This week was a special one for my five-year-old. He had traveled – without his family, but with a dozen kindergarten friends and with educators who are familiar to him. His daycare center had organized a trip to the Baltic Sea. A good hundred kilometers away from home, three nights.
Most of the people I tell this to are amazed at the enthusiasm for going on such trips with four- to six-year-olds. The comments range from "But that's early!" to "It's crazy that they're doing this to themselves!" to "I wish our daycare center would do that too."
One can criticize such plans as overambitious and premature, or see and advocate them as a great adventure. And it certainly depends heavily on the respective child whether such a trip is good for him (and not least on the happiness of the parents).
What this trip to the Baltic Sea was, however, was an absolute privilege. I became aware of this again when I read the interview of my colleague Heike Klovert, which is about outdoor camps for black children and young people. Heike asked Anthony Owosekun, the founder of the organization Empoca, why he organizes such holiday camps – and what they can achieve. "Protected spaces where people who have had similar experiences can come together are very important for social interaction," says Owosekun. "There, they can gain self-confidence and a more positive self-image, which can later help them to shape society in a good way."
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Holiday camps against racism: "Black people rarely go into the forest because they don't feel safe there"An interview by Heike Klovert
When the 40-year-old speaks of "similar experiences", he means racism. He himself had been in the Boy Scouts as a child, but had already lost the fun of it at the first camp. Because he was black, the other children were white. "No one physically attacked me or insulted me," says Owosekun. "But I could tell from the looks and questions of the others that I didn't belong." A caregiver asked him where he came from. "At first I didn't understand why he wanted to know that from me of all people. I said: from Schleswig-Holstein. But he did not accept the answer, he continued to ask where I really came from. There were other children standing around me, some giggling embarrassedly."
For Owosekun, this was "as unpleasant as an interrogation." As a child, he was at a loss for words for this encounter. "It wasn't until a few years ago that I understood that I had experienced racism. I didn't go to any scout camp after that." I was very touched by the text.
When Owosekun and his team are out and about with the children, they go hiking, collect wood for handicrafts and carving, play soccer and cook together. Three things are important at the holiday camps, says Owosekun: health promotion, environmental education and empowerment. "We spend a lot of time outdoors with the children so that they can move. Together with them, we discover nature and how we can protect it. And we encourage the children to have confidence in themselves and to stand up for themselves.«
My son also experienced all this when he was out and about with his daycare center this week. And I? I was worried about whether he might get homesick. Or if the pants I had packed for him were too thick. But I didn't have to worry about him experiencing racism. Because he's a white child. It is outrageous that this makes a difference.
My reading tip
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Film about family caregivers: »What can I expect my grandmother to do? Can she do it?" By Maren Keller
Being on the road – and trusting – is also the subject of a text about the film "Blue Sky White Clouds", which will be released in cinemas these days. My colleague Maren Keller met the director Astrid Menzel, who deals with her grandmother's dementia in the film. Menzel took her on a ten-day canoe trip from Bremen to Kiel – reviving "an adventure from childhood".
The film tells of an extraordinary journey, writes Maren. It's about a big question, Menzel says: How can we be there for each other?
Travelling with children – this is how it works
It's not easy to book the right holiday for the whole family. We'll help you – at least with ideas! On SPIEGEL.de you will find inspiration for unforgettable trips with children.
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Tips for the perfect city trip:How to turn your Barcelona trip into a family tripBy Alexandra Frank
The best tips for Barcelona : Our author Alexandra Frank visited Catalonia's capital with her eleven-year-old daughter.
With a roof tent and toddler through Namibia : Long-distance trip with a 15-month-old child? An experience report.
And then there's this tip from my colleague Anke Dürr, which I recently followed for the second time: I was on the North Frisian island of Sylt with my husband and children during the May holidays. In a place named after the hiding place of a Frisian pirate, located in the middle of the dunes - and also affordable. In her text, Anke describes the magic of Puan Klent very aptly: "Nobody wants to sell us anything here, no one will examine you; It doesn't matter which season the sneakers come from. The wind blows in our faces, pleasantly cool in July, refreshingly humid in October, tingling cold in February.« In May, the wind blew this way and that way. Some days he didn't blow us at all, and other days he blew us happy.
Our Pentecost menu
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Food for the nerves:At Pentecost there is fish fillet à la meunière
Splendid! Long weekend! We stay at home, do without the traffic jams and the travel hustle and bustle and cook ourselves something nice. The children asked for fish, and I found a "sure success" recipe for "sole miller's style" in our nerve food archive – at least that's what our cooking columnist Verena Lugert promises. She says it only takes five ingredients, and any white fish is suitable. And I say: We have fish fillet à la meunière at Pentecost.
My moment
In the family newsletter of a week ago, my colleague Malte Müller-Michaelis asked who makes the decisions at your company. Do you call a family council when it comes to the next holiday destination, for example? Or do the children have to take what comes?
This is the view of SPIEGEL reader Mailina Meiner, who replied to Malte: "We first think for ourselves and then talk to the children – ask them, involve them and make suggestions." To my surprise, the three teenagers regularly looked forward to their vacation together and even took turns bringing boyfriend or girlfriend with them. Mine says: "Even if the whole coordination takes a lot of time and nerves, it's worth it, because everyone gets involved in the planning." One needs a large bed, the other good ways to jog. »In the end, we really enjoy our time together and have fond memories of it for many years to come.«
During the Whitsun holidays, the Meiners travel to Sardinia for surfing. Whether you're going on holiday, planning a holiday trip or simply looking forward to family time at home, have fun!
Yours sincerely,
Julia Stanek
PS: Will your child soon be traveling without you, perhaps on a class trip? Is it looking forward to it or is it afraid of the trip? Feel free to write to me about what moves you and how you deal with it, familie@spiegel.de .