Many students in traditional schools experience spring break. But what about homeschoolers? Our family doesn’t normally take this holiday since we live abroad. During the COVID-19 outbreak, it wasn’t easy to travel around Asia, so we mainly stayed put. But since the reopening of borders and lessening of restrictions, we decided spring break was the perfect time to take a quick family trip to Legoland in Malaysia.
Planning and Learning
We used this time to relax as a family and let our son learn about travel. He usually doesn’t take part in the planning, but our son loves Lego and especially Technic sets. Since we included a trip not only to historical Malacca but also to Legoland, he became super interested! We assigned him to find out what we could do and which rides we could enjoy together. Naturally, he was all in for the research! He explored the whole resort and Legoland Hotel, using online maps and scanning much of the website to research his dream trip. He even watched YouTube videos about where to go and what to expect!
The Macias family visiting Legoland in Malaysia
Our son printed out the maps and made a list of the places he was planning to visit in Legoland. He gave us a quick report of the rides so we also had a good idea of what to look for before we got there. My wife and I weren’t super interested in the rides, but it was fun, especially since there was a waterpark!
We also reviewed geography, how we would fly there, and the route we would take from city to city. I think it was helpful to let him know so he wouldn’t be too disappointed that we didn’t immediately go to Legoland.
We also encouraged him to learn about Malacca, especially the Malacca Straits, an important shipping lane for over one-quarter of all goods shipped around the world. But that wasn’t too interesting for him until we took a tour of the city and fort there.
Travel Journals
Trip preparation can help kids learn about the organization, and travel journals can help them organize their memories. Our son is eight and writes well, so we think he is the right age to introduce him to keep a journal about his travels. We believe it is a good chance to have him keep his thoughts written down. I must admit that we did some of the journal writing after the trip because we were really pressed for time. But since we had so many photos, we would never forget any moment!
Homework to go?
During our two-month summer trip back to the US, we did summer school and there was homework the entire time. As full-time homeschoolers, we get to make that decision and work it into our schedules. But this time, due to the baggage limitations of carry-on only, we didn’t pack any homework. But every day on a trip your children can be absorbing and learning as they are enjoying themselves.
The historical places we visited and the tour director’s explanations of how Malaysia was formed, the culture of the Malay, Chinese, and Indians who established the country were super interesting. We got to witness the three cultures' people, cuisine, customs, and architecture. So, think of travel as hands-on training and entertainment—all work and all play!
The Macias family visiting the city of Malacca
The Best Spring Break
Our family is learning all the time whether our kids know it or not! But the main reason we find our travels educational is that we aren’t staying at one resort or place. We moved from city to city and used various methods of transport. We flew, drove, did a bus tour, and used the public subway systems. Not only did we get lost, but we also found our way around as a family, and we found that a valuable experience.
We ran across many other families traveling and noticed that there were so many complaints and whining kids. But our son is exceptionally patient, helpful, and always excited! My wife and I discussed this after our trip. We were amazed that despite some real delays, setbacks, and stress, our son was a trooper and didn’t complain AT ALL, but I did!
Our spring break experience this year as a homeschool family was amazing, fun, and educational. I’m sure our family will remember this trip for years to come. Not only did we get a chance to experience an amazing country, but we also learned so much about the country, people, and cultures of Malaysia. I think that from now on spring break will be a tradition for us homeschoolers as well!
—Robert
Photo credit: Cover image iStock. Following images courtesy of author.