It’s a Friday night and we’re about to wrap up our trip in Argentina.

And, now that Mika’s almost four, we’re starting to wonder if she’ll actually remember parts of it.

We’ve all heard it before: “They’re not even going to remember it.”

And honestly, as digital nomads or expats with young kids, we usually don’t care.

We know we’ll remember it, and we know they’re gaining experiences that shape who they are in ways we can’t always see yet.

But going down this rabbit hole, I learned that young kids can remember more than we give them credit for.

Research shows that childhood amnesia starts to fade around age 2.5–3, especially for emotional moments — like beaches, animals, or big “firsts.”

And when those moments are tied to something new or different, like travel, they’re more likely to stick.

So what happens when this is just…your normal life?

Will they remember?

More than you’d think.

Childhood amnesia simply means that while they may not remember specific moments later on, their brains are still holding onto the feelings and experiences in ways that shape who they become.

Most kids don’t clearly remember things from before around age 3–4.

So it’s not that nothing is sticking, it’s just not stored in a way they can easily recall later.

Our daughter doesn’t remember anything from Portugal; we left when she was 2.5 years old. But, she still weirdly asks to watch her favorite TV show from when we lived there (Danca Caricturas Panda, if you’re wondering — it’s basically “The Wiggles'“ of Portugal). We also joke that the Portuguese is still buried in there somewhere.

I remember the first time I went to Disney World, seeing the parade at 3-years-old.

I remember absolutely nothing else from that trip.

But, Hana remembers a lot from adolescence and beyond, like her first trip to Barcelona at 19.

And, this is because adults remember trips much differently than young kids do.

Kids remember how things felt when they were somewhere — not the itinerary. But, that feeling might have been wrapped up in a particular event for them, so when they think back to a moment in a certain place, it could be because that moment encapsulated their entire feeling about being there.

Which is actually pretty logical.

Talking about a trip after it happens actually helps lock it in.

It’s why Mika always asks us to tell her a story of when she was a baby.

And, the cool thing? Even if she doesn’t remember living in Europe, we have SO many cool bedtime stories to tell (and, photos to back them up, which we’ll get to in a bit).

I mean, how many parents can tell their kids about the time they went to a castle in Bordeaux or a black sand beach in the Azores?

Of course, this means they are building that memory also through YOUR point of view, but it will help them connect the dots in their head. And, maybe when they’re older, they will be able to go back to that moment, even if it’s mixed with their memory of your storytelling of it.

Even if they can’t fully recall it later, the brain pays extra attention to anything new.

First plane ride, first beach, first time seeing an animal — these are the moments most likely to stay.

Now, you might wonder what counts as a “first” for kids like ours, who’ve already been on dozens of flights, stayed in different homes, and seen so many places.

But it’s not just about the first time it ever happened — it’s about the first time it registered.

So even if they flew before age 3, what they may actually remember is the first time they were old enough to experience it in a way that stuck.

Which, in a way, still makes it a first, right?

We’ve all heard it before: kids need routine.

But what a lot of people don’t realize is we have it.

If anything, we rely on having a routine more than most parents. Because when everything around us is new, it’s the small, repeatable parts of the day that keep things steady.

And those are usually the things that stick.

For us, it’s the bedtime routine, the eating/snack times (as much as possible), and even cooking pasta and broccoli for dinner many nights.

While parents might remember the Eiffel Tower, kids remember grabbing dessert on the way home. Not because you went to an amazing Parisian bakery, but because dessert is just something you normally do. It’s why Mika always remembers the pool, the playground, etc.

And, why she’ll probably remember the stuffed bunny rabbit we bought her over standing with it at Puerto Madero.

It’s also worth keeping in mind (especially the next time someone criticizes your lifestyle) that those consistent moments on the road give them a sense of familiarity and emotional security, no matter where they are. (It also keeps us sane!)

Kids don’t remember things perfectly.

You could take an amazing island-hopping trip through Southeast Asia, and what they’ll remember most is…the pool.

But that’s actually part of how their memory works.

Studies show that kids can mix up details or remember something happening more often than it did — especially when moments feel similar or repeat. It’s like how Hana remembers so much of her trips upstate to Oswego, NY where her dad was from, even though they only did it once a year. Same for Max’s trips to Ecuador.

And honestly, this is kind of adorable.

At the end of the day, what kids will actually remember most is the feeling of being with you. Having the house, the yard, the friends — those are all nice, but they will remember how they felt in those places more than anything.

It’s why if you didn’t go out to dinner much with your family, you remember the few times you did.

It’s why if you move around a lot and doubt your decisions about staying in one place, that recognizing the consistency and security they have with you is what will shape their memories further.

Time together, exploring side by side is what really anchors the experience.

As I was thinking about how Mika might actually remember parts of this trip, I looked over at my son — who still can’t sit up yet (but is very committed to meals as long as there’s a high chair involved).

We know families traveling with babies, moving abroad, even spending their entire parental leave on the road.

And while you’re probably not thinking about your baby’s memories just yet, they are taking it all in — just in a different way.

Even in the first year, babies form lasting impressions from new environments, which can support things like adaptability and how they respond to new or unfamiliar situations later on.

They’re not remembering places or events, but they are storing the feeling of it — adapting to new spaces, hearing different languages, being around unfamiliar people.

Over time, that builds a kind of comfort with change that sticks, even if the memories don’t.

At some point, a few early memories stay, while others fade.

We’ve been wondering about that too. Mika remembers certain things from last year —trips, our first apartment in Bogotá — but it’s unclear which of those will actually last.

Memories begin forming in the moment, but they don’t stabilize right away. Over the following days and weeks, the brain strengthens some of them through a process called consolidation.

But, because Mika is in that sweet range right now, it might be that some of the memories she talks about will actually stay with here.

Over time, of course, the details of those memories can shift or simplify.

But, the core of the memory can remain, which is why early memories often feel more like snapshots than full stories.

And, it’s why showing photos from trips (which, we’ll do a piece about how we do photo albums with this lifestyle!) and telling super-cool (and real!) bedtime stories can help solidify those memories for good.

Not everything they experience while traveling is going to be positive.

There are long travel days, missed naps, unfamiliar places, moments where everyone’s a little off, etc. (We sure as hell were like this before we left for this trip!)

And yes — kids can remember some of those moments ,too.

But just like with everything else, what tends to stick isn’t every detail, it’s the overall feeling around it.

If those harder moments are balanced with feeling safe, supported, and close to you, that’s usually what stays.

A meltdown at an airport doesn’t become the memory, but being comforted through it does.

Not all of it.

But, they will remember A LOT.

And, even though we’re not choosing to live this way because we think they’ll remember it, it’s pretty cool to know that they will to some extent.

So, the next time someone tells you, “They won’t even remember it!” you don’t need to give all those other answers.

You can say, “But, they will!”

For those of you traveling with kids who are a bit older now, what are some things they remember? Let us know!