Tired of the stress and strain of working life? Too little time for the kids? Would you like to work remotely but you’ve got kids? Long-term traveling with children may be difficult, but traveling the world with children is absolutely possible. Rent out your home if possible (a welcome income during such a long absence) and start traveling!
It is difficult to know in advance how your family will fare during a world trip. While it can vary in every situation, you probably don’t have to worry: there are plenty of travelers who have successfully preceded you. If it’s your dream to long term travel, please don’t let having a family stop you!
Traveling with children, not to worry!
Of course you’ll have to make some accommodations when traveling with children as opposed what you’d do if you were alone or with a partner, but children can handle quite a lot and will learn a lot during a long trip. Traveling can be enriching for everyone involved: spotting wildlife, trekking through impressive rainforests, visiting remote villages, everything can be a learning opportunity for your kids.
1. Take it slow
Small children tire quickly when a trip gets monotonous and they need enough time to just play instead of being on the road all the time. After a period of traveling around a lot, it is a good idea to settle in one place for a short while. Children can recharge their energy and make new friends. It’s amazing how quickly you can feel at home in a new place.
2. Prepare
Take out insurance, schedule vaccinations and find out in advance how you can keep your family healthy while traveling.
3. Avoid buses
Travel often consists of long, uncomfortable bus journeys with speed freaks behind the wheel, questionable safety measures and air conditioning that is constantly blowing. Always pack extra clothes and vomit bags in your hand luggage, in addition to games and books to prevent boredom. But if possible, take the train, boat or plane for a long trip.
4. Keep it relaxed
While you love your kids unconditionally, taking care of them 24/7 during a long trip can be quite exhausting and stressful. Make sure you arrange childcare from time to time so that the adults have some time for themselves and each other. Or, if you’re traveling with a partner, alternate with individual activities such as diving or climbing, so that the other person can have a moment to themselves.
5. Teaching while traveling
If your kids are of school age, you do need to teach them while traveling. Therefore, schedule a few hours each week for one-to-one homeschooling. This won’t always be easy for both parent and child, but try to get them excited by adapting the school assignments to their interests and making use of the environment you’re in at that moment.
6. Bring a laptop or tablet
A laptop is not only useful for movies, games and Skype with family and friends, it can also be used for educational purposes. In places with wifi you can look up all kinds of educational resources or do research for homeschooling lessons.
Opener image: JulPo/iStock