When you think about or plan to travel with your family, you plan for new adventures, amazing food, and the excitement of exploring a different location.
But have you ever thought about how those experiences can also shape the way your child sees the world—and the people in it?
At its core, being anti-racist means more than just being “nice” or saying you’re not racist—it means actively recognizing and pushing back against unfairness and inequality. It’s about teaching our kids to see and celebrate differences while understanding the ways racism affects people’s lives. And while this might sound like a heavy topic, it’s something that can fit naturally into everyday life—including your family vacations.
When you travel, your kids watch everything. How you talk about people who look or live differently than you, the way you interact with locals, even the kinds of places you choose to visit—these moments stick with them.
By practicing anti-racism while traveling, you’re not just giving your child a passport stamp—you’re giving them the tools to be thoughtful, compassionate, and curious about the world.
Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
Anti-Racism is defined by Ibram X Kendi in “How to be an Antiracist” as actively challenging and dismantling racial bias and injustice, rather than being passively “not racist.”:
From my understanding, when parents desire for their kids to be not racist, they typically do not talk to their kids about race. They avoid conversations about race or even explaining the racial inequities and dynamics in their community. As a result, typically, those kids are taught to be racist by society. And so by contrast, when you’re essentially raising a kid to be anti-racist, you’re deliberately encouraging them to talk about race and racism. You’re deliberately teaching them that all the racial groups are equals. You’re deliberately showing them, yes, there are different colors and there are different cultures. And we should value them all equally.
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Basically, our silence about racial injustice perpetuates racism. We can’t ignore it. We have to name it. Traveling offers a unique opportunity to address these issues in real settings. For example, we talk about the unfairness of poverty, and challenge stereotypes when pointed out by children about the differences they see.
Research shows that kids pick up what parents say or don’t say: that even babies demonstrate racial preference if not exposed to people who look different than themselves. If children mimic what they see, then I want to model inclusive behavior, and help shape their attitudes towards difference and equity. Traveling is the perfect time to introduce the diversity of the world, and the harms of systemic injustice.
Britt Hawthorne encourages us to “Think of antiracism and anti-bias practice as “play” to restore a sense of curiosity, excitement, and engagement in your journey.” This reframe for parents can help us step away from the white supremacist and capitalist narrative to “do the work” to be antiracist, which can take the pressure off the act and reconnect us with what is important – connecting with our families and others, being patient, trying, learning, and practicing radical self-love.
Give it a try – show your child how to respect local customs in an age appropriate way. Start by reading books, asking questions from local sources, and ensuring you are being respectful in the place you are visiting. Doing your best to educate yourself and your family will help everyone be curious, respectful, and demonstrate to your impressionable children the importance of honoring communities different than your own.
We want to raise global citizens, who value and respect others.
Give it a try – do your research before you travel. You can enjoy the beauty of the French architecture in Vietnam, or the Spanish architecture throughout Central and South Americas, and the beautiful churches erected in the name of the Catholic Church throughout the world – just as long as you honor the history of those who were removed or colonized from that very same land. Children respect fairness. They will appreciate learning the not-so-great history, in a kid-appropriate and respectful framing.
It is a privilege to travel. It is a privilege to have a passport. It is a privilege to be able to leave your country. It is a privilege to be able to return to your country. How will you be aware of your privilege when you travel?
Historical context matters. Many tourist destinations have histories rooted in colonialism and exploitation – understanding this helps dismantle whitewashed narratives.
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Want more tips? Read our Antiracist Travel Guide with 10 activities for parents with young children to consider while traveling. (CTA)
Antiracist travel guide For Families
Download our free Antiracist Travel with Kids Tip Sheet with reflective exercises and practical tools for conscious exploration.
Your first step to inclusive travel starts now!
No matter where you go, traveling exposes us and our families to people who are different. This is part of what makes traveling so important for young children – meeting people with different cultures, foods, beliefs, and appearances helps us develop empathy, understanding, and to value differences.
Antiracism is an ongoing practice, something we are engaging in “playfully” and can model for our families through everyday actions, including travel.
Will you join me on this journey?
I encourage you to start small – read a book or two, start a conversation with your kids, and use travel as a learning tool for justice and empathy. You and your kids will learn so much together.
