Unschooling for Travelling Families: What It Is, the Laws and How We Blend It

Why Our Family Borrows From Unschooling

We’re Not Pure Unschoolers, and That’s Okay

Right now, our family is travelling through Vietnam. Louie is nine, Leo is two, and this month our classroom has included limestone cliffs, boat rides and a lot of Vietnamese practised on Duolingo. 🇻🇳

We don’t call ourselves unschoolers. Our approach is blended. Louie works through maths and Dutch books from his school back home. The rest of his learning comes from wherever we are and whatever sparks his curiosity, and that part borrows a lot from unschooling.

I’ve never believed one school system fits every child. I saw that growing up with my younger brother, a story I share in our guide to worldschooling. Years later, I saw it again with Louie.

At home, Louie got bored quickly. On the road, he hasn’t stopped asking questions. This guide explains what unschooling is and how it works in practice. It also covers the laws you need to check, especially as a Dutch family, and the trade-offs nobody should skip over.

What Is Unschooling?

Learning Without a Set Curriculum or Timetable

Unschooling is a form of home education where children direct their own learning. There’s no set curriculum, no timetable and usually no tests. Instead, children learn through their interests, everyday life and the people around them.

Parents still play a big role. They offer resources, answer questions and create opportunities, but they don’t decide what a child must learn each day.

The word comes from American educator and author John Holt, who began using it in the 1970s. His books, including How Children Learn, argued that children learn best when their natural curiosity is trusted rather than managed.

In most countries, unschooling isn’t a separate legal category. It usually counts as a form of homeschooling, so the same rules apply. We cover those in the legal section below.

The Core Beliefs Behind Unschooling

Most unschooling families share a few core beliefs:

• Children are natural learners. Curiosity drives learning, so it doesn’t need to be forced.
• Life is the curriculum. Cooking, shopping, travel, play and conversation all count as learning.
• Interest leads to depth. A child who chooses a topic tends to stick with it longer and remember more.
• Parents are partners, not instructors. The relationship is collaborative rather than top-down.

Not every family holds these beliefs to the same degree. That’s why unschooling looks so different from one home, or one guesthouse, to the next.

What Blended Unschooling Looks Like on the Road

A Little Structure, a Lot of Curiosity

Unschooling doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Plenty of travelling families take the child-led parts they like and keep a few structured pieces that give them peace of mind. That’s what we do.

Here’s what learning looks like for us right now:

• Maths and Dutch come from Louie’s school books. He does them wherever we are, often sitting next to Marty while he works at a coworking space. These books are our anchor, so Louie can slot back into a Dutch school later if we need him to.
• Vietnamese is a daily Duolingo habit, then tested for real at markets and cafés.
• Creative activities have been a big focus. In Vietnam, Louie has tried pottery, painting and sculpting, and we’ve found it surprisingly easy to find these activities wherever we stay.
• Museums used to be a hard sell. Louie was convinced they’d be boring until we visited a 3D art museum in Da Nang. That changed his mind completely, and the Museum of Cham Sculpture came soon after.
• Worldschooling outings happen most weeks. Next on our list is a farm you can only reach by boat, through a cave, where we’re hoping to learn what daily life on a Vietnamese farm involves.
• Leo is two, and right now he’s obsessed with the alphabet and counting. He sings them constantly, works away at the one wooden puzzle we packed, and points his way through his favourite book.

Some committed unschoolers would say our books make this homeschooling, not unschooling. They’d have a point. For our family, a small amount of structure is what lets us relax about the rest. That trade-off is worth thinking through for your own children.

Read more: Da Nang with Kids: Our Family Guide to Living in Vietnam’s Beach City

Types of Unschooling

From Radical to Relaxed

Unschooling isn’t one fixed method. Families adapt it to their children, their values and, for travelling families, their route.

Radical unschooling applies child-led principles to all of life, not just learning. Children have a big say in bedtimes, food and screen time. It’s the most complete version of the approach, and also the most debated.

Relaxed or eclectic unschooling mixes child-led learning with some planned structure. That might be a maths program, a weekly class or regular reading time. Families easing out of school often start here.

Blended learning while travelling is where our family sits. Core subjects follow a light structure, and everything else follows curiosity and place. Some unschoolers would call this homeschooling, and that’s a fair debate.

