One of the best ways to get your kids to want to learn is by immersing them in a new and exciting environment. Now, with so many places to visit and explore, there's never been a better time to go on a family vacation. But, what do you do if you want to homeschool while traveling?
Check out our tips for how to homeschool while traveling and staying productive!
Section 1: The Benefits of Homeschooling
As you begin to plan your family vacation, consider all the potential benefits that will come from homeschooling. The main advantages are that your kids will gain more independence, gain valuable life skills that will improve as they get older, and that they will have a lot more learning time, as you won't have to teach them during the time you are on the road.
Reason #1
Getting Around
Homeschooling will be easier with a GPS unit, and will take a lot less time if you have a map of the area in your car. If you're going to be staying with a family or staying at a hotel with no facility, a GPS unit will come in handy. If you plan to tour the area by car, it will be beneficial for you to take the GPS unit to look up points of interest.
How to Homeschool While Traveling
Here are a few tips for homeschooling while traveling that can help you keep your kids (and yourself!) on track!
First and foremost, make sure to make the most of every opportunity. Even if you're just passing through town, don't waste your time sitting around waiting for something to happen! Instead, use the time to catch up on a few things that you might have missed or study one thing that you haven't quite memorized. Even little things like a new recipe from a hotel's breakfast buffet can give your kids a great opportunity to learn and practice what they've been learning. When in doubt, ask your family how to homeschool while traveling. I love when we're out and about and something comes up that we don't know how to teach our kids.
Tutoring Options
One of the best ways to help kids learn on the road is by using tutoring services. Even if your children are in elementary school, you can find tutors for math, English, and even Spanish and other languages! One of the easiest ways to find and book a tutor is by using a free application for the iPhone called Chatz. This app can be used to search for tutors in a wide range of subject areas, from religion and ethics, to science, math, and reading. To help your kids learn while traveling, do a little research online, and be sure to look for tutoring services that provide email or online chats to meet your child's needs.
In the car or during downtime at the hotel, it's also a good idea to read to your children.
Keeping Your Kids Productive
Planning out your trip to make sure your family has things to do and enjoy is the first step to homeschooling while traveling. My family spends about one month planning our family vacations, packing, and driving, so we've got the down-low on staying productive while driving.
Taking Notes on Where You've Been
Having your kids sit down and write a few sentences about the places you've visited or been to is another way to get your kids to want to learn! It can be a short note or even just a few sentences, but you can have your kids jot down where they've been on a piece of paper and put it in a box or pocket.
Booking Time Off
Getting that family vacation can sometimes mean going over budget.
Conclusion
Regardless of how many homeschooling books you have in your library or how many homeschooling blogs you follow, homeschooling while traveling will always present new challenges. But the good news is, homeschooling while traveling is still something you can do with confidence and without compromising on quality.
Have any questions about homeschooling while traveling?