It’s a question that comes up for so many parents during their children’s school years: Is it okay to take time away from school to travel or attend family events?

There’s no easy answer. As a teacher, I know the importance of consistent learning, especially in those crucial foundation years. As a parent, I also know that childhood is fleeting, and some opportunities don’t come around twice. I find myself caught between the voice that says, “They need to be in class, keeping up with the curriculum,” and the one that says, “The world is a classroom too…pack the bags and go make memories.”

Of course, I’m not talking about the odd “long weekend” becoming a regular thing or missing school for reasons that could wait. Those small absences can add up faster than you think and can put them significantly behind in their learning.

But taking a term – or even two – to hit the road and explore our beautiful country? That can be life-changing. Your child will be collecting more than just souvenirs; they’ll be gathering stories, experiences, and real-world skills that no textbook can teach. And with some effort to weave in reading, writing, maths, and curiosity-driven projects, you can keep those foundational skills ticking along while giving them lessons they’ll never forget.

Our kids weren’t in school yet which was a large factor as to why we chose to travel when we did as we knew it would be easier without having to pull them out of class. If you are taking kids out of school for an extended trip, you’ll want to check what’s legally required in your state first. Once that’s ticked off, the fun part is figuring out how to make learning a natural part of the adventure. Here’s how it looked for us.

Numeracy Skills

Money 

We set up a little pocket money system based on the chores they would complete. Nothing complicated, just enough to give the kids a taste of earning and managing money. Some days they’d blow it on an ice cream, other days they’d save it up for something special. Along the way, we had those “real world” chats about how many coins made a dollar, how much change they should get, and what they could afford. Even though they were young and may not have fully grasped those concepts, it laid the groundwork for money sense that will stick with them for life.

Number sense

Everywhere we went, there were numbers. We would count objects and groups, recognise numbers on houses, talk about the distance and time left until we reached our next destination. For older children, you can bring in more difficult concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals…the list goes on! Using authentic experiences to build their number sense is one of the best things you could do.

Time

We made sure to regularly talk to the kids about time (how long they had left at the park, what time we were needing to have dinner, how long we had left in the car). One of my favourite parent hacks was to use Bluey as a concept of time: “Only 4 episodes of Bluey and we will be there”. Of course, they weren’t actually watching Bluey the entire time, but it was something they could relate to and it helped them build a sense of elapsed time. 

Literacy Skills

Writing & Art
We started an art journal for each of the kids to help develop their pre-writing skills. Every few days we’d sit down somewhere and they’d draw something from the day. It was part memory-keeping, part fine motor practice, and all about creativity. If your kids are older, I’d 100% recommend a travel journal that mixes writing with sketches or photos. 

Reading

Reading is the single most important skill that you can support your child with. It exposes them to a wide range of vocabulary, grammar, text types, characterisation and information. It builds emotional intelligence, broadens their knowledge, improves focus and concentration, enhances critical thinking skills, and so much more! Not to mention the impact it has on their comprehension in a range of different areas. It is integral that kids are reading or being read to every day to support their development in this area. Pack plenty of books that vary in text type to support your child/ren. 

Life Skills

Swimming
We travelled during spring and summer along the south coast of Australia. Even though the water was sometimes cool, the kids swam every chance they got. By the end of the trip, their swimming skills had improved so much it made up for missing formal lessons.

Communication & Independence

Everywhere we went, there were always other children around which meant that Hugo and Willow became really good at socialising with other kids of all ages which allowed them to develop their social and communication skills. They got braver about introducing themselves, joining games, and talking to kids of all ages. We were always nearby, but gave them space to step into those moments.

Gross motor skills 

The kids bikes were one of the first things we would unpack when we pulled up somewhere. Hamish would get the caravan set up while I watched the kids and took them to explore the park or campsite on their pushbikes. It wasn’t long before Hugo’s training wheels came off and Willow no longer needed help pedalling. They learned to swing on the swings without needing an adult to help and they were constantly on the move, kicking the soccer ball or hitting the cricket ball. Their gross motor skills improved so much in a short period of time – balance, strength, coordination. All part of it. It felt like our little 3 and 5 year olds were all of a sudden teenagers! 

Looking back, the places we visited were unforgettable. But it’s the skills, confidence, and independence the kids gained along the way that I cherish most. I’ll probably always hear those teacher-versus-parent voices in my head, but in the end, you know your children and your family better than anyone. Trust yourself. Whichever path you choose will be the right one for you. 

Lauren x