Worldschooling isn’t a type of unschooling, although the two often overlap. We explain the difference further down this page.

Read more: Worldschooling Styles Compared: Finding the Right Fit for Your Family

How Learning Actually Happens

A Question on a Boat in Ninh Bình

The clearest example I have of unschooling in action happened on a boat in Ninh Bình.

We were gliding between huge limestone cliffs when Louie went quiet, then started asking how they formed. Nobody had set a lesson on geology. He just needed to know.

After the boat ride, we looked it up together. On the road, we also use AI tools on our phones to answer questions in the moment, then talk through what we find. It’s been eye-opening to watch how naturally this kind of learning happens when a child is truly curious.

That’s the heart of unschooling. The question comes first, and the learning follows the child’s curiosity instead of a timetable.

A quick tip on AI: it’s a handy starting point for curious kids, but it can get things wrong. Checking an answer against a second source together is a useful lesson in itself.

What About Maths, Literacy and Science?

This is usually the first worry parents raise. In unschooling, core skills are learnt through real use rather than set lessons:

• Maths: budgeting, converting currencies, cooking, measuring, board games and building projects.
• Literacy: reading for pleasure, audiobooks, journals, letters, signs and menus.
• Science: nature walks, kitchen experiments, stargazing and questions about how things work.
• History and geography: travel, museums, documentaries, maps and family stories.

Progress isn’t always even. Some unschooled children read later than their schooled friends, while others race ahead in one subject and take longer in another.

That’s one reason our family keeps maths on a light structure. It gives us a clear sense of where Louie is.

Nature as a Teacher

Nature gives children endless things to notice and question. Rock pools, rice fields, forest trails and night skies all invite the kind of “why?” questions unschooling thrives on.

Time outdoors also builds coordination, confidence and focus. Many families keep a simple nature journal, collect things to identify, or follow one animal or plant over several weeks.

Read more: Why the Ocean Is the Ultimate Worldschooling Classroom

The Parent’s Role (and Avoiding Burnout)

Facilitator, Connector and Occasional Referee

You don’t need to be a teacher to unschool. You do need to be present, curious and willing to follow your child’s interests further than you might expect.

In practice, the parent’s role includes:

• Keeping books, art supplies, games and building materials within reach
• Noticing interests and offering the next step, such as a class, a video or a visit
• Connecting children with people who know more than you do
• Treating mistakes as part of learning

The honest part: this takes energy. Without a school day, there’s no built-in break. In many families, one parent carries most of the learning load while the other works, and that can lead to burnout.

A few things help. Share the load between parents where you can. Use classes, co-ops or online programs to give yourself time back. Accept that some days will be quiet, and that quiet days count too.

Is Unschooling Right for Your Family?

Seven Honest Questions to Ask First

Unschooling suits some families and not others. These questions can help you work out where you sit.

1. Can you live with uncertainty? Unschooling rarely produces tidy progress reports. If you need clear weekly evidence of learning, the ambiguity may wear you down.

2. Does your child tend to self-motivate? Some children dive straight in. Others, especially after years of school, need time to adjust to sudden freedom.

3. Are you ready for questions from others? Friends, family and strangers may question your choice. It helps to feel secure in your reasons.

4. Do you have the time and energy? Unschooling isn’t doing nothing. It needs an engaged adult who notices interests and follows up on them.

5. Are you willing to unlearn your own ideas about school? Many parents find they need to let go of what they think learning should look like.

6. Does the law allow it where you’re resident? This varies widely by country. See the legal snapshot below.

7. Are you and your partner on the same page? Marty and I didn’t start in the same place. He’s more comfortable with traditional school, partly because he’s an easy-going guy. I’ve always felt the system leaves too many kids out.

We found our middle ground in blended learning. Structured maths and Dutch keep Marty reassured, and child-led exploration gives Louie room to follow his curiosity. If you and your partner disagree, a hybrid like this is a good place to start the conversation.

If most of these questions felt comfortable, unschooling may suit your family. If several gave you pause, that’s useful information too.

Unschooling vs Homeschooling

Same Legal Box, Very Different Days

Both happen outside school, and in most countries both are legally classed as home education. The day-to-day experience is very different, though.

Plenty of families sit somewhere in between, as we do.

