How We Found Our Worldschooling Rhythm
When we first left, we thought we had it sorted.
We bought tablets for the kids so they could do schoolwork on the road, especially on long travel days. It felt like the obvious solution. Easy, flexible, modern. We also brought workbooks from home, one for maths and one for English each. Between the tablets and the books, we figured we had school covered.
We didn’t.
The workbooks didn’t really teach them anything. They were just basic questions, and the kids weren’t engaged at all. Kia was sitting down with them trying to work through it, but it felt like a grind from the start. No one enjoyed it, and nothing was really sticking. At that stage I was still working, so I wasn’t around much to help, and when I wasn’t working, we just wanted to get out and enjoy where we were. School became something we were trying to squeeze in, rather than something that fit naturally into our days.
So we shifted to apps.
We let the kids use learning apps on the tablets and made sure they did a few lessons each day. On the surface, it looked like it was working. They were ticking things off, moving through levels, doing what they were supposed to do. But when we actually paid attention, it was clear they weren’t learning anything. They were just clicking through, not caring if answers were right or wrong, rushing to get to the games. There was no real understanding or retention, just something to get through.
At the same time, screen time started creeping up. Slowly at first, then more and more. Every now and then we’d let it slide, and before we knew it, they were spending way more time on the tablets than we were comfortable with. The bigger issue wasn’t just school. It was what it was doing to them. Their focus dropped, their creativity dropped, and their willingness to do hard things started to fade.
The moment that really hit us was climbing Mount Etna.
We were in one of the most incredible places we’ve ever been, doing something that should have been exciting and challenging. Instead of leaning into it and pushing through, they just wanted the easy option. They didn’t want to do it. That wasn’t our kids. They used to love adventure, running up hills, pushing themselves and getting stuck into things. Somewhere along the way, that had started to disappear, and that moment made it pretty clear something needed to change.
So we took the tablets off them completely.
We went back to basics. We still use workbooks, but differently. We sit down with them, work through things properly, and write out lessons ourselves. We’ve kept it simple and focused on what actually matters, and we’re far more present with it. Kia has found her groove with the kids, and now we alternate depending on the day. I’m not as busy with work at the moment, so I can step in more as well, and it feels like a system that actually fits our life.
The difference has been huge. They’re more focused, more creative, and far more engaged. They’re actually taking things in, and when we quiz them, they know their stuff. There’s still a long way to go, but the last month has been the most consistent and productive we’ve had.
We’re not saying apps are bad, and we’re not saying workbooks are bad. They just didn’t work for us. This does.
If you’re trying to figure this out yourself, we’ve put together a simple breakdown of what to teach, how to structure your days, and what actually matters.