You can travel the world while your children learn more than ever!
Parents the world over dream of taking their children on extended journeys across the globe. They’ll discover the mysteries of the Egyptian pyramids, feel the magic of the Taj Majal, and meander the ancient pathways atop the Great Wall of China. Together as a family they’ll explore the ins and out of our world and learn from teachers of all walks of life. Sounds wonderful, right?
View a slideshow of a family traveling the Americas.
But then reality hits. What about school? What about the education our children need? How do I pull the kids out of school for travel? Can I pull the kids out of school for travel? Is it legal?
The answer is: maybe. Each country has their own set of rules and regulations for their citizens to abide by. While roadschooling is perfectly legal in the USA, there are some European countries where it is impossible. You’ll need to check with the authorities of your own country and state.
In the USA, roadschooling is legal in all 50 states. However, each state has its own set of rules and guidelines which you will need to research. Many states (including Idaho, where I am from) allow us to do whatever we want – all we had to do was tell the local school we were homeschooling. Other states require quite a lot of documentation in various forms.
If you are planning to be on the road for an extended period of time, it may be worth the effort to change your residency to a state with few regulations. Check with various states to figure out which will end up being the easiest for you.
However, the homeschool regulations are not the only factor you need to take into consideration while planning your new lifestyle. Also consider:
- State taxes
- Vehicle licensing requirements (if traveling in an RV)
- Voting regulations
- Property taxes
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You may be interested in these other articles about traveling with children:
50 tips for a long distance family bike ride
Family travel: A life changing event
Extended family travel in tough economic times
How to afford an extended family vacation
And interviews with these other families who have chosen a life on two wheels:
The Williams family is on a open-ended tour on a triple bike with their 9-year-old son.
Rebekka and Florian traveled the Pan American Highway to Tierra del Fuego with their small son in a trailer.
The Verhage family with sons aged 11 & 13 have cycled south from LA. They are now in Peru.
My family is currently cycling the Pan American Highway - we've cycled 16,000 km from Alaska to Colombia so far. You can find us at Family on Bikes.
Contact me via email at familyonbikes@gmail.com
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