How to Become a Digital Nomad If You Have Kids
The pandemic has proven that remote work can work — and while companies are increasingly demanding people go back to the office , nearly 17 million Americans in 2022 saw themselves as “digital nomads” who work and travel at the same time. This is 131% more than in the pre-COVID era.
While you may think of digital nomads as being younger and childless, families also take advantage of remote work and online school opportunities and choose to travel the world together.
How to become a digital nomad with the whole family
The details and complexity of digital nomad family lifestyles vary depending on how you approach it. For example, families living in a van will face different challenges than those who list on Airbnb. Moving around the country will require different logistical considerations than traveling from state to state, as well as moving every few days or weeks, rather than every few months. Finally, age and developmental stage matter—you’ll have a different experience traveling with an infant or potty-training toddler than with older children, who are (theoretically) more independent.
It is important to do a lot of research before you take the plunge and develop a detailed plan for how you will make a life of travel rewarding for your family. There are many online communities where digital nomad families can find support, such as the Facebook groups Digital Nomad Families and Location Independent Families , as well as Worldschoolers , We Are Worldschoolers and Worldschooling Central . The r/digitalnomad subreddit also has a lot of topics about traveling with kids. NomadTogether and Unsettled also help bring digital nomad families together.
Here are a few things to consider when transitioning to a nomadic lifestyle.
How will you educate your children?
Education is one of the biggest decisions parents of digital nomads have to make for their school-age children. There are several options for those who want to break away from the traditional brick-and-mortar school:
- Online school: It may not seem like much of a difference after schooling in the era of the pandemic, but you will have to consider time zones and the need for a stable and stable internet connection if your kids are attending live classes. GoVisaFree has a list of online school options for digital nomad families.
- Homeschooling: Traditional homeschooling is very flexible, but will likely require more hands-on time since you will be both the parent and the teacher. This tends to work better if at least one parent also fails. You can also hire and travel with a private tutor if you have the funds.
- International School: This is an option if you plan to stay on site for the entire academic year (although students may be allowed to attend short courses in some countries). Children get a more typical school experience with a regular schedule and peers their own age. However, this will likely be more expensive.
- Worldschooling: Worldschooling is a sort of hybrid approach to travel education that often involves a combination of asynchronous and self-guided learning with experiential projects and mentoring. This may be similar to unschooling or home schooling, although it does not always include a predetermined curriculum. The Worldschool Academy and the Worldschoolers group are good resources for this option.
While non-traditional education can offer more flexibility and unique experiences, children can miss out on opportunities to develop stable friendships and routines. Also, if you do decide to put down roots in the future, adjusting to a mainstream school or higher education can be socially and academically challenging (and even logistically if your chosen program of study is not accredited).
How will you take care of the children?
While your intention may be to experience family life on the road, sometimes you’ll need some time off from parenting—whether it’s work responsibilities or an adults-only evening alone or with your partner. Families of digital nomads often spend all day, every day, together, especially if the children are homeschooled or attending online classes or have not yet reached school age.
Think about how you will arrange space and support breaks in family vacations, as childcare can be more difficult to organize in unfamiliar places. Some families travel with a nanny—other options recommended by r/digitalnomad users include finding a daycare (note that language can be a barrier overseas, while long waiting lists can limit short-term and temporary options in the US), connect with other expats or local parenting groups online, and find recommendations for local nannies from landlords or hotels.
How will your kids be friends?
Frequent moves over a long period of time can prevent children from making friends. This may not be a big deal for very young children, but school-age children and teens are more likely to want stronger peer friendships . The transition to a digital nomadic lifestyle can also be difficult if children have to leave their friends behind.
Similarly, when traveling the world, children may crave familiarity, stability, routine, and a sense of home .
How will you deal with the language barrier?
Language barriers may not prevent your family from experiencing new places, but they can make it difficult for you and your children to communicate and feel connected in every place.
However, the nomadic lifestyle provides an opportunity to learn new languages through immersion, especially if you spend a longer period of time in one country or region. Bilingual schools and babysitting can help with this , as well as participating in music, TV shows and other content in the local language or translated.
How will you stay on top of the logistics involved?
Before you decide to take your family on the road, you should consider logistics such as restrictions on remote work, visas, healthcare and health insurance, and finances (taxes, travel costs, etc.). Spontaneity and flexibility can be attractive in the digital nomad lifestyle, but when you’re bringing your kids with you, planning is key .