. . . time machines and teleportation

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Growing up, we didn't do a whole lot of traveling. Apart from our annual two day road trip to Montana to see my grandparents and swim in the beautiful river near their cabin, we pretty much stayed in our state. Traveling with four kids can be a lot to negotiate, not only financially, but logistically. Between my parent's jobs, school, activities and the mini farm of cats, dogs, birds, and rabbits (a precursor to the inevitable real farm that came later), getting out of town was no easy feat.

Colorado

In all honesty though, I don't really feel like I missed out on anything. Once a year I got to go on a 'big' adventure, and Colorado isn't exactly the worst state to be stuck in. To this day, I still have trouble finding places that match its natural beauty. Plus. . .

Ger

. . . the moment that autumn chill came into the air and the school bells started ringing, I could travel anywhere I wanted to. As a kid with a vivid imagination, I would spend hours exploring the locations and historical eras that I learned about in class. I traveled to Mongolia and lived in a Ger. . .

Stone

. . . I visited Stonehenge and imagined how it was constructed. . .

Boat

. . . I traveled back in time to build boats and discover new lands alongside the great explorers. . .

Maps

. . . I made my own map of the world, one that instilled in me the desire to see it all for real one day.

Tools for Time Travel and Teleportation:

Luckily, the tools for time travel and teleportation are readily available to everyone. All you need are simple materials (scraps of paper, cloth, string, a few sticks etc.), a map or a globe and a little inspiration. For me that came from lessons in the classroom, but it could also come from trips to the library, or sharing personal stories of travels gone by.

Looking for a little more inspiration to start your adventures? Try out some of the crafts and activities listed below and download a free activity from our book Imagine Childhood: Exploring the World Through Nature Imagination, and Play.

Click Here to Download a free PDF of our map making activity from Imagine Childhood.

With the Kids:

Do you travel as a family? Talk to your kids about where you have gone and where you would like to go. Pull out a map or a globe and look for new places to visit in real life or through your imagination.

Interested in learning more about the cultures of the world? Try your hand at building a Mongolian Ger or other structures from different cultures.

Feel like wandering through the Amesbury, Wiltshire? Make your own mini Stonehenge and learn about simple machines.

Want to learn more about early structures? Travel to Rome and learn about arches and their strengths and weaknesses.

Interested in geography in general? Travel the world and learn about flags with a Capture the Flag Geography Game.

Does your kiddo love a little fantasy alongside their adventure? Try your hand a making a pirate map, and build a boat to take you to your destination.