Kids Travel Talk: A Screen-Free way to Connect with your Kiids about Travel
As a former TV reporter in Tampa Bay and teacher at Corbett Prep, Anna De Jesus is no stranger to storytelling. It’s a skill that came in handy when she built her brand as a travel influencer.
Today, she’s adding another feather to her cap—that of entrepreneur—as she launches Kids Travel Talk, a deck of cards that help spark conversation between parents and children about the world.
De Jesus and her husband started their family travel journey when their daughter Sophia was just 1. They created The Great Escape Plan, a travel blog to inspire other families to travel with their kids. During seven months spent exploring Europe the family documented their adventures through videos on YouTube, writing parenting articles and sharing their journey on social media.
When son Nikolas was born four years later, the international adventures continued. Today, Sophia, who is entering high school in the fall, has visited 14 countries, and Nikolas, who is going into fifth grade, is quickly catching up.
The Kids Travel Talk conversation cards were born from de Jesus wanting to give parents a way to build a connection with their kids over travel through meaningful conversations. A deck of cards, while small, carries a powerful significance … connection. And her first deck of cards is focused on home sweet home: Tampa Bay!
Tell us about the inspiration behind Kids Travel Talk
Anna De Jesus: Over the years, I felt the need to do something more to inspire parents and kids to travel together. I wanted to create a product that would help children learn about destinations, but also spark fun and meaningful conversations between kids and parents.
It really surprised me when I read a report by the A.C. Nielsen Company, stating parents spend only about 39 minutes per week in meaningful conversation with their children. That really stuck with me.
We've always talked a lot about travel with our kids, and I thought why not create something that would help foster those conversations, and travel is the perfect way.
It takes a lot of courage to launch a new product. What gave you the push to finally create Kids Travel Talk?
Anna De Jesus: After spending most of my life as a TV journalist, I reinvented my career as a teacher when I became a mom and went back to get my master's degree in entrepreneurship at University of South Florida’s (USF's) Muma School of Business. I used my knowledge from that degree to launch Kids Travel Talk.
Kids Travel Talk are destination conversation cards designed especially for children and families. Our slogan is “Conversations Kids Love” because that's exactly what these cards are meant to do: inspire joyful, thoughtful and screen-free conversations about travel.
Whether you’re on a plane, at home dreaming of your next trip or already in a new country, the cards help kids connect with their families, learn about the world and get excited about new experiences. They’re also a great tool to get kids involved in travel planning, take away the nerves of going somewhere new and spark curiosity about other cultures.
Ultimately, Kids Travel Talk is about helping families connect, raising open-minded kids and building a love for global adventure one conversation at a time.
What can we expect to find in the card deck?
Anna De Jesus: The cards include 50 questions that are specific to visiting Tampa Bay. You'll find questions that spark conversations about everything from local theme parks to pirate questions. I feel these cards are great for families who live in Tampa Bay and for those who are visiting.
Where can we find your cards?
Anna De Jesus: I recently partnered with Visit Tampa Bay to bring Kids Travel Talk to their store in downtown Tampa and their online website, visittampabay.com. My goal is to get my cards into local theme parks, stores and even Tampa International Airport.
Tell us why you are so passionate about traveling as a family.
Anna De Jesus: I truly believe that when we travel with kids, we're helping to raise global citizens who grow up to love, respect and be curious about other cultures, foods and ways of life.
What’s next for you?
Anna De Jesus: I am currently creating destination Conversation Cards for other destinations in Florida and across the world. My ultimate dream is for families to have access to my cards worldwide, so they can create joyful and meaningful conversations about travel together.
Follow the journey: KidsTravelTalk.com
READ MORE:
Originally published in the July 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.