WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WORLDSCHOOLING?

Our family often refer to ourselves as worldschoolers – but not everyone knows what that is! Put simply, worldschoolers purposefully learn through trips and travel. It’s a lifestyle of experience, and of letting the real world inspire and shape a child’s education. The whole world is their classroom! Some might argue that to be worldschoolers, the majority of a child’s learning should be done through travel, but personally, I don’t think it needs such a narrow definition. There are as many ways to worldschool as there are families doing it!

Some people plan out their travels because they want their child to experience specific things – touching the prehistoric stones at Avebury, feeling the dusty heat of the Giza plateau, and climbing the Statue of Liberty. Others don’t have such a set plan, and like to discover what they can wherever they happen to be – the nearest museum might be a hidden gem that sparks a new interest, the historic site in the next town might be unlike anything they’ve come across before, there might be unusual temples nearby, and so on. Getting out there and discovering is part of the plan! Some families are fully nomadic and travel full-time, parents working remotely as they go. Some have a home-base, travel when they can, and focus on geography, world culture and similar subject areas when they’re not. Some, with the hopes of their kids becoming bilingual, even live and send their kids to school in a foreign country, and travel in the school holidays! (See why I’m not using a narrow definition now?!) Its people giving their children experiences in the name of education. As long as there’s traveling involved, its worldschooling.

Of  course, the more you travel, the greater the variety of cultures, landscapes, climates, histories and societies you come across, so I think most worldschoolers are always wanting more, regardless of the amount of travel they’re currently doing! There’s always something different out there to discover, no matter how much you’ve seen or done! In my opinion, this attitude is a huge part of worldschooling! Always looking for new things to do and places to go. Seeking as much variety as you can find. Being ready to explore, and get to know your surroundings. Being on the go as much as possible! And whether you’re doing that ten minutes away from where you were born, or ten hours away, on a different continent, you’re still experiencing the wonders that life has to offer! The only limits are your imagination and your funds!!!

I think the main thing though, is that worldschooling is learning through life – going to places and seeing them with your own eyes, and touching things with your own hands, wherever you may be on the planet. Experiencing the huge variety that the world has to offer, and making connections and links. And kids are GREAT at that!!!

Already decided that worldschooling is for you? Read our guide on how to start worldschooling here!