Hi we are now 7 months in to a 12 month round the world trip with a 13 year old. I just wanted to update the forum as I found the information from other travelling families really useful when we were planning our trip. One of the things that was most useful to me were the families experiences of home schooling so I wanted to let you know how we are getting on with it. I am updating a blog as we go and yesterday my update was on the schooling and how we are finding it http://thebigtrippers.blogspot.com/2011/03/simplicity-is-beauty-of-life.html I hope you find this useful and if you are thinking of planning a long term trip with your kids, my advice is go for it, it's brilliant!
1
empressnasigoreng
I just had a quick look. That all sounds so cool! I think my youngest (son) would thrive doing something like that. My daughter too addicted to her school peer group, I think.
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ruthwillsam
It's certainly not an easy choice to uproot them from their peer group - we were lucky that he wanted to come away and was 12 when we left, I wouldn't have wanted to take him away any older because I think 13/14 is when they start to really form strong, necessary bonds with the peer group as they move slightly away from the family unit, towards independence. He is also a relaxed kid so it's very easy to travel with him... but I certainly don't think it's right for all kids.
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EscapeArtistes
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Hiya,
My son and I are travelling longterm too. And my son's currently in a school, after a year's unschooling/road schooling. If anyone's interested in an account of the transition, and how it worked, you can find the link here: http://travelswithanineyearold.com/2011/03/12/back-to-school/
You can also find what we did in our first year, here: http://travelswithanineyearold.com/2010/12/30/our-world-school-an-end-of-year-report/
My general view is that he learns more unschooling than he would have done by being in school...
Theodora
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ruthwillsam
Had a look at the site and it looks fab... I agree that home schooling is way better than the UK primary system (for us anyway). Sam had the same experience as Z and spent most lessons gazing out of the window and not engaging and why should he as the teachers certainly didn't push him. But now he is much more engaged (although he too would prefer to guide his own learning). We are headed to Bali in a few months... your experiences there look great, can't wait to get there.
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