Helping Travelling Kids Make Friends: What's Worked for Us (and the Outschool Alternatives Worth a Look)

Louie was an only child for seven years. So when people ask me if travelling kids get lonely, I don’t have to guess.

He’s had plenty of lonely moments, and many of them happened long before we packed our bags. Now he has a little brother, Leo, and we’re on the road, so the way we support his friendships has changed.

This guide shares what’s actually helped our family so far, from WhatsApp calls to kids’ cafés, plus the online clubs and Outschool alternatives we’re looking into. We haven’t used any online platforms yet, so we’ll be clear about what we know first-hand and what we’ve researched. 🌍

Do Travelling Kids Get Lonely? Our Honest Answer

Yes, sometimes. In our experience, though, it isn’t constant, and it isn’t only a travel thing.

For his first seven years, Louie didn’t have a brother or sister to fall back on. Quiet afternoons and long weekends could feel empty. Then Leo arrived, and Louie finally had a built-in playmate, even if that playmate is only two.

Camping trips in the Netherlands are where Louie really learnt to make friends fast. He’d spot a group of kids, hover for a bit, then find a way in. Sometimes he needed a little help from Marty and me to get started.

Those friendships rarely lasted beyond the trip. The skill did, though, and it’s served him well ever since.

On this trip, he’s doing great. He’s so busy with new places, activities and people that he hasn’t had much time to miss his friends. That could change, so we’re keeping an eye on it.

Want the bigger picture? Our guide to worldschooling and socialisation looks at how travelling kids build social skills more broadly.

What’s Actually Worked for Our Family

None of this is fancy. These are the small, everyday things that have kept Louie connected and social on the road.

Parent-Arranged Calls with Friends and Cousins 📱

Louie has WhatsApp calls and video calls with friends and cousins. We set these up with the other parents, which keeps things simple and safe.

It does take organising. Time zones rarely line up nicely, and it’s one more job on the parents’ list. Still, a regular call gives him something familiar to look forward to, wherever we are.

Letters and Postcards to Nanna ✉️

Louie sends letters and postcards to his Nanna and other family. It keeps him connected to home, and it’s sneaky writing practice that doesn’t feel like schoolwork.

Honestly, it’s one of the easiest worldschooling wins we’ve found.

Kids’ Cafés, Playgrounds and Water Parks

We visit a lot of kids’ cafés and water parks. Both boys get to play with other children, and nobody needs a shared language to join a game.

Most of these friendships last an afternoon. That’s okay. Every time Louie walks up to a new kid and starts playing, he’s practising a skill he’ll use for life.

For Leo, this is basically his whole social life right now, along with chasing his big brother around.

Local Clubs and Regular Activities ⚽

Our next step is something regular. We tried to set up football for Louie in Da Nang, but there weren’t enough kids to form a group.

In Chiang Mai, we’re planning to join Beaver Club, a family hub that also runs a kids’ football club. Louie is a huge FC Barcelona fan, so a weekly training session could make a real difference for him.

What we learnt: in smaller expat communities, clubs depend on numbers. Ask early, and have a backup plan.

Online Clubs and Outschool Alternatives for Travelling Kids

Louie doesn’t chat with anyone online yet, apart from calls we arrange. We’re looking into online clubs for later on, especially for stretches when local activities are thin on the ground.

Here’s what our research found. Prices, ages and schedules change often, so check current details before you sign up.

Outschool

Outschool offers live small-group video classes on almost any topic, from Minecraft to marine biology. You can pay per class or take a membership that gives you monthly credits to spend on classes.

It also runs free community events, like trivia and virtual meet-ups. That’s a low-cost way to see if your child enjoys it before paying.

Connected Camps Kid Club

Kid Club is a free, moderated Minecraft server for kids aged 8 to 13, run by counsellors. Every player has to register, so the team knows who is on the server.

For Minecraft-mad kids, it’s a genuinely social option: they build and play together rather than sit in a lesson. The catch for families in Asia or Australia is timing. Sessions have run during US afternoons, which falls in the middle of the night in Southeast Asia.

DIY.org

DIY.org is a creative community where kids share projects and comment on each other’s work. Its app listing mentions human moderation and a parent dashboard, and it’s aimed at kids aged 7 to 15.

It’s more about making and sharing than chatting. Recently it has leaned towards building games and apps, so check it still matches your child’s interests.

PenPal Schools

PenPal Schools connects students around the world through written projects on topics like culture, science and the environment. Kids join through a verified parent or teacher invite.

It was built mainly for classrooms, so it suits families who want structured global connections rather than casual friendships.

Why Some Platforms Aren’t on This List

An earlier version of this page listed platforms we couldn’t verify. We’ve removed them rather than recommend something we can’t stand behind.

Don’t Forget In-Person Community

Online clubs can help, but face-to-face time with other travelling families is hard to beat. Our directory of 430+ worldschooling hubs and communities is a good place to start, and our guide to community and connection in Bali shows what this can look like in one destination.

Is Outschool Right for Travelling Families?

Outschool is the platform most nomad families hear about first. It has real strengths, but it isn’t built mainly for friendships.

What Outschool Does Well

• Huge choice: there are classes on almost every interest, so most kids find something they love.
• Small groups: classes are small, which gives shy kids more room to speak up.
• Flexible scheduling: classes run at many times of day, so you can usually find one that fits your time zone.
• Free taster events: community events let kids try it without paying.

