Sometimes the biggest parenting lesson arrives in the middle of an everyday moment—especially when you’re travelling. Over nine days in Seoul, the Aziz Family Official discovered that resilience isn’t always taught through careful conversations. Sometimes it’s learned simply by watching how you move through the world.
The trip averaged around 20,000 steps a day. There were no taxi shortcuts, no skipping the hills, and even when travelling with a young child, they didn’t lean on a push chair for Zakaria. Instead, they embraced the walking rhythm of the city—because if they were going to do it, they were going to do it properly.
Seoul on Foot: A Daily 20,000-Step Challenge
For adults, 20,000 steps is a lot. For a four-year-old, it becomes something closer to a daily marathon. And yet, throughout the trip, Zakaria never complained—not once—apart from one memorable line: “My battery is low.” That was it.
When the family noticed he needed a reset, they “charged” him in a playful way. He stood with a completely straight face, pretended to charge up, and then sprinted off down the street at full speed. There were no meltdowns and no requests to go home, only that light-hearted “battery” moment that made the whole experience feel surprisingly easy.
The Parenting Realisation: Kids Learn From What They See
Before the trip, the family admits they weren’t sure how they would handle everything. They thought they might be struggling as parents—until they saw Zakaria’s steady, positive attitude unfold day after day. Alhamdulillah, the experience brought clarity.
The most important lesson? They realised he didn’t learn resilience from a conversation. He learned it by watching them. As they put it, kids don’t need the speech—they need to see you not quit. And when children witness that steadiness, they’re more likely to meet the moment with the same spirit.
It’s a powerful reminder that travel doesn’t only show you new places. It can also reveal strengths you didn’t know your child had—and confidence you didn’t know you could pass on.
“Too Hard for Young Children?” A Different Perspective
People often ask whether travel is too hard for young children—too unpredictable, too unstable, too demanding. But this Seoul story offers a different outlook.
Zakaria walked through Seoul for nine days, averaging around 20,000 steps a day. His “complaint” wasn’t about exhaustion or a desire to stop—it was purely playful, a way of expressing that his energy needed a boost. In other words, the experience wasn’t a failure of parenting; it was a demonstration of what children can handle when they’re included in the journey.
Why 20,000 Steps Became a Lesson in Confidence
There are a few details that made the lesson especially meaningful:
- No shortcuts: the family didn’t take taxi shortcuts, meaning Zakaria experienced the full pace of the city.
- No “escape” plan: they didn’t default to a push chair for Zakaria, so he stayed engaged with the adventure.
- A positive response to energy shifts: when he said his battery was low, they “charged” him and he quickly returned to full speed.
- Consistency without dramatic guidance: he didn’t need long resilience lessons—he observed how the adults kept going.
How to Turn Travel Into a Confidence-Building Experience
If you’re dreaming of a city break with children, this story offers a simple approach that many families find reassuring:
- Plan for movement rather than assuming you’ll always need to slow down.
- Keep it realistic: 20,000 steps is a commitment—so aim to match your child’s pace, not just your itinerary.
- Use light, practical “reset” moments (like the family’s battery-charge play) instead of turning tiredness into stress.
- Let kids watch you try. Your steady attitude can be the lesson.
Ready for Seoul With a Family-First Approach?
Seoul is a city that rewards curiosity, but it also demands a certain amount of walking and exploration. The Aziz Family Official’s nine-day journey shows that when you commit to the experience—while supporting your child in the moment—travel can become more than sightseeing. It can become a confidence builder, a bonding opportunity, and a lesson in resilience you’ll remember long after you’ve left.
If you’d like help planning a family-friendly Seoul trip that balances adventure with thoughtful pacing, Sakina Tours can guide you in creating a curated itinerary designed for real-life moments—meltdowns avoided, steps managed, and memories made.
