Roadschooling– Benefits, Challenges

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While no data confirms an increase in this homeschool family lifestyle, roadschooling is undoubtedly gaining attention. Many people wish to understand educational travel options better. One thing to note is the pros and cons of roadschooling. There are some benefits and challenges associated with roadschooling. Understanding them better will help you as you venture into this new lifestyle.

Roadschooling is a lifestyle commitment that involves various travel opportunities for learning. Some of the benefits and challenges of roadschooling range from customized learning to limited permanent friends.

I wanted to focus on the benefits and challenges that other roadschooling families face for this post. A good option would be to check out the various roadschooling communities online first to see if it is something your family is interested in trying. There are different roadschooling blogs, hashtags, and communities online. If this is a leap for you, I have also created a roadschooling preparation guide for beginners.

What is Roadschooling?

Roadschooling is a type of homeschooling lifestyle that involves family travel. Families travel to specific places that are rich in culture, history, and educational opportunities to expand on prior knowledge and create hands-on learning experiences.

There are some things to understand about the roadschooling lifestyle. I created a massive resource post of all the things that homeschooling families should know about before committing to the roadschool lifestyle.

The positive benefits of roadschooling become the driving force behind the decision to pack up and go exploring. There are many benefits to roadschooling like flexible schedules, a minimalist lifestyle, and outdoor exposure.

There are also some negative things that parents should understand. Some of the concerns surrounding roadschooling can also become positive once you get used to them. The various cons of roadschooling range from limited resources to the inability to enroll kids in organized extracurricular activities.

Roadschooling Benefits

The benefits of roadschooling are a pretty significant reason why families choose to hit the road. It is good to consider the pros before deciding that the cons are too much to handle. Many roadschooling families also see some cons turning into pros as they learn and adapt to the lifestyle.

Here is a list of some of the benefits of roadschooling.

Flexibility
Customized learning
Experiences-based approach
Child-led approach
Strong family bonding time
World history
Geography
Outdoor learning
Minimalism
Fewer expenses
Increased creativity
Problem-solving skills
Families learn to adapt
Making travel friends

Flexibility

Increased flexibility is a pretty great advantage to roadschooling.

Parents have the freedom to choose wherever they want to travel together!

Think of the times people wish they could get out of the house when they have a screaming toddler and an active 6-year-old.

Parents can create and easily change certain aspects of their travel or stationary days depending on the age and temperament of the child. Families can incorporate various activities and academic themes in a learning day, go sightseeing, whale watching, hiking, reading, or anything else they want to try! Children eventually learn that this flexible lifestyle works for parents when they see how easy it is to accommodate all different personality types.

Customized Learning

Since people learn differently, traveling creates a unique way for kids and adults to absorb information. Customizing travel experiences to the individual is effortless because there is so much to see and explore. Traveling is flexible, but it is also an opportunity to value different learning styles and build off prior learning.

Roadschoolers can create experiences that are tailored to the needs of the child.

Some children may enjoy going to various museums to study history or art, while others may prefer active play. Modifying experiences to align with children’s interests makes it desirable for most families as they learn they can explore personal interests and academic goals. Kids will learn to identify their skill level and recognize their interests easily. They will become more vocal and propose new travel ideas as parents reinforce this idea.

Experience-based

Traveling is an extremely hands-on learning experience. Instead of reading a book and imagining the pictures in your head come alive, kids can see a real-life monument or an exotic animal up close. Experiencing sites in real life gives children the chance to reflect and connect with different theoretical lessons. Because of the nature of roadschooling, families tend to be highly involved in hands-on learning.

Experiential learning involves learners in real-world situations, which helps them remember better because they are engaged and using the senses.

Applying the five senses creates an experience that children will never forget. They will likely remember visiting a place better if they got to see and smell the area rather than seeing pictures in a textbook or online learning modules.

Even schools understand the value of experience-based learning as they are involved in class field trips, science projects, public speaking opportunities, theater, and interactive games. Many teaching styles include experience-based education.

Child-led Approach

Child-led simply means that the child is in charge of guiding and directing the parents and helping make choices for the family.

Many families prefer this learning method as it involves the child in learning. Children value their authentic voice and gain valuable communication skills because parents listen, accommodate, and gear learning experiences to the individual child.

The approach typically encourages children to learn at their own personal pace, which increases the likelihood of gaining interest in a particular skill or subject area. Allowing children to determine when they are ready to experience something and for how long boosts confidence and teaches them about themselves and their personalities!

When there are multiple children in one family, the child-led model improves communication and enforces the idea that communication is critical because the whole family is involved in some experiences. Families learn problem-solving techniques, ways to negotiate, and understand each family member better when everyone values each other’s opinion.

