I am 33 years old this year and a father of three. But not just three, all of them are under five years old.

Those who have experienced this know what it feels like.

Every day is a battle, meals are not warm and on time, and somewhere in the house, someone is always crying.

My wife keeps saying something to me these days.

"The younger the kids are, the more you need to show them. We need to go camping, show them the sea, and let them experience flying to be emotionally healthy."

At first, I nodded, but honestly, I feel frustrated inside.

"Why go when they won't even remember it?"

"What will they remember at this age? They will just leave behind photos anyway."

Right now, the kids are not even a year old, and I am taking them on a plane, bringing a child who has just started to speak to a campsite to set up a tent, cook, and put them down for a nap... Who is that good for?

The kids? Maybe not.

For my wife and me? Well, for me, it feels close to a trial.

Moreover, wherever we go with three kids, the basic luggage is equivalent to a whole car load. Diapers, formula, clothes, stroller, blankets, toys, snacks, emergency medicine...

If we are to take a plane, we lose more than half our energy just at the airport.

But my wife is not entirely wrong.

Even while complaining like this, there is a reason I cannot completely ignore what my wife says.

Research shows that children's brain development is very rapid from birth to age 5, and that sensory stimulation and environmental changes can affect cognitive development and emotional stability.

New scenery, interactions with different people, new sounds or smells, and various textures stimulate a child's sensory development. Time spent with mom and dad creates an experience that gives the child a sense of emotional security that 'the world is safe.' Even if they do not remember, their bodies and brains learn new ways to respond and regulate emotions through those experiences. In other words, from the child's perspective, whether they remember or not, the experiences they feel and respond to are definitely accumulating.

So, when and where is 'appropriate travel'?

Still, just imagining setting up a tent at a campsite while calming three kids at the same time exhausts me.

So, the realistic middle ground I found is this.

Let's start with short distances and short schedules. A nearby park, a half-day drive, just booking a simple itinerary for a one-night stay. Kids can get stressed if the stimulation is too strong.

Focus on a 'family-centered' itinerary rather than a child-centered one. Instead of a trip that tries to 'teach' something to the kids, it would be better to shift towards just having fun and enjoying experiences together as a family.

Let's introduce experiences one by one. Camping, flying, amusement parks, nature exploration do not all have to happen at once. We should choose activities that both the kids and parents can enjoy according to their age so that everyone is happy.

Don't just think about the kids; take care of yourself as a dad too. It's not just about having a good trip for my wife and kids; I need to participate without draining my emotional energy. That way, I can think about the next trip too.

Neither 'not going at all' nor 'going all the time' is the answer.

Travel can help with children's emotional development.

But the premise is that parents should not get exhausted, cooperate with each other, and spend time with the kids 'joyfully.'

A forced trip under the guise of emotional education can actually stress the child.

If it's not a trip that is good for both 'me and you,' it's better not to go at all.

So these days, I tell my wife this.

"They may not remember, but the emotions from the time we spent together will stay with the kids. So let's go little by little, so it's not too hard for us. Let's make it a trip where both of us can smile."

We don't have to feel too heavy in front of the term emotional education.

Sometimes, just spreading a mat on the lawn in front of our house and peeling tangerines with the kids can be a wonderful trip.