How to Dabble in Worldschooling Your Kids This Summer

May 18

Summer break is here- long days, family road trips, beach outings, and maybe a plane ride or two. But what if you could do more than just go somewhere? What if you could turn your summer vacation into a living, breathing classroom? This is the essence of worldschooling. Everything can be a learning experience or a hands-on field trip. David and I plan on worldschooling the twins long term, but here’s how you can dabble this summer and try it for yourself. You don’t have to follow a strict curriculum, need a teaching degree, or need loads of resources. You just need to connect with your kids, light up their curiosity, and your family trips will become more meaningful!

What is Worldschooling (and Why Try It)?

Worldschooling is the belief that the world is a classroom and children are constantly learning. Parents can tap into childhood wonder, questions, observations, awe and leverage kid curiosity to learn. Most children absorb information better with hands-on experiences, oral or visual learning, and putting a concept into physical presence (rather than memorizing textbooks). This style of schooling can take place anywhere. Museums, marketplaces, mountains, ruins, train stations, and beaches all become part of your child’s learning experience.

So why should you try to be your child’s teacher this summer? Because kids thrive when they are curious and able to ask questions. Travel offers real-life context and scenarios for the topics they read in books. Lessons can come alive. And because it’s a great way for you to connect with your child in the learning process and discover what makes them tick.

Use Your Family Vacation as a Giant Field Trip

No matter where you’re going this summer it can be a learning opportunity. National parks, coastal towns, museums, foreign countries- there’s so much to explore. Think of your destination as a giant classroom and all discussion topics are allowed. You don’t need any kind of formal model to teach your kids, just encourage their questions and then follow those leads down the rabbit hole of information. It’s fun to see where their interests lie.

Build the Hype Before You Go

Weeks before we hit the road I’ll start hyping the trip and starting conversations at home. The twins are still too young to be involved in the logistical planning, but if you have older kids offer them choices for museums, attractions, or excursions to see what they would like to investigate further. Get them excited about what’s coming. Here are some ways to prep at home:

Books- stories, fables, or non fiction about history, culture, animals, food, geology, famous people
Movies- family movies with a relevant theme or filmed there. Documentaries or nature clips
Maps- see where we are going, distance to get there, method of transportation to get there, what country, continent, ocean is nearby
Family chats- fun trivia facts during dinner and car rides

Engage Their Learning Style

One of the best parts about worldschooling is that it is completely tailored to your child- their interests, their level, and how they absorb information. Your little artist can sketch all the animals and flowers they can find. Your tactical learner can touch buildings, nature, and textures until their hands are filthy. Your writer can journal and create stories until they fall asleep on their notebook. Your analytical one can be in charge of the map and get everyone walking towards the lunch spot. This is the perfect chance to cater to their individual learning style instead of the standard classroom procedures where one size may not fit all. And if you aren’t sure how your child learns best and what resonates with them, this is a fun way to find out.

Be Their Fellow Explorer On The Trip

Once you’re at your destination remember to ask open ended questions starting with “Why, What, How.” This will lead to conversations instead of yes/no questions and facts that can begin to feel like memory drills. Again, let curiosity lead and follow the rabbit hole of information. One of my favorite parts is also letting the twins teach me. When they remember something from a book or conversation we had at home their little bodies wriggle with excitement and they can’t wait to say “Remember when we talked about ____!? It’s just like that!” Encourage them to share information with others too (guides, a new friend, other family members) and watch how proud and confident it makes them.

Most importantly remember to go slow. Learning takes time and you don’t want to rip your kids away from the touch tank at the Marine Life center before they’ve connected with a learning idea. This trip isn’t about checking off the boxes and cramming in every sight that day. Worldschooling is about learning in the real world, and I can promise the information gained on this trip will stick with them for a lifetime. Learning doesn’t need to look like school with timetables and schedules, it just needs to feel like discovery. Give them space to do that.

Relive the Magic After You Return

Let the trip linger when you get home. Have a family recap after everyone is well rested and back into a routine. Create a photo album together or frame new photos for the house. Help them with a journal or scrapbook to document their favorite parts. Write a list of “10 things we learned” or “10 best things that happened.” Talk about surprises or what was different than home. Link to future learning or destinations to explore like “where else has animals like that?” Let them daydream about the next destination. Keep talking and asking questions!

Worldschooling isn’t about having the perfect schedule or curriculum. It’s about being present, curious, and connected alongside your child. Worldschooling can happen at any time, at any place if you are open to exploring. Read together, ask questions together, discover answers together. Be ready to see their eyes light up when something they read comes to life in front of them. Your vacation can be so much more!