Worldschooling: Pre-Departure Health & Safety Considerations
People often asked us questions like, “How did you stay healthy on the road? What immunizations did you need? Are there places we should avoid?” If this is one of the major mental hurdles for leaping into worldschooling, we want to help you think through some questions and provide you with actionable steps so you’ll be prepared, and feel confident enough to handle almost anything that comes your way. You can also take comfort in knowing that people are out there to help.
Part of choosing a worldschooling adventure is knowing that tricky stuff may happen. Being away from home—and thus, away from usual sleep schedules and diets—may raise health questions and concerns. Frequently changing time zones, beds, food, water, and weather can be tough on anyone. But while sensationalized articles eagerly cite all the things one can “catch” while traveling, in truth, with good preparation, you can comfortably and confidently take your family almost anywhere. We coauthors agree that our kids were all healthier on the road than at home. Minus one very surprising public vomiting incident in a Peruvian airport, Angela’s kids didn’t catch any viruses during the two years they traveled full-time. Annika’s family seemed to have stronger immune systems from more sleep, fresh air, and together time than the hectic pace at home. A jellyfish sting, a first period in the Himalayas, and a case of laryngitis just added to their family memories. Julie’s family also experienced a year of good air and good health. Apart from Johnny’s twenty-four-hour bug in Zion National Park and Julie’s epic backcountry fall, their family had no other colds, contusions, or cramps. While one may chalk this up to luck, it’s just as likely that a travel lifestyle with more time and less stress makes for more physically resilient humans.
In this blog we focus on pre-trip considerations and preparations.
Pre-Trip Appointments
Prior to departing for longer-term travel, check in with your family’s physician(s) to ensure clinical exams and lab tests are up to date. Even if there’s nothing of concern, this will allow you to make arrangements for any prescription medications you’ll need during your journey. It’s also a good idea to carry a recent paper prescription for medications or glasses/contacts, if anyone in your family wears them.
All countries have varying health risks, and depending on where your travels take you, your family may need certain vaccinations to enter some places. We know there are disparate beliefs around vaccinations, and it is not our goal to debate that here. We simply encourage you to know the rules for wherever you are going so you aren’t surprised. Some countries require proof of specific vaccinations prior to entrance, especially if your passport shows a history of spending time in high-risk areas. A list of recommended and required vaccines, by country and area, is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s travelers’ health website and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website.
Some health insurance plans offer travel medicine specialists who can provide vaccine and preventive medication recommendations based on your intended itinerary and personal medical history. If this service is available to you, consult these specialists as early as possible. Most immunizations should be taken at least four to six weeks prior to travel. Others may require a series of injections, spaced apart according to a set schedule. The longer you plan to travel, and the more high-risk places you plan to visit, the farther ahead you may need to allow for all required vaccinations. For some families, these group vaccination visits might be the first tangible signs that their trip is really going to happen!
Depending on your itinerary, you and your kids might choose to be vaccinated against meningitis, rabies, typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese B encephalitis, malaria, COVID, and/or other diseases. Detailed travel vaccine recommendations for babies and toddlers are further described in many resources online, including the CDC website. Regardless of age, make sure you take your kids’ immunization records with you wherever you go.
Accessibility and Special Needs
If you or a family member has a physical disability, arrange for mobility aids and equipment in advance of your travel when possible, and check the rules regarding service or support animals if you travel with any. These are more difficult to do once you’re on the road, where language barriers and inconsistent policies may come into play. If your family has known medical needs, you may want to scout ahead of time for the medical facilities in each of the areas you’ll be visiting. It’s also a good idea to check insurance coverage for any necessary medical equipment in the places where you’re going.
Families traveling with special needs can find a growing number of disability travel specialists (see a few in the resources section) to help them locate accessible lodging, transportation, recreation, tours, and other travel resources. The CDC provides information for immunocompromised travelers. The TSA’s special procedures page outlines information to help people with disabilities or medical conditions. Many airports have more accessible security lines and other accommodations, and you can find this information by searching their websites.
Neurodiversity
There are many worldschooling families with neurodiverse kids. Two of us each have a neurodiverse child. If you do, too, we hope to assure you that with some planning and realistic expectations, a Wonder Year can be possible for your family, too.
Some families have told us that the relaxed schedule and lower-pressure travel logistics help ease stressful experiences that could otherwise affect their child. They are able to schedule days for downtime and rest breaks with greater flexibility, finding a rhythm that works for their families. Many bring along supports for sensory needs and find that they have more time for pursuing their children’s interests at a pace that works for them.
