Member - Mick O (VIC) replied:

Did you have a look here . It's a good place to start. Probably some other interesting things for you in the topics section as well.

Cheers Mick

Axel [ the real one ] replied:

We have just finished a 6mth trip with our 9yr old , kids of that age learn more travelling than they ever will sitting in a classroom , just be aware that spending 24hrs per day every day together can become tireing , c/van- motorhome or camper trailer , none is the perfect solution.

replied:

Hi Kel,

We're taking off on Boxing Day for a 12 month trip around the country with our 2 kids aged 7 & 8.

The trip has been 2 years in the planning & we have just sold our house. We still have a bit to organise but we are getting there.

The kids will be enrolled in Distance Education & we have no doubt they will learn more on the road than they will sitting in a classroom.

We have a Nissan Patrol towing a Jayco Outback Expander. We are also taking a tent so we can get to places the van can't.

The most important thing for you to do right now is make the decision to go. It only took a 5 minute discussion for my wife & i to decide to go & we said that no matter what negatives pop up we are going & that's it - we have never wavered from that even during the emotionally tough time of selling our house.

If you want more info on our plans & how we've gone about it i'd be happy to discuss it with you. Our email address is marshalls2009@bigpond.com

Regards
Damo

81 days to go

John and Lynne replied:

Don't hesitate! Your kids will be the best ages to really benefit and remember the trip. Later on you get into problems with high school and it is harder for them to catch up (but not impossible!)

From years of teaching in schools I have never known students to not benefit from extended travelling.

For a year or more it is worthwhile enrolling in Distance Ed whose materials and assistance are excellent. This will make sure you are confident they are keeping up in the main areas of Maths etc.

When I taught my own kids with Distance Ed while we were overseas I found we usually only needed a couple of hours a day. It is much quicker without all the other things that go on in schools! You could combine a lot of activities with general touristing - map reading, plants and animals, history etc. It will add to the interest of the trip for all of you! The kids will learn without realising it!

You will need to establish some sort of a routine to get through the basics but don't make it too onerous and be flexible.
Make sure they keep diaries/scrapbooks. Apart from helping their English they will have wonderful records of the trip to look back on!

Don't try to travel too far at a time and allow at least a few days stop at each reasonable camp so you don't get tired and cranky with each other and school work doesn't become a stress to fit in. (We had to learn this!) Less is more when covering distance with kids. Your first plans will probably be too ambitious in terms of daily travel distance! Take their bikes so they can get out and about a bit and wear themselves out instead of you!
Good luck
Lynne