Two little girls who turn 11 tomorrow got a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge for their birthday trip. They also got a dad who swam, slid, and splashed with them instead of sitting in a lounge chair.

This blog’s emphasis is on giving time, not money. The trip the girls and I took was not cheap, so it doesn’t really fit in this blog.

What does fit, however, is taking a trip with your child as a good way to give your time. It doesn’t have to be an expensive trip, say a hike in a forest you’ve never before visited, a trip to a park in a different city, or a museum visit in a neighboring state.

Most problems we face are local. But travel lets us see those local problems in new contexts, potentially bringing creative solutions. Jonah Leher, who has written for the New Yorker and Wired, wrote an interesting piece discussing among other things how exchange students were 20% more likely to solve the Duncker problem (or the Candle Problem) than their non-traveling peers.

Interesting idea backed up by some research – Travel more, be more creative.

Giving a weekend to your child is a great way to give your time. You’ll get quality one on one time and it will broaden his or her creativity.