Myanmar is a great destination for children. In fact, our 7-year-old daughter, Elisa, ranks it as one of her favorite vacations ever. Why? While it’s true she liked the sweeping vistas in Bagan, what she remembers most are the local artisans: the painters who sold their art at the temples in Bagan, the puppeteers who put on shows in Mandalay, and the blacksmiths, weavers and jewelry makers we observed at Inle Lake.
Transportation was a constant source of entertainment for her. She enjoyed the various ways we traversed the Myanmar countryside – by bike, horse cart, canoe, and motor boat.
A highlight for all of us, but especially for our daughter, was a spontaneous visit to a primary school, where Elisa was able to chat with students in English. She was also surprised at how different the school was from her own.
Though she didn’t care for the hot, spicy, Myanmar curries, Elisa always managed to find something child-friendly on the menu – usually fried rice, roast chicken, or Thai noodles.
The locals we met throughout our visit went out of their way to make Elisa’s stay enjoyable: teaching her games, offering her treats, and giving her small gifts to remind her of their country, which, she will remember, no doubt, for many years to come.
Here are some tips to help your children get the most out your trip to Myanmar:
- Go to the library before you leave home, and check out some age-appropriate books to read with or to your child. The more she knows about the destination beforehand, the more she will enjoy it.
- Be sure to bring insect repellent, sun screen, and hats. Your children will use all of these!
- Pack a child-sized life jacket. In order to appreciate the Myanmar countryside, you must travel by boat, where we found adult-sized life jackets only.
- Allow time for your child watch the artists you will encounter along the way. We adjusted our itinerary (and expectations) so that our daughter could spent more time watching the painters, weavers, and blacksmiths. Okay – I admit she also liked watching the young ladies rolling cheroot cigars.
- Give your child a map so he can follow your family’s journey.
- Carry bottled water at all times. De-hydration is a real risk in Asia, especially for children.
- Build time into your day for the pool. Our hotels offered lovely swimming facilities, which proved an ideal place for relaxing after a day of touring.
- Go to a puppet show! Myanmar is famous for its puppetry and some of the hotels even provide a complimentary show during dinner.
- Ask your guide if you can visit a local school. English is compulsory in Myanmar so your children can communicate easily with the students.
- Bring plenty of wet wipes to clean little hands before meals. Restaurants may or may not have fresh, clean running water and soap.
- Heed warnings about Myanmar’s poisonous snakes, and remind children to stay on designated paths and avoid running in the shrubs or long grass.
- Consider bringing familiar snacks for picky eaters, such as granola bars or crackers. Myanmar markets do offer lots of fresh fruit to eat.
- Bring a sketch pad and journal for your child to record his thoughts during the trip.
- If you can, give your child his own camera for the visit. This proved to be Elisa’s greatest source of entertainment. She enjoyed taking the photos and then reviewing them each night. It also provided her parents with an insight into how she viewed the world around her.