Read more: Homeschooling on the Move: A Complete Guide for Travelling Families

Unschooling vs Worldschooling

Who Leads the Learning vs Where It Happens

The simplest way to explain it: unschooling is about who leads the learning, and worldschooling is about where it happens.

Worldschooling uses travel and cultural experiences as a core part of a child’s education. It can be highly structured, completely child-led, or anything in between. Unschooling, on the other hand, can happen entirely at home with no travel at all.

Many families combine the two, including ours. The cards below show how they compare at a glance.

Deschooling: Moving From School to Unschooling

Why the First Few Months Can Feel Strange

Deschooling is the period where children, and parents, let go of school habits before self-directed learning takes hold. We saw a small version of this every year.

After each summer holiday, Louie struggled to get back into the school routine. I understood why. At his school, the children weren’t allowed to talk at lunchtime, and a traffic light chart managed behaviour. When the light was red, it meant no talking.

Teachers manage big classes with limited support, and systems like this exist for a reason. But watching my curious, chatty boy dread going back made me question what we were asking of him.

Deschooling isn’t instant. Children coming out of school may seem restless, bored or unsure what to do with free time. That’s normal, and it usually passes.

Many unschooling families use a rough rule of thumb: allow about one month of deschooling for every year spent in school. It isn’t based on research, but it’s a helpful reminder not to rush.

What Helps During Deschooling

• Rest and play without pressure to be productive
• Relaxed conversations about what your child enjoys
• New experiences with no expectations attached
• Activities you both enjoy doing together
• Meeting other home educating families who’ve been through it

Unschooling While Travelling: Which Country’s Rules Apply?

Our Experience as a Dutch Family

This is the question nomad families ask most, and there isn’t one simple answer. Education rules are usually tied to where your family is officially resident, not your passport. Long stays on residence permits can also bring you under local rules, so always check the current details for your situation.

For Dutch families, it matters a lot. Compulsory schooling (leerplicht) is linked to being registered as a resident in a Dutch municipality. The main homeschooling exemption, based on objections to the philosophy of local schools, was narrowed by the Supreme Court in April 2026. It now only succeeds in exceptional cases where a public school is nearby.

We spoke with the school and the authorities before leaving. A friend of ours was approved for a seven-month exemption so her family could take a sabbatical in Bali. The condition was that her children attended a physical school there.

That condition was the difference for us. We move every few weeks, so we couldn’t commit to one school. In the end, we deregistered from our municipality as a whole family, because we couldn’t deregister Louie on his own. We did it online from Vietnam, and the process was straightforward. Leaving the system completely meant we didn’t have to worry about it while travelling.

Deregistering has knock-on effects. Before we did it, we made sure our health insurance was sorted, because Dutch basic insurance is tied to residence. Marty also still earns income from a Dutch company, so we had to work out how that fits with being deregistered. It is possible, but tax, social security and employment rules depend on your personal situation.

Get professional advice before you deregister, and read our health insurance guide for nomad families.

Unschooling Children With Additional Needs

More Flexibility, But Not a Cure-All

Many parents of neurodivergent children are drawn to unschooling. That includes children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia or sensory processing differences.

Traditional classrooms can be hard for these kids. Rigid timetables, noise, forced group work and constant assessment all add pressure. Unschooling removes many of those pressure points, so children can learn at their own pace, take breaks and go deep on topics that hold their attention.

It isn’t a cure-all, though. Many children with additional needs rely on routine and predictability, which constant travel can disrupt. Some need therapies or specialist support that’s harder to access on the road. A steady base and a clear daily rhythm can matter more than the teaching method.

This topic is personal for me. My younger brother was diagnosed with ADD and temporal lobe epilepsy as a child, and school didn’t know what to do with him. He found his own path in the end, and today he works as a full-stack developer. It just shouldn’t have been so hard.

If your child has additional needs, talk to their specialists before making big changes, and plan how you’ll access support while travelling.

Friends, Community and Socialisation

The Question Every Unschooling Family Gets Asked

“But what about friends?” It’s the most common question home educating families hear. It’s a fair one, because without school, friendships don’t happen automatically.

Unschooled children often spend more time with mixed ages, including adults, which many families see as a strength. Same-age friendships usually take more deliberate effort, especially when you’re travelling.

