27 responses

  1. Laura Grace Weldon
    September 25, 2014

    Inspiring post!

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      September 26, 2014

      Thanks! I hope it helps people.

      Reply

  2. Sindy Elamrani
    July 23, 2014

    Hey Talon, I must have missed this article. Love it, BTW.
    My question is what about if Stevie decides to go to college? If he does not have formal math such as Algebra he will have a really hard time getting a degree.
    I know college is not for everyone but you just never know if he will want to go one day. I have one son who went to college and one who did not go because he was just so far behind in math that the thought just overwhelmed him. That is my oldest son and he has a distraction concern and just can not concentrate on tasks at hand very well.

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      July 25, 2014

      He can take math classes online or at a community college or something if he chooses that path. Knowing him, though, I would be stunned out of my mind if he opts for college.

      Reply

  3. Katie
    April 3, 2014

    Hi Talon. I totally agree with the priciples around world schooling but I am just wondering how your son deals with the constant moving around and lack of routine?

    Does he miss having the continuous relationships with friends that he would see on a daily basis if you were living in one place?

    I think maybe it would depend on the child’s personality and that this life wouldn’t be for everyone.

    I personally would love to give my own child (currently childless) this experience one day but probably for a few months or even a year at a time or otherwise base ourselves in a new country for 1-3 years, doing short trips from there.

    Travelling indefinitely with a child, I would be worried that they would feel isolated from other people, constantly moving around and not being able to maintain close connections with others their age.

    I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this.

    Reply

    • Talon Windwalker
      April 3, 2014

      Technology has done wonders for this. Because of Skype and online gaming, he’s able to connect with friends, chat, and play games together quite often. Obviously, face-to-face time is going to be more valuable, but he doesn’t feel like he’s missing much this way.

      I’d say it’s also a myth that we don’t have a routine when traveling. It may be a bit less defined and may mix up depending if we’re in a home or a hotel, but we still have our rhythm.

      We often do spend an extended time in one spot. For example, we stayed in Prague for 2 months and had an apartment. We were in Romania for 3 months, Honduras for 8 months.

      One thing you touched on I think is really important. Every child is different, and you have to go with what works for your child. It can be tempting to do things the way you think will work, but you have to try out different things to see how your child responds. Then you can follow the path that works best for your child.

      Reply

      • Katie Bell
        April 16, 2014

        Thanks for your thoughts Talon. It is definitely something I want to think about when I have a kid one day. There are so many benefits of breaking away and living a different life and we will look at what will fit us best. It sounds like ‘Tigger’ is thriving and I wish you both the best.

        Reply

      • Talon Windwalker
        April 17, 2014

        It’s definitely nice to know at least you have choices. For Tigger it’s been the absolute best choice. It’s wonderful to be able to do what works best for you and your family rather than just following the herd. 😉

        Reply

  4. MIchelle
    January 20, 2013

    Love your perspective. Once you get “outside the box” of our culture and schooling, the whole world opens up! We homeschool.. but we aren’t “world-schooling” at this moment. But we travel and get out there as often as we can, when our noses aren’t in books the rest of the time, because there is so much to learn and appreciate. Great job!

    Reply

    • Talon
      January 20, 2013

      There sure is a lot to learn! And it doesn’t have to stop. I think when kids are in an environment that encourages learning toward their own interests they will hopefully continue to love learning their whole life. I was just telling Tigger today that I think I’m going to take some online archaeology classes. It just fascinates me. Learning doesn’t have to stop because of what time of day it is, what day of the week, or how old you are.

      Reply

  5. Annie Andre
    January 20, 2013

    This is such a great article talon. I actually don’t like the term un-schooler it sounds to me as if you advocate NO learning at all. World schooling fits much better.

    We tried homeschooling and it was a total mess. I hated it. My then tweens hated it.

    If I had known about world schooling. i would have rocked at it. Right now though, my boys are older and love school and friends. We do do a form of world schooling in that i supplement their learning after school and try to cater extra learning with our surroundings and based on their natural talents, interests and talents. ..

    Pretty cool though. Loved the photos.

    Reply

    • Talon
      January 20, 2013

      Glad you liked it! Yeah, I’m not really fond of the unschooling term either. World schooling is much more in line with what we do and how we live.

      Reply

  6. Hiiarye
    September 10, 2012

    Wow. This is pretty cool. Lots of useful information thank you for sharing the link to me. It’s so scary we have the ability to make such big decisions that will impact our children for life. Sometimes it freaks me out.

    Reply

  7. Heidi
    September 9, 2012

    Beautifully said. I have discovered with my son (adopted at 9) that flexibility, love, and faith in his ability to grow are getting us where we need to be. He is 17 now, and an amazing person. And my parenting does not look like what other people think it should, I wish it could, but the results are so worth it!

    Reply

    • 1dad1kid
      September 9, 2012

      I gave up comparing myself to other parents a long time ago. Flexibility and love are such big keys! And it does my heart good to see that you’ve adopted an older kid. So many of them don’t get adopted.

      Reply

  8. Theodora
    September 8, 2012

    Amen to all of this. Particularly the stuff around boundaries and discipline, which are key for almost every child under the sun.

    Reply

    • 1dad1kid
      September 8, 2012

      Merci!

      Reply

  9. Jennifer Miller
    September 7, 2012

    LOVE THIS Talon! Such a great explanation! And you’re right about the massive amount of learning that takes place in daily life and conversation if we take the time to let it!! World schooling, especially for kids who have sensory or learning differences is SUCH a great thing! I can’t wait to cross paths and have our boys learn together for a while! Great post!

    Reply

    • 1dad1kid
      September 7, 2012

      Thanks, Jennifer! I wish it was more available for others, and definitely for kids for whom school is just to slow or boring. I know so many kids who would just blow people’s socks off if they were given the chance to excel.

      Reply

  10. Dr. Jessica Voigts
    September 7, 2012

    LOVE, love, love this. we also chose unschooling/worldschooling – it’s a path of joyful living. Bravo!

    Reply

    • 1dad1kid
      September 7, 2012

      “A path of joyful living.” Yes indeed!

      Reply

  11. Lane & Juliet
    September 7, 2012

    We quickly learned with our daughter, who has severe ADD, that hands-on learning worked best. I enrolled her in art programs, choir, dance and took her on long nature hikes, and gave her the camera during family vacations. It was in those moments, when she was engulfed, that she learned more than reading any book — unless she picked it out. Now, she’s a chef. Hands on! :o)

    Reply

    • 1dad1kid
      September 7, 2012

      That’s beautiful!

      Reply

  12. Stacy N
    September 7, 2012

    He is a very lucky young man and my kids are super jealous. I wish the whole education system could be revamped for true learning experiences instead of “rote” memorization. Good for you T, for being an excellent role model and father! You and Tigger both are such inspirations for how a FAMILY can be and SHOULD be. Thanks for sharing your journeys and adventures with us.

    Reply

    • 1dad1kid
      September 7, 2012

      Thanks! I wish it could be revamped as well. Who knows what kids who have been educated in a system that encourages, promotes, and operates under creativity can accomplish!

      Reply

  13. mary
    September 7, 2012

    Wonderful!! I agree and this is much more in line with how we do things:) World schooling it is!

    Reply

    • 1dad1kid
      September 7, 2012

      World schooling rocks!

      Reply

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