Family Shares How World Schooling & Backpacking Transformed Their Lives 🌍

A couple pulled their kids out of school to backpack around the globe while ‘world schooling’ them – and say it’s "less stressful" than living in the UK.

Lauren Tyson, 31, and her husband, Roy, 37, had always had a passion for travel and dreamed of travelling full-time with their kids – two and five.

Their eldest “hated” school and the couple decided to pull him out and backpack around the globe while homeschooling him in January 2024.

Lauren and Roy, an artist, still follow the English curriculum and spend a few hours a day studying with their son before exploring Ko Samui, Thailand as family.

The mum-of-two feels world schooling has been “better” for their sons as it’s taught them life skills such as empathy and resilience.

Lauren, a content creator, from Sudbury, Suffolk, said: “The experience the children get - they’d never get in the UK.

“I’d never want them to get behind.

“Homeschooling – it’s better for him [their eldest son].

“He’s picked up a lot having us around constantly.”

Lauren and Roy had been backpacking before having kids and always felt a pull to travel more.

Lauren said: “My husband and I went backpacking in 2015 and 2016 before we had children.

“We really enjoyed it.

“The kids have always enjoyed travelling and we always dreamed of travelling full time.”

The couple decided to take the plunge when they realised their eldest son was struggling in school.

She said: “He wasn’t really enjoying it.

“He had a lot of troubles with his emotional stability.

“We weren’t sure if England was the right place for us.

“It’s such a big world.”

The family spent three months planning before they left so they could sort out renting their house and how to homeschool their children.

In January 2024 they left for Abu Dhabi before continuing to Bangkok and Ko Samui, Thailand.

The family are now staying there before their tourist visa runs out and will choose their next destination based on the cheapest flights.

Lauren spends the morning homeschooling their eldest son using textbooks before taking them both out to places such as bird farms for experiences.

She said: “The one on one time is valuable.

“In the market he talks about these fruits English kids wouldn’t know. He talks about Buddhism.”

Lauren and Roy have also seen the benefits of a slower pace of life.

Lauren said: “Life in the UK was go, go, go.

“I’d drop the kids off at school, go to nursery, go to the gym, do the food shop, go to swim lessons.

“It’s very chilled here.

“We’re less stressed. We get more time together.

“At the moment I can’t imagine going back to the UK.”

The family have no set plans of how long they will travel for but have rented out their house in the UK for 18 months.

Lauren said: “We know we’re privileged to do this.

“If it inspires another family to do this that would be amazing.”

Follow Lauren @lifealongsidelauren