More and more families are deciding to set off travelling by motorhome for long stretches with their children, and the big question soon comes up: what about school? Combining travelling life with children's education is a challenge, but also a huge opportunity: the journey itself is one of the best schools there is. Here we look at how these families handle it, bearing in mind that the legal side needs confirming locally.
Travel as learning
Travelling teaches things that don't fit in a classroom: geography and history experienced first-hand, languages, nature, independence, adaptability, living together, problem-solving. Children who travel develop enormous curiosity and social ease. Every destination is a practical lesson.
Schooling options
Depending on the age and length of the trip, families usually combine:
- Home education / distance learning: following the curriculum with materials and, where applicable, online platforms, adapted to the trip.
- Reinforcing the basics (reading, writing, maths) with a daily routine, complemented by the learning the trip provides.
- Coordinating with the home school for medium-length trips.
The legal side (what's permitted, schooling obligations, exams) depends on local regulations and the child's age, and it's worth finding out about and formalising properly. [Note: check the current legal framework for home education and distance schooling where you live.]
A routine that works
What works best for travelling families: a flexible daily routine that sets aside time for the basics (often in the morning) and leaves the afternoons for exploring and learning from the surroundings. Children need some structure, but the journey provides motivation: they learn about a volcano... by visiting it.
The practical side in the camper
- A work area with good light where they can concentrate.
- Materials and, if needed, internet for online resources (see internet in the camper).
- Connecting with other travelling families going through the same thing; the community helps a great deal (see the camper community).
In summary
Educating children on the road combines the school of the journey itself with a routine of basics and distance-learning options, within a legal framework that needs confirming. The step to take today: if you're considering it, find out thoroughly about the legal framework for distance schooling and connect with families already travelling this way; their experience will give you the most realistic roadmap. And for day to day life, see travelling with children.
