🌍 “We Pulled Our Kids Out of School to Travel the World – And It’s Worth Every Penny!” 🌍
Meet the Van Der Walt family, who traded Greater Manchester for globetrotting adventures. Billie and Selwyn, in their mid-30s, embarked on an incredible journey with their sons, Bligh, 4, and Rothko, 2. This week, instead of sending Bligh through school gates, Billie snapped him sporting sunnies and a travel backpack, ready to explore Vietnam!
“There’s a tiny guilt over skipping the ‘first day of school’ pic,” shares Billie. “But we’re giving our boys the world! Bligh’s even ahead academically thanks to child-led learning.”
Swapping school uniforms for wanderlust saved them heaps on costs, allowing more family time without the back-to-school stress. The family has already enjoyed stops in Abu Dhabi, South Korea, and Thailand.
Billie expressed mixed emotions online: “We’re so lucky living this life… but I do miss the school run moments.” Despite challenges in their former UK life, juggling nursery fees and Selwyn’s long hours, they chose a new path.
Their unique education style blends museum visits, local encounters, and flexible learning sessions. “Some think unschooling means doing nothing, but it’s learning through life,” explains Billie. “Critics say, ‘Kids won’t remember,’ but we reply: Just like first birthdays, these moments shape them.”
The Van Der Walts have no plans to return to the UK. Future stops? China beckons! They dream of settling where sunshine and a slower pace are abundant. ☀️
To anyone waving goodbye at school gates today, Billie sends love: “I’ll cherish your adorable school pics flooding my feed.”
What do you think of their bold move? Would you take your family off the beaten path? ✈️ Let us know in the comments!