Featured Family
Featured Family
The Buckler-Smiths
The Buckler-Smiths
The Buckler-Smiths
This week in our featured family series, we’re chatting with the Buckler-Smiths, a UK family who recently sold their London home to embrace full-time worldschooling with their two young boys. What started as a plan to travel “until school started” shifted after a chance conversation opened their eyes to home education, and then worldschooling. They share how they run three subscription-based businesses remotely, giving them the flexibility to redefine what family, education and work can look like, one destination at a time.
This week in our featured family series, we’re chatting with the Buckler-Smiths, a UK family who recently sold their London home to embrace full-time worldschooling with their two young boys. What started as a plan to travel “until school started” shifted after a chance conversation opened their eyes to home education, and then worldschooling. They share how they run three subscription-based businesses remotely, giving them the flexibility to redefine what family, education and work can look like, one destination at a time.
Where do you and your family call home when you’re not traveling?
London, but we’ve recently sold our house and are on the lookout for a new base, wherever that may be!
What motivated you to choose this life?
We’ve always loved travelling and originally planned to travel as much as possible until our eldest turned five and started school. The plan was then to accept that travel would be limited to school holidays, but one random conversation in a park changed everything. Another parent mentioned that her friend home educated and that they spent an hour a day ‘doing school’ and the rest of the day ‘doing life’, which we loved the sound of. After a lot of research into different home education styles, we came across worldschooling, and the rest is history!
Do you have a dream hub you’d love to attend one day?
Our dream hub would be all about community, for the boys but also for us as parents too. Worldschooling Hub Goa really appeals to us, and we absolutely cannot wait until the boys are old enough to ski so we can spend time at the ArcticTerns Worldschooling Bansko hub. I’m already planning that for next year!
How do you earn a living on the road?
We run three subscription-based businesses. After returning from an overlanding trip from London to Cape Town in 2018, we became much more aware of just how disposable and single-use our lifestyle had been, and we decided to do something about it. That’s when we created our first business, Reco, focused on eco-products that reduce waste.
Sourcee was our next venture, a PR tool that helps businesses get featured in the press. Most recently, we’ve been working on Clip Form, a video-first form builder. Together, these businesses give us the flexibility to work from anywhere and shape our days around family life.
Most days, I’m with the boys while Andy works, and then from around lunchtime we come back together and spend the afternoons as a family. We often choose to do a bit of work again in the evenings. For us, the key is flexibility, having control over our time and not having to live by someone else’s timetable.
We recently sold our house, which took up all our time. Then it was Christmas, and then we flew out to Sri Lanka and needed a bit of time to get settled, so neither of us did much work for over a month. It was a reminder of one of the biggest gifts of this lifestyle: not having to ask permission for time off. At the same time, we’re very aware that when we’re not working, nothing is being pushed forward either. It’s a balance, and one that works really well for us at the moment.
Where do you and your family call home when you’re not traveling?
London, but we’ve recently sold our house and are on the lookout for a new base, wherever that may be!
What motivated you to choose this life?
We’ve always loved travelling and originally planned to travel as much as possible until our eldest turned five and started school. The plan was then to accept that travel would be limited to school holidays, but one random conversation in a park changed everything. Another parent mentioned that her friend home educated and that they spent an hour a day ‘doing school’ and the rest of the day ‘doing life’, which we loved the sound of. After a lot of research into different home education styles, we came across worldschooling, and the rest is history!
Do you have a dream hub you’d love to attend one day?
Our dream hub would be all about community, for the boys but also for us as parents too. Worldschooling Hub Goa really appeals to us, and we absolutely cannot wait until the boys are old enough to ski so we can spend time at the ArcticTerns Worldschooling Bansko hub. I’m already planning that for next year!
How do you earn a living on the road?
We run three subscription-based businesses. After returning from an overlanding trip from London to Cape Town in 2018, we became much more aware of just how disposable and single-use our lifestyle had been, and we decided to do something about it. That’s when we created our first business, Reco, focused on eco-products that reduce waste.
Sourcee was our next venture, a PR tool that helps businesses get featured in the press. Most recently, we’ve been working on Clip Form, a video-first form builder. Together, these businesses give us the flexibility to work from anywhere and shape our days around family life.
Most days, I’m with the boys while Andy works, and then from around lunchtime we come back together and spend the afternoons as a family. We often choose to do a bit of work again in the evenings. For us, the key is flexibility, having control over our time and not having to live by someone else’s timetable.
We recently sold our house, which took up all our time. Then it was Christmas, and then we flew out to Sri Lanka and needed a bit of time to get settled, so neither of us did much work for over a month. It was a reminder of one of the biggest gifts of this lifestyle: not having to ask permission for time off. At the same time, we’re very aware that when we’re not working, nothing is being pushed forward either. It’s a balance, and one that works really well for us at the moment.
Where are you headed next?
Hoi An! We’ve heard there’s a very active worldschooling community there, which is exciting. We plan to be there for three months, then we’re not sure. My sister is having a baby in July, so we’ll be back in London for that!
Top things you’re likely to splurge on?
A pool (especially when it’s hot!). We’re currently in Sri Lanka and made the mistake of not getting a place with a pool, but we won’t be making that mistake again.
And massages. Me time is so important, and as a home-educating parent it doesn’t happen as naturally as it does when children go to school, so booking a massage is my way of making sure it actually happens.
Where are you headed next?
