By Nikki Collinson-Phenix , Global Trailblazing
World-schooling and road-schooling are becoming increasingly popular among homeschooling families. These methods of education provide a unique and immersive experience for children, allowing them to learn about different cultures, languages, and customs while also experiencing new environments and adventures.
We’ve been world-schooling, road-schooling and homeschooling for nearly 2 years now, so if you're a homeschooling parent looking to world-school or road-school your child, here are some of my top tips to make the experience fun, educational, and memorable!
1. PLAN AHEAD:
Before you embark on your world-schooling or road-schooling adventure, it's important to plan ahead. Decide where you want to go, how long you will stay, what activities to do, and experiences you want to have.
Research the local culture, history, and customs, and create an itinerary that incorporates educational opportunities, such as museums, historical sites, and local markets.
But don’t plan too much! Have a skeletal idea of where you are heading but allow room for change and flexibility. So many incredible things can happen on your adventure and being tied to a fixed itinerary can be really restrictive, you could miss out on some amazing opportunities.
2. SET A DATE TO LEAVE:
This one was huge for us and something I tell everyone to do! It’s so easy to just say ‘at some point we will leave to travel’ and then before you know it another year has passed, and you are still in exactly the same place talking about your dream but still not living it! Set a realistic date for the day you will head off, make it non-negotiable, and then tell people. It will keep you accountable and make sure that you keep focused on the goal, especially when life might throw a few curveballs into the mix too!
3. BE FLEXIBLE:
Embrace flexibility and expect the unexpected. Challenges will arise, things will often not go to plan and the best intentions will go to pot! Just breathe through it all and embrace that this is all part of the adventure. Always be ready with a Plan B just in case!
4. FACTOR IN LOTS OF WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE INTERESTED IN:
To make world-schooling and road-schooling enjoyable for your child, incorporate their interests into the itinerary.
For some children, moving around can be unsettling, so if they know that there is lots for them to look forward to that they love, it will help you loads!
So if your child loves animals, plan a visit to a wildlife sanctuary. If they are interested in history, plan visits to historical landmarks and museums. If they love water, then the beach or water parks will be a must!
By incorporating your child's interests into the itinerary, they will be more engaged and excited about the learning experience.
5. USE ONLINE RESOURCES:
There are many online resources available to help you plan your world-schooling or road-schooling adventure. There’s the usual resources like Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet, which can provide you with valuable information on local attractions, restaurants, and accommodations.
But your absolute best resource is getting into online forums and social media groups to connect with other homeschooling families who have traveled to the same destinations to get recommendations and advice.
Other families are always so willing to share their journey and help people who are just starting out. It’s a really lovely community to be a part of! You will find resources for learning and for socializing too!
6. LEARN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE:
One of the most rewarding aspects of world-schooling and road-schooling is the opportunity to immerse yourself in different cultures.
Learning the local language can help you and your child connect with the locals and experience the culture on a deeper level. There are many language learning apps available, such as Duolingo and Rosetta Stone, that make it easy and fun to learn a new language, plus the local community really do appreciate you having a go at trying to speak their language.
Even just getting a few basics down before you arrive will make a huge difference, especially the words for ‘thank you’.
7. KEEP A TRAVEL JOURNAL:
Encourage your child to keep a travel journal during your world-schooling or road-schooling adventure. This can be a great way for them to document their experiences and reflect on what they have learned. They can write about the places they visited, the people they met, and the new things they learned. This can also be a great keepsake to look back on in the future.
8. INCORPORATE HANDS ON LEARNING:
Hands-on learning is a great way to engage your child in the world schooling or road schooling experience. Depending on the destination, you can participate in activities such as cooking classes, art workshops, or outdoor adventures like hiking and kayaking.
This can help your child learn new skills while also experiencing the local culture and environment. When you are connected in Facebook groups, you can easily find out what activities are around the area you want to go to or get recommendations from others of where you need to head for the best hands - on learning!
9. SEEK OUT THE LOCAL RESOURCES:
Many destinations offer free or low-cost educational resources, such as museums, libraries, and cultural centers. Take advantage of these resources to enhance your child's learning experience.
There will always be museums, libraries, places of historical interest that cost very little and often are free (especially if you visit out of season!). Also, look for places where there is a good play park or green area, because they are always a winner!
10. USE TECHNOLOGY TO STAY CONNECTED:
While world schooling and road schooling can be an incredible adventure, it can also be challenging to stay connected with friends and family back home.
Use technology to stay connected, whether it's through video chats, social media, or email or other online resources. This can help your child feel less homesick and allow you to share your experiences with loved ones.
It can also be really hard sometimes for kids when they have made new friends if they have to keep saying goodbye, so really try and find a way for them to stay connected to the ones that mean the most to them.
11. FINANCIAL LOGISTICS:
Of course, for many families who travel, there is still a need to earn whilst on the road. Luckily, there are now so many ways to earn money online and generate income that can be earned remotely.
It may be that your existing job will allow you to work remotely or perhaps, like us, you will need to explore new ways to earn. If you want employment, search for remote working jobs on sites like Indeed, or maybe teach English online.
If you want your own business, explore your strengths and experience to see how you could turn it into an online business. I could write a whole article on this topic alone, but to see the variety, just start by typing something as simple as ‘how to earn money online’ into Google and see for yourself just how many different ways there are!
12. HAVE FUN!
Finally, the most important tip for world-schooling and road-schooling is to have fun! This is a unique and incredible opportunity for you and your family to learn, grow together, experience new adventures, and create memories that will last a lifetime, so make sure fun is always at the heart of it all!
Taking our kids on a world-schooling and road-schooling adventure has been the best decision we ever made. They are learning so much more than I could ever imagine, and their confidence is through the roof. Yes, it’s a roller coaster ride at times, but then isn’t life anyway?
So if taking your family on the road to have an amazing adventure is a dream of yours, then now is the time to stop calling it a dream. Start making it a goal, set that date, and make it happen!
By Nikki Collinson-Phenix from Global Trailblazing | The Online Youth Club
