The pandemic proved that remote work can work—and while companies are increasingly requiring a return to office, nearly 17 million Americans in 2022 considered themselves “digital nomads” who work and travel at the same time. That’s a 131% increase over the pre-COVID era.
While you may think of digital nomads as primarily younger and childless, families are also taking advantage of options for remote work and online school and choosing to travel the world together.
How to become a digital nomad as a family
The details and complexity of the living the digital nomad lifestyle as a family vary depending on how you approach it. For example, families doing van life will face different challenges than those posting up an Airbnb. Country-hopping will require different logistical considerations than driving from state to state, as will moving every few days or weeks versus once every few months. Finally, age and developmental stage matter—you’ll have a different experience traveling with a nursing infant or toddler going through potty training than with older kids who are (theoretically) more independent.
The important thing is to do a lot of research before taking the plunge and working out a detailed plan for how you will make the travel life work for your family. There are a lot of 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 threads about traveling with kids. NomadTogether and Unsettled also help connect digital nomad families.
Here are a few things to consider in the transition to a nomadic lifestyle.
How will you handle your kids’ education?
Education is one of the biggest decisions digital nomad parents must make for their school-aged kids. There are a few options out there for those wanting to untether from a traditional brick-and-mortar school:
Online school: This may not feel that different after pandemic-era schooling, but you’ll have to consider time zones and the need for a solid, consistent 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 highly flexible, but it will likely require more hands-on time, as you’ll be both parent and teacher. This tends to work better if at least one parent isn’t also working. You could also hire and travel with a private tutor if you have the means.
International school: This is an option if you’re planning to stay put for a full academic year (though in some countries students may be allowed to attend short-term). Kids get a more typical school experience with a regular schedule and peers their own age. However, this is likely to be more expensive.
Worldschooling: Worldschooling is a sort of hybrid approach to education while traveling that often involves a blend of asynchronous and self-directed learning with experiential projects and mentoring. This can be similar to unschooling or homeschooling, though it doesn’t always involve a predetermined curriculum. Worldschool Academy and the Worldschoolers group are good resources for this option.
While nontraditional education can offer a lot of flexibility and unique experiences, kids can miss out on developing stable friendships and routines. Plus, if you do decide to put down roots in the future, the adjustment back into a regular school setting or higher education can be challenging socially and academically (and even logistically if your chosen schooling program isn’t accredited).
How will you handle childcare?
While your intention may be to experience life on the road as a family, you’ll occasionally need some time off from parenting—whether that’s for work responsibilities or to have an adult-only night by yourself or with your partner. Digital nomad families often spend all day, every day together, especially if children are homeschooled or doing online classes or aren’t yet school-aged.
Consider how you’ll build in space and support for breaks from family time, as childcare may be more complicated to arrange in unfamiliar places. Some families travel with a nanny—other options recommended by r/digitalnomad users include looking for daycare (note that language can be a barrier abroad, while long waitlists can limit short-term and drop-in options in the US), connecting with other ex-pats or local parenting groups online, and seeking recommendations for local babysitters from rental hosts or hotels.
How will your kids make friends?
Moving frequently over an extended period of time can make it harder for kids to make friends. This may not matter as much for very young children, but school-aged kids and teens are likely to want more lasting friendships with peers. Transitioning to the digital nomad lifestyle can also be challenging if kids have to leave their friends behind.
Similarly, while traveling the world comes with a lot of benefits, kids can also crave familiarity, stability, routine, and a sense of home.
How will you handle language barriers?
Language barriers may not prevent your family from experiencing new places, but they can make it harder for you and your kids to communicate and feel connected in each location.
That said, the nomadic lifestyle offers 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 nannies can help with this, as can engaging with music, TV shows, and other content in the local language or that has been translated.
How will you stay on top of the logistics involved?
Before you decide to take your family on the road, you’ll want to consider logistics like remote work restrictions, visas, healthcare and health insurance, and finances (taxes, travel costs, etc.). Sponteneity and flexibility may be an attraction of the digital nomad lifestyle, but when you’re taking your kids along, planning is key.