Life Before Worldschooling
Before worldschooling, we lived a typical life in Kent, UK. Jai was in Year 1 at a regular school. He was happy there – there was no bullying, no academic struggles, and no special learning needs. On paper, everything was fine.
I worked from home, building my business, while Jeff worked long hours in the building trade. We mostly saw each other on weekends and holidays. Like many families, life felt busy and scheduled, with little space for true connection.
Travel has always been part of our story – we met while travelling and spent years exploring the world together. Once Jai came along, we knew we didn’t want to stop. But the thought of squeezing all our adventures into two weeks of annual leave didn’t feel right. We wanted something more than the occasional family holiday.
What Worldschooling Means to Us
Worldschooling isn’t “school on the road.” It’s a way of learning through real-life experiences, guided by curiosity and connection rather than curriculum and testing.
For us, worldschooling means:
- Child-led learning, where Jai’s interests shape our days.
- Cultural immersion, learning through food, language, religion, and local customs.
- Nature and environment, understanding the world through direct experience.
- Nervous system-friendly living, slowing down and avoiding the daily pressures that lead to burnout.
While we share similarities with homeschoolers and unschoolers, we’re not rooted in one place. Worldschool hubs are more transient and flexible, which suits our lifestyle. We use a few light learning resources, like Reading Eggs and Mathseeds, but mostly, our location and Jai’s interests guide our rhythm.
The Values Behind Our Decision
Freedom & flexibility: Designing a life that isn’t ruled by school calendars.
More family time: Replacing rushed mornings with shared experiences.
Child-led learning: Following Jai’s curiosity instead of ticking curriculum boxes.
Slower pace & regulation: Protecting everyone’s nervous system from chronic overwhelm.
Global citizenship: Experiencing different cultures, people, foods, religions, and environments.
Nature & simplicity: Living with the seasons, eating locally, and noticing our impact as travellers.
How Jai Learns Best
Jai thrives when he can move freely, explore outside, and follow his interests. Traditional classrooms can’t offer that flexibility.
Through worldschooling, he learns by living:
- Chatting with market vendors while shopping for food.
- Visiting wildlife parks and meeting elephants in the wild.
- Learning new words in each country we visit.
- Exploring his passions – animals, dinosaurs, and the natural world.
These experiences have been far more impactful than worksheets could ever be.
It’s Not Just About Kids – It’s About Us, Too
Worldschooling has transformed us as parents, too. Life back in the UK often felt like a constant rush with school runs, routines, and pressure. This lifestyle gave us space to slow down, reconnect, and actually live together as a family, not just coexist in the same house between work and school.
Plus we’ve made some amazing friends, had incredible experiences, and got to see more of the world (which has to be a bonus!)
Busting the Big Myths About Worldschooling
“It’s Too Expensive”
We worldschool on a budget. We slow travel, live like locals, work remotely, and spend thoughtfully on activities. You don’t need to remortgage your house to make it work.
“Kids Won’t Socialise”
We’ve made friends everywhere. Worldschool hubs exist across Thailand, Bali, India, Europe, and beyond. Facebook communities help families connect, and even in quieter places, we meet other travellers and locals. Socialisation happens naturally and often more meaningfully than in traditional settings.
“They Won’t Get a Proper Education”
We cover the basics – reading, writing, and maths – consistently but without pressure. Everything else unfolds through life itself: history, geography, science, and languages are embedded in our travels. Maths happens while shopping in markets, history comes alive on location, and culture is learned through daily interaction.
Where We’re Heading Next
We’re currently in Australia and heading to India to join a worldschool hub for a couple of months. After that, likely more of Asia. We’ll keep following curiosity and community.
How worldschooling has impacted our family
This lifestyle has brought us closer and helped Jai grow in confidence.
Once a shy child, he now orders his own drinks in cafés, chats with people of all ages, and swims with ease. These experiences are shaping his core memories and worldview in ways a classroom never could.
We chose worldschooling because we wanted more than routines, rushing, and short holidays.
We wanted freedom, connection, and a life rich with real-world learning. So far, it’s been everything we hoped, and more.
Thinking about travelling and worldschooling with your kids? Or curious about what life travelling with kids is really like? Drop your questions in the comments or connect with us on Instagram @realtravelfamily. We love sharing the reality of life on the road, travel without breaking the bank and worldschooling.