Strong Family Bonding Time

Given families are together most of the time, increased family learning improves the family dynamic tremendously.

Families value one another and gain an interest in various family relationships. Because families experience the different places together, they learn to rely on one another and truly bond after intense hikes, fun activities, or insightful museums.

Roadschoolers commit to the various travel opportunities at their fingertips, and relationships strengthen after these sensory-oriented experiences. Parents may spend a lot of time coaching and guiding a younger child, while another parent may foster a teen’s independence. Learning and growing together in a small area like an RV is an opportunity to nurture, love, and foster family relationships.

World History

A huge bonus to roadschooling is learning about world history with ease. Often, world history is a dry and dull subject if the child is uninterested or can’t apply concepts to their living world. Traveling, especially world travel, is a great way to teach these foreign concepts that may feel unimaginable to the traditional learner.

Traveling to specific places and learning about their culture helps reinforce this learning as it facilitates different community patterns and various cultural values.

Kids can go to local monuments before studying a specific subject related to that area or get a museum tour after doing a unit on human migration. Roadschooling teaches world history by incorporating diverse lessons, learning about different communities of people, and witnessing new territories firsthand.

Geography

Like world history, geography can be hard to understand for many young children and adults.

A major plus to roadschooling is that families learn about physical earth and the different ways it has transformed via traveling through it. They experience the ground, see the colors, and witness the various transformations.

Travelers learn how to read maps, identify specific ecosystems, and ways to navigate around them. It is easier for roadschoolers to internalize geography than traditional learners because they are learning as they are doing. Given parents aren’t using GPS all the time, the mistakes they make teach children how to manage driving tasks and maneuver through the space while reading maps.

Roadschoolers have the opportunity to understand and experience the physical world before or after learning about geography, which strengthens their knowledge as they apply it to their studying. Families typically go to National Parks and hike major sites to witness the world’s beauty and learn about the natural environment’s problem-solving methods.

Outdoor Learning

A pretty obvious plus is getting outside! Many roadschoolers choose to travel because they want to get out of the four walls. Although travelers are in the RV on travel days, they generally have an outside goal in mind when they get to stop.

Outdoor activities can range from kayaking to dune sledding and involve many different destinations. Decide if you need tools for your outdoor learning and rent supplies at local shops.

Here is a list of some outdoor places that roadschoolers visit.

National Parks
State Parks
Historical Parks
Caves
Hot Springs
Local Play Structures
Rivers
Beaches or seashores
Battlefields
Monumental Parks
Archaeological sites

Minimalism

Another significant benefit to roadschooling is the minimalist lifestyle.

There is only so much room for families in RVs or travel lodges, so families must par down a lot before committing to this lifestyle.

Before beginning to travel, roadschoolers bring only essential items and supplement their studies with digital products, things found in nature, and community resources. Keeping a living space tidy and manageable is a plus for most people as it teaches kids to value experiences and not impulsive purchasing habits.

Fewer Expenses

Fewer things reinforce fewer expenses. Roadschoolers must utilize certain things and rid their lives of others to maintain this lifestyle. For many, this means adjusting to paying for different things. Many families understand that roadschooling is not a vacation for kids and do not treat it as such because it gets expensive and adds to their load.

Here is a list of some paid and free options roadschooling families must consider.

using outdoors as manipulative
digital products
paying for an RV
utilizing campgrounds
memberships (food store, camps)
park passes
purchasing online homeschool curriculums
finding free services
collecting local guides, brochures, and maps

Since there is no room for extra stuff, families often find it cheaper in the long run as their families get used to limited needs. Some families even say that bills are cheaper after paying off major expenses like the RV because they only pay for essential bills like insurance, campgrounds, curriculums, and food. Roadschoolers get used to the minimalist lifestyle, which eventually costs less than a consumer lifestyle.

Increased Creativity

Families learn that they can use their imagination to create, explore, and navigate the world.

Trusting the natural learner means that kids learn to value their creative side as they adapt to the ever-changing scenery and lack of steady materials.

Families get creative with activities and projects, learn how to cook differently and imagine new and fun ways to adapt to their environment. This spontaneous creativity is healthy and wonderful for developing brains. Creativity nourishes the mind!

Problem-solving Skills

One of the lovely pros of roadschooling is seeing in person how the natural world reacts to problems in person.

When people experience natural problem-solving methods, the brain can travel to places never considered before. The physical world may change, or animals of a specific region might adapt to the climate.

Children are naturally curious and seek opportunities to understand how to solve problems. Getting to experience how different communities solve issues related to geography or their climate is a great way for natural learners to gain new skills. When families expose their kids to genuine problem-solving, children value their creativity and want to try to fix things by using their ideas!

