I’m off on a little holiday. And looking forward to refreshing and rubbing the mould off my stale bits!
It’s easy not to notice it growing. But when I get so bored that complacency and loss of love of the nice things sets in so bad that I realise I’ve even got used to life looking grey and fuzzy, I know I need to do something about it.
New experiences recharge and polish up those rusty complacent bits.
It’s the same for the kids. they seem to come alive in new places.
Far from switching off their brains, new experiences boost their development and education in ways we sometimes fail to appreciate. New experiences bring new opportunities for discussion and questions, consequently new language (even if still English), new imaginings, development of new neural pathways and growth of intelligence. It’s all good stuff.
So whenever you have the chance to get away and take the kids with you rest assured you’ll be developing their mental agility as you develop their horizons – yours along with them. And enjoying yourself meanwhile. Holidays are as educational (if not more) as studying at home.
Home educators have the chance to do that all the time, funds allowing. Anyway, cheap holidays (we used the relatives in different parts of the country mercilessly) are as valuable as exotic ones. It’s the newness that counts.
It’s such a shame that schooling inhibits so many families from doing the same, pretending it disrupts the child’s education. It doesn’t really. What it more accurately disrupts is ticks on sheets and stats on tables, but I’ve never considered that true education anyway.
True education takes place in true life – not necessarily school life. And it takes place any where at any time, as most home educators discover, whether on holiday or not.
So wherever you take yours, may it be a happy and restorative (if educative) one and make your mouldy bits shiny again! More whenI’m back.
Ross Mountney's Notebook 
Hi Ross Thank you once again for an inspiring post. I thought I’d drop you another line to say we are doing exactly as you recommend! Currently sitting on our yacht in Greece planning a trip down the Corinth Canal and beyond. We’ve also booked a trip to New Zealand next Jan to March! So we’re are actually boat-schooling now with great success. Each day Ralfie 7 writes his journal, takes photos, learns Greek from playing with local kids, swims and snorkels, sails… an endless list of new experiences. Together with his love of reading and maths, we’re hoping we’ve got most things covered. Just not enough hours in the day!
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Sounds wonderful. And great to have your story here. Thanks so much for sharing it. What a wonderful learning life!
So true Ross and they say travel broadens the mind but only if it’s not in school time!!
Ps Hope you have a lovely time 🙂
Haha! 🙂 Thanks for that! x
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We have just got back from a holiday to the lake district, we learnt all about Beatrix Potter (my own home educated Son is very much like her with regards to the love of animals and drawing) We had loads of fun playing on the beach, paddling in rivers and lakes allowing the 3 year old the freedom to be his wild self, they fed giraffes and lemurs and the older 2 had waterskiing lessons. Such valuable experiences that we just wouldnt be able to give them if we were restricted by term time tables.
Thanks for this – brings back happy memories!
I totally agree with your take on holidays during term time for schooled children. I was refreshed the other day when a teacher told me she was all for a child in her class taking the day off to go watch the tennis.
Travel expands the mind even if it’s to visit grandma in Wales.
Have a lovely holiday.
Thanks Patricia, and lovely to hear of enlightened teacher!