What helps:

• Staying longer in one place when you can
• Joining classes or clubs based on your child’s interests
• Meeting up with other home educating families
• Basing yourselves near a worldschooling hub
• Regular video calls to keep friendships from home alive

Read more: Worldschooling and Socialisation: The Complete Family Guide

Unschooling in Multilingual Families

How Our Boys Are Learning Dutch and English at the Same Time

Language is one of the areas where unschooling principles make the most sense. Children pick up languages through conversation, play and need, far more than through worksheets.

In our family, Marty speaks Dutch to the boys and I speak English. Marty is fluent in both, and I understand Dutch but reply in English. This is often called “one parent, one language”: each parent sticks to their native language so the children hear both consistently.

Louie now speaks Dutch and English comfortably. Leo, at two, is soaking up both. Vietnamese is our third language for now, learnt through an app and a lot of smiling, pointing and trying again.

If you’re raising multilingual kids on the road, a few things help. Keep each parent’s language consistent. Use library apps, audiobooks and video calls with family to keep the home language strong. Accept that mixing languages is a normal stage, not a problem.

What the Research Says About Unschooling

Promising, But Limited

Research on unschooling itself is limited. Most studies are small, rely on families who volunteer to take part, and can’t easily compare unschoolers with school children. So treat bold claims, including positive ones, with some caution.

Wider research on motivation does support some of unschooling’s core ideas. Self-determination theory, developed by psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, suggests people are more engaged when they feel a sense of choice, competence and connection.

In practice, children motivated by their own interest tend to engage more deeply than those driven mainly by rewards or pressure. Skills like planning, problem-solving and self-regulation, often called executive function, also get plenty of practice when children manage their own projects.

None of this proves unschooling is better than school for every child. It does show the approach has a reasonable basis, not just good intentions.

Teenagers, Exams and University

Planning Ahead Without Giving Up Flexibility

Parents often worry that unschooling closes doors later. It doesn’t have to, but older children usually need more planning.

Unschooled teenagers can often reach further study through alternative routes. Depending on the country, these may include exams as a private candidate, online or distance courses, portfolios, entrance exams or bridging programs.

Requirements vary a lot between countries and institutions. Check the rules for the places your child might apply, ideally a few years ahead.

Many families add more structure in the teenage years, especially when a specific qualification is the goal. That’s not a failure of unschooling. It’s responding to what your child wants next.

Read more: Worldschooling with Teenagers: The Complete Family Guide and Can Worldschooled Kids Go to University?

The Real Challenges of Unschooling

What Nobody Should Gloss Over

• Outside pressure. Relatives, friends and strangers may question your choice, especially in exam-focused cultures.
• Parent energy. Responding to curiosity all day is tiring, and there’s no school day to give you a break.
• Self-doubt. Almost every unschooling parent wonders if they’re doing enough. An informal record of your child’s interests and projects helps on those days.
• Legal uncertainty. Rules are changing in several countries, and nomad families can fall between systems.
• Returning to school. If your child goes back later, gaps in specific subjects may need catching up. That’s the main reason we keep maths and Dutch ticking over.

What If It’s Not Working?

Unschooling isn’t a one-way door. It’s worth knowing the signs that it isn’t serving your child, and what your options are.

Watch for a child who is persistently unhappy rather than occasionally unsettled. Other signs include withdrawing from activities they used to love, anxiety about learning, or a clear wish to return to a more structured setting.

Start with an honest conversation. Ask your child how they feel about their days, and listen without getting defensive.

Your options are wider than you might think:

• Add more structure gradually without dropping the approach entirely
• Try a hybrid, with one or two structured classes or co-op sessions a week
• Use an online school for specific subjects and keep the rest child-led
• Return to school, which doesn’t mean unschooling failed

The goal was never unschooling itself. The goal is a child who loves learning and feels confident in the world.

Read more: International Schooling Options for Nomad Families

Tools, Apps and Resources for Unschooling

What Helps When You’re Learning on the Move

Unschooling doesn’t depend on expensive resources, but a few tools make life easier, especially when you’re travelling light.

• Books: e-readers and library apps save a lot of luggage space.
• Apps: we use Duolingo for Vietnamese, and Khan Academy is a free option for maths and other subjects.
• Online classes: platforms like Outschool offer short, interest-based classes. Check current prices and time zones before booking.
• Local activities: pottery, painting and cooking classes are often easy to find once you arrive.
• AI tools: useful for answering questions on the spot, as long as you check the answers together.
• Simple kit: one wooden puzzle, a favourite book and some art supplies go a long way with a toddler.

