The family are heading on a year-long trip of a lifetime
A family has chosen to embark on a year-long journey across Southeast Asia rather than send their children to school in the UK, claiming their youngsters are “too young” to sit at a desk.
James Humphries-Stone, 38, and Hayley Griffiths, 42, have sold their car, let out their property and bid farewell to their UK lifestyle – choosing instead a year of adventure and discovery. Throughout the coming 12 months, the couple alongside their children Stanley, five, and Margot, three, will be exploring Asia during the period when Stanley ought to be beginning his reception year.
They have recently touched down in Bangkok and will relocate to Chang Mai later this week, where they anticipate remaining for the subsequent four to six weeks.
The family, originally from Swanwick, Derbyshire, will then journey to Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand (again), the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia – which is anticipated to span roughly 12 months, reports Derbyshire Live.
They are also considering the possibility of extending their travels into Australia, should everything go smoothly. The family, who plan to chronicle their adventure on their YouTube/TikTok/Instagram page, @live.learn.befree, recognise that it’s not the traditional approach to raising a child who ought to be in their reception year – but they maintain that Stanley and Margot are “too young” to be seated at a desk throughout the day.
James said: “We believe they are too young to start school at this age. And our interpretation of the school environment is that they will spend time behind desks and learning with textbooks and what have you.”
He added: “Our belief is that we can bring them here and teach them through exploring, through play. It’s a lot of what we did in the UK, but we’re bringing it to a whole new environment. We want to teach them to count through currency, rather than through an abacus or something else.”
James spoke with Derbyshire Live whilst the family were out exploring Lumpini Park Bangkok. They were searching for lizards and discovering new animals and plants – something that James says they would be doing anyway at home, but through a textbook instead.
James said: “It’s more the freedom, rather than anything else. A lot of the Scandinavian countries tend not to send their children to school until around seven, and I just think that five, and it may just be Stanley, is far too soon to start. We don’t do a lot of telly time in our house. We’re a very active family, so we just didn’t see the school environment as very useful for him.”
He added: “I guess I’ll be a bit outlandish with this, but I think the UK school system is outdated. There are a lot of people who have said they would love to do the same thing… ‘But’. And I think it’s the ‘but’ that stands in a lot of people’s way. Life is short, we only get a limited amount of time on this planet, so do it.”
The family are trying their hand at “world schooling”, a unique educational approach that emphasises travel and real-world experiences over traditional classroom learning. Instead of the usual school setting, they’re using the “natural classrooms” of the world, be it a safari park, a forest, or a bustling city centre.
James explained: “We’ve decided to carry out world schooling, which is teaching your children through the world, through interaction and experiences. World school hubs are across the world, and it’s very popular in Asia – which is why we decided to move here.
He added: “A lot of people who are a part of these hubs are ex-teachers, and they believe there is a better way to raise children. You learn in a similar environment to a conventional school, but in a far more practical way. For example, one professor has created a hub where you row across a little island to an ecosystem, where he teaches people about how the world works. It’s just more interactive, and it also helps with social skills.”
Addressing those who question their choice, James said: “We definitely have some critics. It’s a tricky one. A lot of our social media content is there to help people understand, but we’re never trying to convince anyone to do anything, or that this is right. I own a business that is doing well, and Hayley is doing well also – and both of us only came out of school with one GCSE. It’s a perfect example of not going through the conventional system of college and university, yet we still managed to live a life, and we’re living life on our terms.”
He continued: “There is more than one way to skin a cat. It’s a very personal view, but I do think the school system is designed to fit a very one-dimensional way of leading life: paying taxes, getting a mortgage, getting married, having children and conforming.”
The coming year promises to be unforgettable for the family, who are embarking on the Banana Pancake trail – an unofficial route beloved by backpackers across Southeast Asia. Should everything go according to plan and they stick to their itinerary, they’re optimistic about extending their adventure into Australia.
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