Maps, landmarks and animals Teach them geography by giving them
age-appropriate atlases and travel books for the journey, and
hang a large map on their bedroom wall where they can pinpoint
their travels, suggests Jennifer Emmett, editorial director of
National Geographic Society's children's books department. Older
children and teenagers will be more interested in doing research
for your travels if you let them help choose activities at your
destination and or even help choose the places to visit. "We
find that kids get genuinely inspired by the idea of seeing
places and landmarks they think are cool," Emmett says. Even
younger children who can't read can get excited if you link
their favorite animals to the places you're visiting, such as
crocodiles in Florida or bears in Alaska. "Young kids latch on
to the fact that China is where pandas live, Australia is the
home of kangaroos, and lions are in Africa, and on and on,"
Emmett says. "Linking animals to a place makes the place come
alive in kids' heads." Litt