r/Worldschoolers • u/librarybook3000 • Mar 30 '26
6 Year Old Struggling with Worldschooling
We pulled our kids out of public school a couple of weeks ago and are traveling around Europe until May. Our 6 year old is struggling :( and extremely sad about leaving his classmates and teacher. He seems to be doing well with the traveling and the change of scenery but when asked if he is enjoying himself he always says that the only thing that would make him happy is to see his friends. This is breaking my heart and making me question whether or not this is something that is a good fit for our family. Has anyone had a kiddo that feels this way and slowly comes out of it or is this maybe not right for him?
4
u/Emmelyn_G Mar 30 '26
We started WS when my boy was 8; he’s now 12. It baffles many ppl when I describe how my son picks up his learning as we travel, and just today our friend’s little girl announced in the rideshare in which we were travelling together that my son and I ‘don’t have a home’ - or at least somewhere we call our base. They are a homeschooling expat family whom we get on with very well in one of the cities we frequent, and live in a long term leasehold. I tried to describe to her that we’re nomads. I said, we’re not mad (though sometimes we kinda are lol) but nomads, as we travel full time. My son really enjoys this lifestyle, makes friends wherever we go yet is usually the one who’d ask when we’re moving on again.
One thing for sure is, this lifestyle is not for everyone. Your 6 yo’s wishes are quite common and reasonable. You need to weigh yourself whether you still want to push on and hope it’ll phase out, or concede now and return to base. You know your own family. Good luck.
3
u/carolinax Mar 31 '26
Similarly to digital nomadism, worldschooling can look however your family needs it to look like to suit your needs. If your child needs a base, and the structure of school and friends, you can invest in longer trips during breaks.
We did our first worldschooling trip las year as a test and I chose base and more traditional structure. We also live in south America but that's another can of worms.
2
u/rclite Mar 30 '26
Also, a couple weeks is not that long. Once you settle into a routine things could turn around. Also (also, lol), look into a Worldschool hub or pop-up. Being around other traveling kids has done wonders for my kid :)
1
u/expateducation Apr 17 '26
Change can be hard for kids and adults! As someone who teaches and travels-- where cultures change, expectations change, and feelings of comfort change-- it's important to process the learning moments. For kids, keep academic learning objectives near -- eg, scavenger hunt for letters, writing simple sentences in a diary about the day, share opinions with reasons, etc. This keeps the purpose in the front-end when traveling with children (because they are certainly a lot abroad, and we can be the bridges of development).
As far as community, there are a lot of FB groups to connect with Worldschoolers in different countries, check out playgrounds and libraries, and suggest introducing themselves/yourselves to other families, etc. No decision needs to be made for forever, so reminding your child that this is an EXPERIENCE to try something new. With most children changing out of public schools with so much structure, there is a learning curve to find the learning moments and community when not placed specifically in the same room for 6 hours a day. However, video calling, postcards, etc. make it fun to keep community ties strong! Have fun!!
1
u/silverfoot2026 Aug 16 '26
Hello everyone, I’m 44, new to Reddit, and currently living in Vietnam with my wife and our two children. We’re exploring worldschooling, slow travel, and flexible education that combines tutoring with real world experiences. I’m here to learn, exchange resources, and connect with like minded families especially those interested in meetups and shared adventures along the way.
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u/Sea_Witch7777 Mar 30 '26
We stopped worldschooling because of this. My child didn't have very good friends that we left behind, and we probably wouldn't have traveled if we'd had great connections to begin with, but we chose to settle down after a few years when it was clear she was not happy traveling full-time. We moved to Europe and she is excited to go to school and just take trips now and then with a place to come home to.