That said, full-time travel isn’t without its stressors, many of which can be more challenging for neurodiverse kids. Changes in routine, altered sleep schedules, new foods, and intense sensory environments can all be difficult to manage. You know your children best and what they can navigate, and hopefully you can leverage some of what already works at home.
There are also books and other resources devoted to traveling with family members who are neurodiverse. Many parents suggest starting your travel with short-duration trips close to home. If all goes well, you can then increase both distance and duration. And remember, these can all be worldschooling adventures—whatever length of time your family can manage.
Physical Fitness
Travel puts you on the move. No matter what, you’re going to get a lot of functional activity. It might not look like twelve reps of squats or three sets of pumping iron, if that’s what you’re used to. But just being out in the world—walking, carrying, packing, sightseeing, walking, and more walking—will likely get you well over ten thousand steps per day. The nature of family travel keeps you mobile, so just keep on keeping on.
If you intend to do any longer hiking or backpacking trips, you will need to get used to carrying some weight, test out your equipment, make time to acclimatize, and be prepared for moving in inclement weather. Schedule accordingly and give your family time to train, especially if altitude is going to be a factor. If you have time, you might have the ability to train in the field, building your mileage and readiness.
You might pack a travel yoga mat and grippy socks, a tennis racquet, running shoes, or swim goggles to continue doing the things that keep you fit and happy. Some families incorporate physical exercise into their daily lives. You and your kids might create challenges for each other, like working up to fifty push-ups a day or competing to see who can hold the longest plank. Find what works for you and have fun with it. Visit playgrounds, hike some trails, and trek through cities. No gym required!
Mental Health
It’s not only your bodies that benefit from moving around. Through our experiences and interviews, we know that worldschooling can provide profound mental health benefits, too.
Long-term family travel can help you connect, reduce stress, increase resilience, provide purpose, and even enhance your creativity. You might be leaving a stressful job, relationship, or situation behind. A Wonder Year can offer a clean slate, fewer demands, and quality time with your people that leaves you feeling more centered.
However, for some people, travel can make matters worse. Challenging travel situations, homesickness, loneliness, loss of work and purpose, too much together time, and tight spaces can aggravate existing conditions or create new ones. Teens can be particularly vulnerable to feelings of isolation and discontent.
Talk with healthcare providers before you depart, and leave room for your kids to express concerns or difficulties related to your travels. If you need further support while away from home, there are many health resources available online and by phone in most parts of the world. Some mental health providers even offer telehealth services.
Routine Care
At home, you likely have a health care regimen set up for your family: annual physicals and lab tests, regular dental cleanings, orthodontist visits, and the like. Being away will put a (likely welcome) dent in that routine, which warrants some planning before you depart.
There are probably a few things you can get done before you go and then pause while you travel. Annual physicals (and the medical forms for school and extracurriculars that accompany them) can be scheduled before you leave, especially to suss out anything you’ll need while on the road. You might do a final dental checkup and cleaning for each family member, plus specialty visits such as dermatology, gynecology, or immunology.
If you are inclined to keep your regular schedule instead, you can plan ahead and book appointments at your destinations. You’ll likely find familiar resources in locations with large expat communities.
There may be specific medical needs that warrant a stop back at your home base. Angela’s family built their domestic travel segments around required orthodontic visits in California for their son. They made it work, but the logistics were definitely tricky, and other families might consider postponing braces until after they return!
Reproductive Health
While all family members need to maintain their health while traveling, there are a few extra considerations for people who menstruate.
- Travel can trigger changes in menstruation patterns and side-effect severity. Changing time zones and eating different foods at irregular times can worsen period cramps, and remedies may be hard to find, so bring along what works for you.
- Foreign menstrual products may be different from what you’re used to, and finding your favorites can be difficult and expensive (note: menstrual pads in the Himalayas are pricey!). If you aren’t up for figuring this out on the road, bring supplies from home.
- If you’re on a prescription contraceptive, bring enough to last the duration of your trip.
- If pregnant while traveling, you will have special considerations. Make sure you research transportation modes, destination risks, medical care pre- and post-delivery, where you’ll give birth, and related citizenship questions.
- Travel experiences—including sitting for long durations of time, hot climates, and damp clothes and swimwear—can be triggers for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and yeast infections; we suggest you bring treatments or a prescription from home so that you’re prepared in advance.
While you can’t plan for everything, taking thoughtful steps before departure will help you travel with confidence—and enjoy your worldschooling adventure knowing you’re ready as ready as possible for whatever comes your way.
