A couple pulled their kids out of school to backpack around the globe while ‘world schooling’ them – and say it’s "less stressful" than living in the UK.<br /><br />Lauren Tyson, 31, and her husband, Roy, 37, had always had a passion for travel and dreamed of travelling full-time with their kids – two and five.<br /><br />Their eldest “hated” school and the couple decided to pull him out and backpack around the globe while homeschooling him in January 2024.<br /><br />Lauren and Roy, an artist, still follow the English curriculum and spend a few hours a day studying with their son before exploring Ko Samui, Thailand as family.<br /><br />The mum-of-two feels world schooling has been “better” for their sons as it’s taught them life skills such as empathy and resilience.<br /><br />Lauren, a content creator, from Sudbury, Suffolk, said: “The experience the children get - they’d never get in the UK.<br /><br />“I’d never want them to get behind.<br /><br />“Homeschooling – it’s better for him [their eldest son].<br /><br />“He’s picked up a lot having us around constantly.”<br /><br />Lauren and Roy had been backpacking before having kids and always felt a pull to travel more.<br /><br />Lauren said: “My husband and I went backpacking in 2015 and 2016 before we had children.<br /><br />“We really enjoyed it.<br /><br />“The kids have always enjoyed travelling and we always dreamed of travelling full time.”<br /><br />The couple decided to take the plunge when they realised their eldest son was struggling in school.<br /><br />She said: “He wasn’t really enjoying it.<br /><br />“He had a lot of troubles with his emotional stability.<br /><br />“We weren’t sure if England was the right place for us.<br /><br />“It’s such a big world.”<br /><br />The family spent three months planning before they left so they could sort out renting their house and how to homeschool their children.<br /><br />In January 2024 they left for Abu Dhabi before continuing to Bangkok and Ko Samui, Thailand.<br /><br />The family are now staying there before their tourist visa runs out and will choose their next destination based on the cheapest flights.<br /><br />Lauren spends the morning homeschooling their eldest son using textbooks before taking them both out to places such as bird farms for experiences. <br /><br />She said: “The one on one time is valuable.<br /><br />“In the market he talks about these fruits English kids wouldn’t know. He talks about Buddhism.”<br /><br />Lauren and Roy have also seen the benefits of a slower pace of life.<br /><br />Lauren said: “Life in the UK was go, go, go.<br /><br />“I’d drop the kids off at school, go to nursery, go to the gym, do the food shop, go to swim lessons.<br /><br />“It’s very chilled here.<br /><br />“We’re less stressed. We get more time together.<br /><br />“At the moment I can’t imagine going back to the UK.”<br /><br />The family have no set plans of how long they will travel for but have rented out their house in the UK for 18 months.<br /><br />Lauren said: “We know we’re privileged to do this.<br /><br />“If it inspires another family to do this that would be amazing.”<br /><br />Follow Lauren @lifealongsidelauren
