We all dream of travel and seeing the world. If you didn’t, it’s unlikely you’d be reading a family travel blog. For many parents, that dream began in our backpacking years – a time when life fitted into an 80‑litre rucksack, plans were loose, and responsibilities were light.
I was one of those backpackers. I left home at 23, fresh out of university (with a short but formative stint running a pub), ready to explore the world and work out who I was. Along the way, I was lucky enough to meet my soulmate, and together we spent more than three years travelling the world. We had very little money, very little stress, and a huge amount of freedom.
Eventually, we returned to the UK, got married, and settled down. But if we’re honest, that urge to travel never really disappears. There’s always a quiet voice suggesting you could sell everything, pack up, and head off again.
And then there’s reality.
Children.
Not a barrier to travel. Not a problem to overcome. A privilege – and one we’re deeply grateful for. Better still, we’ve managed to pass our love of travel on to our boys.
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Travelling with children: why we believe it matters
You’ll often hear the phrase, “Don’t let kids stop you travelling.” On this, we completely agree. Having children should not stop you seeing the world. In fact, family travel with kids can be one of the most rewarding and meaningful things you ever do.
Is it harder? Yes.
Is it more tiring? Definitely.
Are there moments of worry? Absolutely.
A night in a rural hospital in Uzbekistan with both boys still stands out.
But for us, the positives outweigh the negatives by a huge margin. Travelling with children builds confidence, resilience, empathy, and curiosity. It gives them real‑world experiences that simply can’t be replicated at home.
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What is world schooling?
World schooling is an approach where families travel long term or permanently, with children learning through experience rather than attending formal school. Instagram and social media are full of families living this lifestyle – beaches on 1 September, captions about a “new term,” and a strong sense of freedom from traditional systems.
For some families, this works incredibly well. Those with long‑term financial security, flexibility, and the right circumstances may genuinely thrive.
But while we admire the courage and commitment it takes, world schooling is not something we believe is right for our family.
Why world schooling isn’t right for us
This is the point where our view differs, and it’s important to say this clearly: this is not an attack, and it’s not bitterness. It’s simply an honest reflection on what we believe is best for our children.
The question we always come back to isn’t “Does this look amazing?” – because it often does. It’s “Is this fair on the children?”
Is it fair for children to have no fixed home?
Is it fair for friendships to constantly reset?
Is it fair to assume that parents can fully replace trained teachers, peer interaction, and long‑term structure?
Yes, there is an element of jealousy – mostly for the views, if we’re honest. World schoolers often inspire us to be braver with our travel choices. But inspiration doesn’t automatically mean imitation.
What gives us pause is the message that sometimes accompanies world schooling online: the idea that this is the enlightened way, and that families who choose school, routine, and structure are somehow trapped or failing their children.
The importance of home, routine, and stability
Our children travel a lot. They’ve seen and experienced things many adults never will. But they also have something we believe is equally important: a home.
They have their own beds, familiar routines, and a sense of belonging. As teachers, we know children thrive on consistency. Routine provides security, and security allows children to flourish.
They have long‑term friendships that are already shaping who they are. They’re part of a football team, learning teamwork, commitment, resilience, and how to win – and lose – together.
Education, choice, and keeping doors open
Our children attend school. Real school, with teachers and classmates. Is the UK education system perfect? No. But for us, education matters.
What we’ve found is that travel and education don’t compete – they complement each other. Our boys bring their experiences into Geography, RE, and History. Learning becomes richer because it’s rooted in lived experience.
Most importantly, school keeps options open.
Our children dream of travelling the world, climbing mountains, skiing down them, and playing football for England. But they also dream of doing well at school, gaining qualifications, and choosing their own future.
For us, removing formal education removes choice. It narrows pathways rather than expanding them – and that’s not a decision we’re willing to make on their behalf.
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Our approach to family travel and education
We believe our approach to travelling as a family gives our children the best of both worlds: adventure and stability, freedom and routine, experience and education.
We travel intentionally. We travel together. And we return home.
This balance allows our children to grow, explore, and dream – while still having a solid foundation beneath them.
There is no single “right way”
We can already hear the counter‑arguments: that we’re products of the system, that we’re playing it safe, that we don’t understand the skills world schooling teaches.
We genuinely hope that children growing up through world schooling thrive, feel secure, and are empowered to choose their own paths.
This post isn’t about saying one way is right and another is wrong.
It’s about honesty.
For us, our way works. It gives our children opportunity, balance, and choice. And while beautifully curated social media feeds can be inspiring, we believe it’s vital to look beyond the images and consider what children may be giving up as well as what they gain.
Our way isn’t the right way.
It’s simply the right way for us.
Got a question on how we do it? Contact us below.
Family Russell-Smith Travel 