights to light, allowing teens to appreciate people for their inner lights rather than their outer shells.

Fostering Accomplishments

Travel allows teenagers to see the world firsthand. To develop their own observations and perspectives. And to see their own life experience through new eyes, with a deeper sense of appreciation for their unique accomplishments. Whether navigating the Metro in Paris or zip lining across the jungle in Costa Rica, travel helps teens build confidence. Every adventure marks an important achievement.

Travel for teens requires flexibility, thinking outside of the box, and developing an intuitive understanding of how the world works. They will develop an unshakeable level of confidence as their accomplishments increase and their adventures expand.

Learning to Think Critically

Seeing the world allows teens to move past the limited sphere of their own existence. It helps them break out of their cultural confines. It cultivates intelligence by encouraging critical thinking skills.

According to Christine Schelhas-Miller, co-author of Don’t Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Guide to the College Years, “Travel is particularly good for developing critical thinking as it forces teens to examine their own values and beliefs from the perspective of a different culture. They become aware of aspects or their lives that they have taken for granted and never examined.”

The Benefits of Travel with Teens

Sure, it’s easy for teens to develop a superficial level of confidence in their own neck of the woods. But profound confidence requires getting outside of their comfort zone and accomplishing things they never imagined possible. The benefits of travel with teens are numerous.

When teenagers travel, they try new things and meet people from other cultures. They learn that appearance is based on cultural perceptions. Instead of worrying about looks, they build worth through accomplishments. Their perspectives expand. They observe different ways of life, learn just how big the world actually is, and develop solid critical thinking skills.

At Our Whole Village, raising globally-minded youth is our passion. We create meaningful adventures designed for families who want to create lasting memories while making a difference.

We’re here to help you and your family experience the world, its peoples, and its cultures. Contact us today to learn more about the unforgettable experiences that we handcraft to introduce kids and teens to the world.