Ask any cruising family how schooling is going and most with under 10’s will raise their eyebrows and a sigh! Not necessarily because its going badly but more because I think you can divide boat school into two parts.

Part one

What I call WORLD LEARNING. The hands on, school trip emersion type learning that the children do most days when they visit a new place or country. Listening to the language, experiencing the towns and streets and comparing them to the places they have been to before. Examining the history or the natural geographical make up of the islands and understanding how they work and affect the people that live there. Being introduced to all the different cultures and beliefs, and learning about all the wildlife on the land and sea. This type of learning encompasses all ages, even the adults enjoy it and benefit!

Often family boats will get together and arrange a school trip, where children of all ages come along and pick up what they can from the outing. Later when we return to the boats the kids are briefed on a project they need to complete on the days outing and perhaps present it to each other, or we will try and arrange an evening quiz on what they learnt, also involving the adults to make it more fun.

The kids don’t see this as school as such but more about fun! I don’t even think they realise how much they are absorbing or taking in on a day to day basis. If questioned they always have a confident answer or opinion, and hopefully this will stick with them for life.

Part two

Curriculum based learning they need in order to fit in with their peers back home one day, or pass exams to get into higher education.

Each family boat tries to address this type of schooling alone or in small ability related groups in the morning, so that the kids are all free to meet up again and play after lunch.

The group learning seems to work very well with younger children. They are more inclined to listen better to someone other than their own parents. They can’t quite protest as much!

The way it works is each parent chooses a subject they are confident in, and they will teach a small group of 2 or 3 similar aged children. Languages are great to do this way as there are so many nationalities that the kids get first hand French or Spanish lessons all the time, not just at school time.

The problem with younger children is motivation. Living life in a variety of beautiful anchorages has its fair share of distractions! And when you are 9 years old you will use every distraction possible to get out of learning about Adverbials, Apostrophes or Long Division. “I’m too hot, it’s too windy, I’m hungry, look a turtle just swam under the boat!”

To be completely honest I do understand. Being 9 you don’t really understand why it’s so important to know all these things. What is more important to you is when next you get to go snorkelling or wake boarding with your friends.

On the flip side the older children seem to understand that it’s just something they need to get done. Most of them get it done quickly and efficiently leaving us parents in a difficult position whereby we need to hold the younger ones back to finish their school whilst the older children are already out playing! And believe me no amount of “just get your work done and you can go play too” works! Instead it makes the whole process even more drawn out and painful!

Many people seem to think a trip like this is easier with younger children. Their curriculum is easier, and they don’t have exams and goals to meet like older children do. From what we have experienced and seen it’s the opposite. The older children are motivated and seem to understand in order to carry on cruising they need to make their studies matter. They also understand how important school is and how the experience they are having will one day benefit them in whatever future they choose to pursue. They all seem to get that in order to have the life they are currently enjoying they need to put in the time with their studies. I have not met one boat with teenagers who have moaned about the boat schooling. The teenagers are all independently choosing to learn.

How different life is for land and boat teenagers! On land they are made to grow up too quickly and become young adults way before their time. Choosing a career path at the age of 13 so that they can study and progress as quickly as possible into the working world.

Where as our boat teenagers still PLAY – with all ages and sexes. There is no discrimination, shyness or “I’m too cool” behaviour. They are responsible and confident and will happily look after any younger children, always including them in their games. Languages and cultures don’t faze them, and they will teach each other about their different countries and cultures. They love to chat long into the night about their lives back home, but if asked, not one of them will tell you they miss it!  The best part is there is no social media influencing the way they talk, look or think, so they are simply themselves!

They truly are living the dream, and they know how lucky they are!

So if you were to ask me what the best age is to home/boat school? Without a doubt it’s from 11 onwards. They get so much out of the places they see, and are mature enough to know life is not all about play. They wizz through the curriculum as there are no classroom distractions, and get to learn and still see the world through untainted children’s eyes, making their own minds up based on what they see, not what they are told or taught.

They are motivated to succeed – and from the kids I know I’m sure they all will.

As for the younger children, we’ll persevere!

School will progress, although slower and more painfully. But I’m sure they will all grow to be just like the older ones, and what a carefree, incredible childhood they have had!

At the end of the day they will all be confident, world educated children, who can only have benefited from everything they have seen and done!

And hopefully they can help make the world a better place.