What to consider before taking the family for a gap year trip
Jess Meikle has been documenting her family's adventures online as Sandy Van Travels. (Supplied: Jess Meikle)
Jess Meikle, her husband, their five-year-old twins and four-year-old have embarked on an Australian caravanning extravaganza.
She came across travelling families on YouTube and "just wanted this new adventure".
Trying to persuade her husband, she hired a caravan and took the family on a two-week trip.
After the trip the kids were different, she says.
"They were engaged with us, with each other."
Jess Meikle says while her kids aren't in the mainstream education system right now, they're learning everyday. (Supplied: Jess Meikle)
They decided to uproot their lives in favour of a more mobile life.
"One of the hardest things," she says, "was pulling [the twins] out of that school environment", as they had started prep.
So when is the best time to take kids on a gap year or extended trip? And what are the risks?
The best age to take kids on extended trips
Education and school absenteeism expert with Australian Catholic University, Matthew White, says there isn't a blanket rule when it comes to the best or worst times to remove kids from school and take on a big trip.
"Every young person is different," Dr White says.
So he suggests a "measured approach" involving considering what would be most appropriate for your child/children.
He adds that from about year 5 to year 9 is probably the "most risky to take kids out of school".
Brian Moore, psychologist and senior education lecturer at the University of Wollongong, says he's not aware of research on what age would be best to travel with kids, but says he would "be more inclined to be considering this at a younger age".
However, he adds that really young kids might not benefit from the "experiential learning" a family trip can offer.
Something "could be a much more formative experience" for a 10-year-old, as opposed to a five- or six-year-old, he says.
'The kids are still learning'
Jess says they were lucky to be able to sell their "dream home" in Brisbane to fund their trip and have been living out of their caravan since April, with no definite end date planned.
She owns a photography business and her husband — a secondary teacher — has been able to use unpaid leave.
They did question whether taking their children out of school was the right thing to do but, Jess explains, "The time that we have now with the kids that's something that we can't replace."
"They're still learning. They're learning so much every day."
Children in Queensland are considered of compulsory school age from six and a half, so Jess says there's about a year until her oldest children would have to be back "on the books" somewhere.
Risks to consider
Dr White says, "Over a longer period of time, parents need to be thinking about home school or academic programmes."
"For a gap year you'd have to really factor in homeschooling … and how they're going to be engaged academically.
"The research says there's no safe levels of absence [from education].
"The immediate risk is lost learning."
Dr White says "secondary risks" include lower self-esteem, difficulty re-engaging with peers, and lost relationships — things that can impact a young person's sense of belonging, he says.
Parents should consider if a young person has any risk factors, such as mental health conditions or a previous reluctance to go to school, Dr White says. This may make removing them from school a greater risk than for other children.
Dr Brian Moore agrees.
"If you have a child who has, for example, social anxiety, if you have a child who is already exhibiting issues around school refusal … I think I would be very, very cautious about taking my child [out of their school]," Dr Moore says.
As a parent and an educator, Dr Moore says his biggest concern is the "very strong body of evidence that shows a link between academic achievement and school attendance".
Factoring in the length of a trip
Dr White says it's often medium-length trips of around a month that can actually present the biggest challenge.
He says the "danger period" is "when [children or teenagers] are away for a length of time, but it's not long enough to put in place a homeschool programme."
While sporting trips and trips overseas to visit family "can be enrichment", there's a trade-off with academic engagement.
"Parents know their children best, and they need to make that decision based on their child," he says.
Consult state and school policy before a big trip
Dr Brian Moore says while education policy is "broadly consistent across Australia" it is decided at the state level, so parents need to check in their own state or territory and talk to the principal at their child's school.
"The best policy is honesty," Dr White adds, "so going to the school and having a discussion."