Spouses from Australia do not take their children to school, believing that natural education is much more useful

While most parents are outraged that home schooling during quarantine has negatively affected the quality of students' knowledge, a family from Australia has long transferred their children to self-education.

The couple, who have four children, believe that the school exerts "excessive pressure". They claim that children learn much more in nature than at the desk. Their sons choose what they want to learn and draw the necessary knowledge from the environment.

42-year-old Amy and 44-year-old Steve Sale from Australia took their daughter Ebony from a comprehensive school when she was 13. Now the girl is already 18 years old, and her parents do not regret their decision at all. A father and mother allow their four children to study what they want. Two sons, 9-year-old Bodhi and 7-year-old Kai, also do not go to school. The eldest son, 23-year-old Jesse, went to a regular school until graduation.

The couple did not have the brightest memories of their own school years. They are glad that they can save their children from the negativity associated with pressure in secondary school.

When the parents transferred Ebony's daughter to home schooling, they tried to give her all the necessary knowledge at home, but it was very difficult. The couple started looking for alternatives. Amy found forums on the Internet where parents discussed education in the natural environment. She was inspired by the examples of other families who talked about the benefits of self-education for their children. The couple decided to transfer the children to nature training.

At first, it was difficult for Amy and Steve to adjust to a non-standard learning system, but the children really liked the idea. Over time, everything got better, and education in nature became the best decision that the family made. The mother says that Ebony, who has always been a shy and creative girl, blossomed after she switched to self-education. She began to immerse herself in what she likes — fine art and writing stories. She didn't have that opportunity at school. Seeing that natural learning has had such a positive impact on Ebony, the parents decided not to send Bodhi and Kai to school.

In April 2018, the family decided to travel around Australia in a van. They sold the house and some things to raise money for the trip. Since then , Amy and Steve and his children visited every state of the Green Continent. During this time, they saw and learned a lot of interesting things. The guys made a lot of new friends. The boys learned to kayak and make toys from natural materials.

Along the way they met various animals: camels, dingoes, buffaloes, snakes, lizards, whales and sharks. The children learned how to choose safe places for swimming and studied different types of fish. They know which hooks to use for fishing, and when the fish bite better.

During Amy 's journey and Steve was doing math and English with the guys. Together they counted kilometers and the amount of fuel used. The children discussed the budget and financial issues with their parents, which is not taught at school. To improve their knowledge of their native language, the boys read the signs and names on the maps. Thanks to traveling, the children have expanded their geographical knowledge.

Most of all, children have developed resilience and adaptation skills, especially while traveling in Western Australia, where desert terrain prevails. There they made their own fire and fished.

The family returned home in September 2019. They talk about the benefits of a long trip with children. Parents say that the guys have become much more sociable and open. The boys independently learned many useful and necessary things. The couple bought a new house and continue their natural education. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, it is more difficult to do this, but parents hope that soon children will be able to freely explore the world around them again.

Amy is sure that the transition to self-education was their best decision. Thanks to natural training, children will be better prepared for adulthood. They have already received many necessary life skills. The couple say that in the modern world, children can choose their own path, and there is no need to adjust them to generally accepted standards.

For some people, traveling has become a way of life. A young couple from the UK constantly travels around the world and posts vivid photos of their travels on Instagram.