Hoi An! We’ve heard there’s a very active worldschooling community there, which is exciting. We plan to be there for three months, then we’re not sure. My sister is having a baby in July, so we’ll be back in London for that!
Top things you’re likely to splurge on?
A pool (especially when it’s hot!). We’re currently in Sri Lanka and made the mistake of not getting a place with a pool, but we won’t be making that mistake again.
And massages. Me time is so important, and as a home-educating parent it doesn’t happen as naturally as it does when children go to school, so booking a massage is my way of making sure it actually happens.
How quickly do you travel as a family?
Until recently, we spent about a month in each place. Now we’re deliberately slowing down even more and planning to spend around three months in each place, with smaller trips from a main base. We’ll see how that works for us and make changes as needed. We love having a mix of simply living in a place and, at other times, experiencing some of its more iconic highlights.
Before having the boys, we loved squeezing as much as possible out of our travelling time, but I can’t think of anything worse than moving to a new place every couple of nights at the moment!
Do you have any tips for travelling with kids?
I’m normally a very positive person, but this answer might not sound like it: lower your expectations! Try not to put too much pressure on experiences going exactly how you imagined, like expecting a safari to be a picture-perfect day. If the goal is simply to get there, then everything else is a bonus. And if it really doesn’t go to plan (think whiny children, not seeing specific animals, water leaking all over your bag, or a bee sting), at least you’ve still achieved your goal!
My other big tip is to always allow plenty of time, especially for things like flights. Nothing is more stressful than rushing with children in tow. Long gone are the days of seeing how finely I could cut it getting to the airport and still make the plane. Now I actually take pleasure in arriving hours early and starting the journey calmly.
Do you keep any weekly, monthly, or annual traditions no matter where you are?
Each night we light a candle and the boys share their favourite moment from the day, which they absolutely love.
We’ve only recently started travelling full time, but we’ll always keep our Christmas traditions. I also love the idea of starting a weekly tradition, so we’ll get thinking. I’m guessing it will be something like a picnic supper in a new place each week, we love a family picnic!
How quickly do you travel as a family?
Until recently, we spent about a month in each place. Now we’re deliberately slowing down even more and planning to spend around three months in each place, with smaller trips from a main base. We’ll see how that works for us and make changes as needed. We love having a mix of simply living in a place and, at other times, experiencing some of its more iconic highlights.
Before having the boys, we loved squeezing as much as possible out of our travelling time, but I can’t think of anything worse than moving to a new place every couple of nights at the moment!
Do you have any tips for travelling with kids?
I’m normally a very positive person, but this answer might not sound like it: lower your expectations! Try not to put too much pressure on experiences going exactly how you imagined, like expecting a safari to be a picture-perfect day. If the goal is simply to get there, then everything else is a bonus. And if it really doesn’t go to plan (think whiny children, not seeing specific animals, water leaking all over your bag, or a bee sting), at least you’ve still achieved your goal!
My other big tip is to always allow plenty of time, especially for things like flights. Nothing is more stressful than rushing with children in tow. Long gone are the days of seeing how finely I could cut it getting to the airport and still make the plane. Now I actually take pleasure in arriving hours early and starting the journey calmly.
Do you keep any weekly, monthly, or annual traditions no matter where you are?
Each night we light a candle and the boys share their favourite moment from the day, which they absolutely love.
We’ve only recently started travelling full time, but we’ll always keep our Christmas traditions. I also love the idea of starting a weekly tradition, so we’ll get thinking. I’m guessing it will be something like a picnic supper in a new place each week, we love a family picnic!
What do you love most about the worldschooling community?
How the most random encounters, whether in a park or on a beach, can turn into hours of playdates and friendships that continue across the world. I love that we often share similar priorities, especially valuing time together, and of course a shared love of travel.
What’s the hardest thing you find about travelling or educating around the world?
It might sound cheesy, but missing family and friends back home is hard. There are also moments when we feel guilty that the boys don’t have the more traditional day-to-day relationships with family members back home.
What do you love most about the worldschooling community?
How the most random encounters, whether in a park or on a beach, can turn into hours of playdates and friendships that continue across the world. I love that we often share similar priorities, especially valuing time together, and of course a shared love of travel.
What’s the hardest thing you find about travelling or educating around the world?
It might sound cheesy, but missing family and friends back home is hard. There are also moments when we feel guilty that the boys don’t have the more traditional day-to-day relationships with family members back home.
How do you see the worldschooling community expanding and growing in the coming years?
I think worldschooling is going to snowball! As more people realise it’s actually an option and that other families are doing it, I think (and hope!) it will only get more popular.
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to add, or tell our readers about?
There’s no one ‘right’ way to educate or travel, only what works for you and your family in this season. One thing is certain, though: life is too short not to live it the way you want!
How do you see the worldschooling community expanding and growing in the coming years?
I think worldschooling is going to snowball! As more people realise it’s actually an option and that other families are doing it, I think (and hope!) it will only get more popular.
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to add, or tell our readers about?
There’s no one ‘right’ way to educate or travel, only what works for you and your family in this season. One thing is certain, though: life is too short not to live it the way you want!
From everyday moments to big adventures, follow The Buckler-Smiths as they share life on the road as @bucklersmithstravel over on Instagram.
From everyday moments to big adventures, follow The Buckler-Smiths as they share life on the road as @bucklersmithstravel over on Instagram.
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