Families Learn to Adapt

Roadschoolers are always on the move, and this requires a certain amount of skill as people adjust to long travel days and active days. Daily schedules constantly change, so kids don’t always experience regular routines.

Initially, this might seem harmful, but it requires understanding that travel’s changing and evolving nature is actually the whole point. Because most roadschoolers desire a laid-back approach to learning, families learn that adapting is part of the deal.

Not everyone will get what they want or be pleased all the time. Sometimes people’s temperaments cause them to be in a particular mood or cause a ruckus. Kids do that anyway, though, right? Typically, emotional intelligence is strengthened when people are given the appropriate time to process needs versus wants. Increased opportunities to experience disappointment or discontentment might actually improve adapting skills.

Making Travel Friends

While it is true that families do not have permanent friendships on the road, they can meet different people from diverse cultures of all ages and communities.

Families should want to meet lots of other people and use this pro as one of the primary learning objectives. After roadschoolers land in one particular area, they meet and learn about locals, create bonds, and value diversity as they experience more and more cultures.

Roadschooling Challenges

There are challenges to consider before making this significant lifestyle change. Understanding the cons of roadschooling will help you plan for this lifestyle commitment. Most families understand the challenges associated with roadschooling beforehand and get that life is usually full of challenges regardless.

Here is a list of some of the cons of roadschooling.

Preparation
Saying bye to friends
Limiting materials
Teaching kids that it isn’t a vacation
Limited extracurriculars
Patience
Limited resources on the road
Initial costs
Motivation
Structure
Parenting/teacher dynamic
Permanent friendships

Preparation

The preparation can be a massive con in the beginning. The initial costs can be expensive when planning to transition to this lifestyle.

Parents must organize, plan, and prepare things, so there is no need to worry when traveling. It is critical to organize things to decide which to keep, donate, or store. Some things will come on the RV, but most of it will be left behind.

Here is a list of things families must sell or put into storage before leaving.

Clothing
Books
Shoes
Toys
Personal items
House
Equipment
Furniture
Large appliances
Car(s)

Here is a list of financial considerations roadschooling families may need to prepare.

Decide on an RV
Commit to new expenses (campgrounds, park passes, travel warranties, etc.)
Dispose of old bills (rent, mortgage, car insurance, etc.)
Find and purchase a curriculum for kids
New school resources
Storage sheds
Plan the first travel destination
Search for online jobs

They must turn off certain utilities, change payments, and find new resources. It is different on the road. Roadschoolers won’t completely get rid of bills, but finances change slightly to accommodate a new lifestyle.

Some families commit to different learning styles while roadschooling. Some go unschooling, and others have a learning program and curriculum guide to follow.

Saying Goodbye to Friends

Adults and children will have to say goodbye to their friends within the community. The departure could be challenging if families have been in the same neighborhood or school for a long time. Consider hosting a goodbye event at a friend’s house and making scrapbooks with pictures that remind each family of the time spent together. Exchange emails and numbers (if you haven’t already) and remind each other that you are not gone from the digital world.

Remember that there are online options for making roadschooling friends and some communities –like Full-time families– that get together and camp. I wrote an article with more information on roadschooling communities.

Limiting Material Stuff

During the initial packing stage, families must get rid of their personal belongings ahead of time. It is probably best to make piles with things to donate, keep, store, and sell. This will make it manageable on the road because there is less space. They might need to take pictures of some activities and then throw them away because there isn’t any room for their creations.

For some people, this is really hard because kids collect things. And parents too!

Parents must limit buying souvenirs at gift shops on the road and help kids understand that they can’t buy a bunch of stuff that will take up space in the living quarters. This transition is a huge con for most because it feels personal, and children might want to rebel and collect things that represent new interests.

Kids have limited options for personal knick nacks, jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs, so it must be a constant conversation.

Teaching Kids That it is Not a Vacation

Parents must teach kids it isn’t a vacation, or they will run out of money and space! While reading, I keep coming across this, though, so it is essential.

Roadschooling is not a vacation; it is a lifestyle.

Kids want it to feel carefree, fun, and vacation-like. Wrong! It is hard for kids to distinguish between vacation and life. Families must reinforce this through different developmental stages. They will probably have to remind kids of the new values on the road and stay communicative when they want to express their discomfort.

Families do not get to attend all the fun attractions, buy expensive toys, and ride costly rides. It balances resources needed and income, just like in a home. Parents will budget and plan specific trips differently depending on income and curriculums.

Limited Extracurriculars

A hard pass for some people is limited options for in-person extracurriculars. Families who roadschool don’t have an in-person community per se, so there are fewer opportunities for children who like certain clubs.

