More and more families are setting off to travel for long periods (a sabbatical year, a tour of Europe) with school-age children, and the big question comes up: what about school? Educating your children while travelling by motorhome is possible (known as homeschooling or, while travelling, "worldschooling"), but there are important practical and legal aspects worth knowing well. Here they are. (This isn't legal advice; check the regulations that apply to you.)
First: the legal question
The most important, delicate point: the legality of home education varies a great deal from country to country. In some it's recognised and regulated; in others the situation is complex, with schooling compulsory subject to certain nuances. If you're going to travel for a while while keeping your child's school place, this is usually handled differently than if you plan to educate outside the school system entirely. Find out exactly where you stand legally (enrolment, justifying absences, official distance-learning options) before setting off. [Note: check the schooling and home-education rules that apply to you.]
How to organise learning
- Official distance learning: many families keep the child enrolled at a distance-learning school or at their regular school with a plan, following the curriculum online.
- A study routine: a schedule and a "study corner" (even a small one) help with consistency (see studying in the camper).
- Materials: digital books, platforms, online resources (you need good connectivity — see internet).
- Consistency with flexibility: using bad-weather days to study and good ones to explore.
The trip as school: "worldschooling"
The great advantage: the trip itself educates in a way a classroom can't. History by visiting places, geography by travelling through it, languages with locals, science in nature, maths managing the budget, independence, adaptability and open-mindedness. Turning every destination into a living lesson (museums, nature, cultures) is the heart of "worldschooling", and a rich complement to the curriculum.
The practical side: connectivity and power
Educating on the road depends on internet access (for online classes and resources) and on power for devices and study lighting. Good connectivity (see internet in the camper) and an electrical setup up to the task are part of the "school supplies" (see calculator).
In summary
Educating children while travelling is possible (homeschooling/worldschooling), with the legal question as the most important thing to sort out, supported by distance learning, a study routine and the trip itself as a great school. The step to take today: if you're planning a long trip with children, find out exactly where you stand legally on schooling and the official distance-learning options, set up a study routine with good connectivity and power, and treat every destination as a living lesson. Combine it with the sabbatical year.