Where It Falls Short for Friendships

• Classmates change: kids often move between classes with different groups, so friendships have less time to grow.
• Costs add up: paying per class gets expensive if you want regular weekly social time for more than one child.
• Live classes need steady Wi-Fi: a dropped connection mid-class is frustrating for everyone.

Before booking live classes anywhere, check our internet speed guide for nomad families. For more learning platforms beyond Outschool, see our complete guide to online programs for homeschoolers and worldschoolers.

How to Choose an Online Club for Your Child

There’s no single best platform. These are the questions we’re asking ourselves before signing Louie up for anything.

Is Your Child Ready?

Some kids are happy chatting to new people on a screen. Others find it awkward and would rather build something together. A shared activity, like Minecraft or a craft project, often takes the pressure off.

Live or Self-Paced?

Live clubs happen at a set time over video. Self-paced (sometimes called asynchronous) platforms let kids post and reply whenever suits them. Self-paced options are easier when you’re moving between time zones.

Does It Work Where You Are?

Check the session times against your time zone before you pay. A club that runs on US afternoons can mean a 3am start in Asia. Video also needs a reliable connection, which isn’t guaranteed in every rental.

What Will It Cost Over a Year?

A single class can look cheap. Multiply it by every week and every child, and it can become a real line in your budget. Our cost of living comparison can help you see how it fits with everything else.

Does It Fit Your Learning Style?

If you follow a structured curriculum, a class-based platform may slot in easily. If you lean towards unschooling, an interest-led club might suit better. Our worldschooling styles comparison and list of homeschooling resources real parents use can help you decide.

Keeping Online Friendships Safe: Our Rules at Nine

Right now, Louie only talks to people we know, on calls we arrange. There’s no open chat, and no platforms where strangers can message him.

We’ll revisit that as he gets older. When we do, this is the checklist we’ll use:

• Real human moderation: adults who actively watch the space, not just an automatic filter.
• No private messages with strangers: group spaces are easier to keep an eye on.
• A parent dashboard: so we can see who he’s talking to and what he’s sharing.
• Clear age limits and a code of conduct: and an easy way to report problems.
• A shared space at home: the laptop stays in the living area, not behind a closed door.

Before signing up for any platform, it’s worth reading independent reviews on Common Sense Media.

Teens need a different approach again. Our guide to worldschooling with teenagers covers friendships and independence for older kids.

Tips to Help Travelling Kids Make Friends

Most of what helps is simple. It just takes a bit of planning.

Practise the Walk-Up

Joining a group of strangers is a skill, and skills improve with practice. Talk through what to say before you arrive at a playground or kids’ café. Then give your child space to try.

Keep One Regular Call

A weekly call with a friend or cousin gives kids something steady when everything else changes. Arrange it with the other parents so it actually happens.

Say Yes to Repeat Meet-Ups

If your kids click with another family, suggest meeting again. A second or third play date is where short-term friendships start to deepen.

Ask About Clubs Early

Local sports clubs and activities often need a minimum number of kids. Contact them before you arrive, and have a backup if the numbers aren’t there.

Slow Down Where You Can

Longer stays give kids time to become regulars somewhere. Some families use a term at a local or international school for exactly this reason. Our guide to international schooling options explains how that can work.

Look After the Parents Too

Organising calls, clubs and play dates falls on the parents, on top of everything else. Finding other travelling families helps you as much as the kids. Share the load where you can.

Discover more about building a strong community as a travelling family

FAQs About Friendships for Travelling Kids

Do travelling kids get lonely?

Sometimes, yes. In our experience, it comes and goes, and it isn’t only a travel thing. Busy days with lots of activities usually leave less room for missing friends.

How do nomad kids keep in touch with friends back home?

We use WhatsApp calls and video calls arranged with the other parents. Louie also sends letters and postcards to family, which doubles as writing practice.

Are short-term friendships bad for kids?

We don’t think so. Most of Louie’s playground friendships last an afternoon, but each one builds confidence and social skills. A few steady friendships from home sit alongside them.

What age can kids start online clubs?

Each platform sets its own age limits. For example, Connected Camps Kid Club is for ages 8 to 13. Readiness matters too, so consider your child’s maturity and confidence as well as their age.

Are there free alternatives to Outschool?

Yes. Connected Camps Kid Club is free for registered players, and Outschool itself runs some free community events. Check current details, as offers change.

How do you find kids’ activities in a new city?

We look for kids’ cafés, water parks and local sports clubs, and ask other families. Local parent Facebook groups and worldschooling hubs are also good starting points.

What about toddlers?

At two, Leo’s social life is simple: kids’ cafés, playgrounds and his big brother. Toddlers don’t need online clubs. They need time to play.

Friendship on the Road Looks Different, Not Absent

Louie spent years learning how to blend in and join a game with kids he’d just met. Travel hasn’t taken his friendships away. It’s changed what they look like.

He has a few steady threads to home: calls with his friends and cousins, and letters to Nanna. Around those are dozens of short, happy friendships from cafés, water parks and campsites.

Will that always be enough? We don’t know yet, and that’s okay. We’ll keep watching, keep adjusting, and update this guide once we’ve tried an online club or joined a regular team in Chiang Mai.

If your kids have found something that works, we’d love to hear about it. 💛