Kids who have particular interests like dance, basketball, or Lego clubs will probably not be able to go to community events because of enrollment and planning.

There is a chance that extracurriculars are done digitally, and some families find success in digital classes. Many miss the in-person performances that come with clubs. Some are impossible digitally –soccer, for example.

Here are some examples of extracurriculars.

Organized sports
Choir
Dance
Music
Art
Performance
Martial arts
Social clubs

Patience

As families adjust to the new rules and boundaries, there will be times when people butt heads. Families won’t be able to do whatever they want, buy everything, or eat out all the time. There is an adjustment phase, and it is crucial to try to be patient during this time, but not everyone is patient all the time.

Kids will be emotional; Parents will freak out sometimes.

Families experience everyday habits and behaviors on the road. They will argue, fight, and probably be unmotivated to work.

They might experience traffic which can be a drag. There will be days when travel days are long, and kids get bored. Families will have to provide activities, games, and online products for these long travel days. It might be hard for kids to understand concepts like traffic. It is annoying and no fun, but there are ways for kids to stay calm and occupied.

Limited Supplies and Resources

Resources like car mechanics, some school supplies, and health opportunities may be limited due to the time on the road and the nature of traveling. It is best to find necessary resources before hitting the road.

There will be things that your kids might not have in the RV because of limited space –play-doh, costumes, sports equipment, etc.–. You can always find learning supplies elsewhere, like libraries or play centers, but you won’t keep them.

While it is not impossible to see the same doctor, families likely need to commit to various doctors or consider specific travel locations when it is time to get a routine check-up. Specialty doctors, mental health therapists, and physical therapists will likely depend on the site and insurance.

It is probably impossible to find consistent in-person resources for some health appointments, given the travel situation. There will be times when families must consider this limited option and plan for the road options instead. There are digital services for doctors and health appointments, but there are some –like dentists– that you can’t do virtually. You can consider in-person clinic visits for emergencies but might want to decide on consistent health professionals online.

Here is a list of some of the common specialty resources families may need.

Electricians
Mechanics
Physical therapy
Speech therapy
Mental health resources
Dentists
Specialty doctors

Initial Costs

You must buy expenses in the beginning, and they are costly – RV, curriculums, insurances, memberships, etc.

There is a significant financial commitment to roadschooling in its beginning stages. While some believe it is more expensive than a house, families who roadschool maintain that it is just the startup costs and that it is the same if not cheaper than owning or renting a home.

After the initial set-up is achieved, it levels out, and expenses are fewer as traveling commences.

Motivation

Ugh, who actually likes homework?

Roadschoolers must enforce assignments and maintain certain expectations if they want to follow a curriculum of sorts.

Because there is no actual “teacher,” families learn to motivate themselves as they adjust to having no true teacher. There might be specific instructors for online modules, but internal motivation is a learned skill. It might be easy to find the will to complete work when it is interesting, but there may be a real struggle on other days.

Requiring motivation could become a pro as kids adjust to child-led learning environments.

Structure

There is no structure like a typical school. The fluid and customized learning mean that there is rarely a structured environment. There will likely be times when families must stay on schedule, but it isn’t anything like a school day. Some kids might thrive; others require more guidance.

It is hard for some to transition back into the school environment (if that is what they choose), so roadschooling makes it harder to transition kids into a more structured learning environment.

Parenting/teacher Dynamic

Parents usually wear multiple hats because they are a parent and a teacher. It is not generally hard to do, but this dynamic could have a daily grind.

Sometimes parents are super grumpy, and kids are irritating and don’t want to listen.

Parents usually have to become the teachers, and if they are already the parent, this is a hard commitment.

Kids will want to enforce their own boundaries and express discomfort with the homework situation. Like with any family, “multiple hats” is a confusing concept. Kids will have to accept that their parents are their homework enforcers, and parents must learn to identify triggers and be laid back when kids lack motivation.

Permanent Friendships

Families will likely not have permanent friends, but they will have travel friends. There are roadschooling clubs, but friends made on the road probably won’t be lifelong relationships. It might not feel the same as friends made in a neighborhood. This is hard for kids because they want to have consistent friendships. Many families say it is an adjustment, but kids learn to love their travel friends and roadschooling communities!

Final Thoughts

That was a lot to cover! Thanks for sticking to the end. There are plenty of fantastic reasons to roadschool, and I am learning more about it daily. It is tempting to disregard the benefits because the cons are challenging to commit. Understanding the community better will help you figure out how to substitute certain things and ways to manage the lifestyle. There is a chance that the challenges turn into more benefits once families adapt and they become easier to accept.