Why You Should Travel with Kids Long-Term
The term ‘happy campers’ was reconfirmed in a 2017 Real Richness report, finding not only that 94 per cent of campers believe camping generates happy memories, but also that people who caravan and camp are more likely to feel closer to their spouse and family than non-campers. There is a good reason for this, as escaping the distractions and stresses of modern life can allow people to reconnect with their loved ones and strengthen family bonds.
The Real Richness report also showed that the majority of both campers and non-campers alike, agree camping is beneficial for their children, providing with meaningful lessons in social engagement, life skills, and the environment, as well as improving their health and behaviour. Camping and caravanning have countless benefits for children, and you might be surprised at how much learning can occur in the unique and practical environment that the caravan and camping lifestyle offers.
Not all the lessons of life can be learned in a classroom, and one important consideration when travelling with your family is when to travel and whether you are tied to school holidays or not. While many people take advantage of long weekends, RDO’s and public holidays to visit their favourite destinations, more and more families are taking the kids out of bricks-and-mortar schools to travel. Most of us have adjusted to the change in how we work caused by COVID-19, affording many workers greater lifestyle flexibility. However, another blessing largely overlooked, is that the concept of road-schooling (home-schooling on the road) is now widely accepted and more accessible than ever before for school-age children. This means the entire family can potentially hit the road any day of the year (and for longer), not just during the peak season school holidays.
And why wouldn’t you want to travel in the off-season? The rates are lower, last-minute bookings are readily available giving you more room for spontaneity (the secret ingredient to adventure!), and there are of course fewer tourists. But that’s not all, it generates much-needed income for regional communities that are heavily reliant on the tourism dollar. So, consider staying an extra night, buying an extra cup of coffee, or visiting that extra attraction while on your trip, it makes all the difference.
There is also no need to worry about your kids being left behind by their school peers when you plan ahead. Several years ago, when Kylie and Tina took their four girls out of school for a six-week motorhome trip from Cairns to Alice Springs, they worked with their school to plan the children’s lessons in advance, ensuring they were able to keep up with their studies. Not dissimilar to recent COVID enforced home-schooling for many, the girls were motivated to finish their daily lessons early, opening up their afternoons to an ever-changing backyard. By experiencing the outback, its history, geography, flora and fauna, and experiencing the rich culture of Australia’s First Nation People, the girls became more engaged and interested in learning, returning to school ahead of their classmates and graduating to leadership positions within their school in future years. This is not an isolated example.
Today, many online resources are readily available to help you navigate your very own ‘Real Life Classroom.’ Families are blogging their tips for travelling on the road and sharing these travels on social media for their friends, families and other budding family adventurers to join in. There is no one size fits all solution to keeping kids up to date with their education while on the road, but some options include distance education, approved home-schooling or simply working with your school to mimic the lessons from the curriculum during their time away.
However, the message from us is to not wait, as they won’t stay kids forever. Get out there and create those lifelong memories with your family! Some great online resources you can start with (not an exhaustive list) if you are considering road-schooling are ‘Caravanning with Kids’, ‘Travelling Australia with Kids’ and ‘Fearless Home School’, while blog sites like ‘Trip in a Van’ and ‘4 Boys and a Caravan’ also provide invaluable tips and tricks on the joys of travelling on the road with children.
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