Four in 10 children have visited five countries before the age of eight, a milestone most parents did not reach until later in life, according to a new survey. The poll of 2,000 parents with children under 18 who have travelled abroad found that eight in 10 had taken their child overseas by the age of six, with 82% of these trips occurring before primary school.
Among parents who took their children abroad before starting school, 40% wanted their child to experience new places from a young age, while 34% wanted to start travelling as early as possible. A third (33%) chose to go before school age to avoid peak holiday prices. The research, commissioned by holiday provider Club Med, also revealed that Spain is the most popular destination for family holidays (57%), followed by France (50%), the United States (32%) and Italy (29%).
Nicolas Bresch, managing director of Club Med for the UK, Ireland and Nordics, said: 'It's clear that children today are growing up as global travellers, often experiencing international holidays at a much younger age than previous generations.' He noted a growing demand for destinations that combine ease, flexibility and enriching experiences for every family member.
The survey indicated a shift in how families organise holidays, with 56% of parents preferring all-inclusive accommodation. Key considerations when choosing a destination included child-friendly reputation (41%), kid-friendly meal options (40%) and a wide variety of activities in resort (31%). Nearly two-thirds (64%) said their child had some or a lot of influence when booking a holiday abroad, with 51% of those children impacting the destination choice.
Attitudes towards early travel were overwhelmingly positive, with 92% of parents believing international travel from a young age benefits children. The most commonly cited benefits included exposure to different cultures (74%), curiosity about the world (71%) and increased confidence (59%). More than half also said early travel could strengthen family bonds (56%) and help children become more open to trying new foods (54%).
