10 Tips for Adventuring wit Your Kids

Motorcycles are my life, career, hobby, and passion.

- Wendy Crockett

So when my daughter Montessa was born, there was never a question about whether I would continue riding; only how to include her in my globe-trotting motorcycle travels in a safe, fun, age-appropriate way. Starting in a sidecar at just four months old, Montessa has now clocked tens of thousands of moto-miles from Mexico to Pakistan and all across the U.S., and we've both learned quite a bit along the way. Reflecting on our experiences, here are my top tips for bringing kids into the world of adventure riding.

1 INVOLVE THEM IN THE PLANNING PROCESS Spend lots of time together looking at maps, pictures, videos, etc. Show them where your destination is relative to places they’re familiar with, then look at more detailed maps of the areas you will be riding. How is the landscape, culture, food, and riding similar to home? How is it different? What kind of experiences are you looking forward to? Is there anything you’re nervous about? Practice basic phrases in the local language, if applicable. This will help them feel like an important part of the adventure, and help you better understand what will make this ride memorable for all the right reasons.

2 REMEMBER THAT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT DESIRES AND INTERESTS An adventure should mean experiencing new things and expanding your horizons, but you still want to take their interests into account. I love riding all day and she loves the beach. If we can plan a route that allows both, then everyone is happy! Be sure to create opportunities to engage with other children; this can mean stopping at parks, local markets, festivals, age-appropriate museums, etc. These simple experiences can have a big impact on their growth and understanding of the world and their place in it, especially in foreign countries. The culture and languages may be different, but play is play no matter where you are!