Read more: The Homeschooling Resources Real Parents Are Using and Online Programs for Homeschoolers and Worldschoolers

Finding Unschooling Communities

Community makes a big difference, for children and parents alike. Online groups on Facebook and Reddit are a good place to ask questions, although quality varies.

In person, look for home education meetups, interest-based co-ops and worldschooling hubs in the places you’re visiting. Our own Worldly Tribe Facebook group connects travelling families, and our directory lists hundreds of hubs around the world.

Read more: Find Your Tribe: 430+ Worldschooling Hubs and Communities for Families

How to Start Unschooling: Small First Steps

Try It Before You Commit

• Check the law where you’re resident, and anywhere you plan to stay for long periods.
• Test it during a school holiday. Put the worksheets away for a week and follow one interest as far as it goes.
• Keep a light record. Photos, a few notes or a shared journal help you see progress you’d otherwise miss.
• Decide what stays structured, if anything. For us, it’s maths and Dutch.
• Talk to families already doing it. Ask about the hard days as well as the good ones.

Read more: How to Start Worldschooling: A Real Family’s Guide

Unschooling FAQs

Is unschooling legal?

It depends on where you’re resident. In most countries, unschooling is legally treated as homeschooling, so homeschooling rules apply. Some countries, such as Germany, don’t allow home education at all. Check current details with official authorities.

Is unschooling legal in Australia?

Yes, as long as you register for home education with your state or territory and meet its requirements. These differ between states, so check the current rules where you live.

Is unschooling legal in the Netherlands?

Not as a standard option. Children resident in the Netherlands must be enrolled in school, and the exemption some homeschoolers used was narrowed by the Supreme Court in April 2026. Speak to your municipality’s leerplichtambtenaar (school attendance officer) about your situation.

Can you unschool while travelling?

Many families do, but the rules depend mostly on where you’re officially resident. Some families stay registered at home and meet those requirements. Others deregister entirely, as we did. Research both options before you leave.

Is unschooling the same as worldschooling?

No. Unschooling is about who leads the learning: the child. Worldschooling is about where it happens: the world. Many families combine them, including us.

Can you unschool a toddler?

In a sense, every toddler is unschooled. Children under school age learn through play, language and daily life. Formal decisions only begin once your child reaches compulsory school age where you’re resident.

Should we keep some school books while travelling?

It depends on your plans. If your children may return to school at home, keeping core subjects like maths and reading on track can make re-entry easier. That’s the main reason we do it.

How do I know if my child is learning enough?

Watch their curiosity, engagement and growth over time. Keep an informal record through photos, journals or notes. Try not to compare them too closely with school benchmarks.

Can unschooled children go to university or TAFE?

Many do, through routes such as entrance exams, portfolios, bridging courses or vocational pathways. Requirements vary by institution and country, so start checking a few years ahead.

Will my child miss out on friendships?

Not if you build community on purpose. Classes, clubs, co-ops and other home educating families all help. It takes more effort without school, but it’s very achievable.

Do I need to be a qualified teacher?

In most places, no. What matters most is being present, curious and willing to learn alongside your child. Check your local rules, as a few jurisdictions set extra requirements.

Does unschooling cost more than school?

The main cost is usually parental time rather than materials. Many resources are free, but one parent often reduces paid work. See our cost of living comparison for nomad families for budget planning.

What Unschooling Has Taught Our Family So Far

Learning Can Happen Anywhere

I don’t know if we’ll ever be full unschoolers. What I do know is that a nine-year-old who used to get bored at home now wakes up asking what we’re doing today.

Unschooling isn’t a rulebook, and it isn’t a one-way door. You can borrow from it, blend it, pause it, or decide it’s not for your family at all. What matters is a child who still loves learning.

For us right now, that looks like Louie doing his Dutch workbooks beside Marty at a coworking space in Da Nang. Their table was surrounded by a jungle garden. It also looks like pottery classes, a toddler singing the alphabet on repeat, and questions about limestone cliffs from the back of a boat.

Learning can happen anywhere. Next year it might look completely different, and that’s fine. 🌍

Read more: Education and Childcare for Digital Nomad Families