The world we grew up in is long gone. And if you’re a parent like us, torn between nostalgia and the ever-changing now, it can feel overwhelming trying to prepare your kids for a future that’s shifting beneath our feet.
At A Little More Outdoor, we believe the best education isn’t always found in textbooks or classrooms. It’s in wild places, everyday challenges, and the freedom to fail, rethink, and try again. It’s not about raising kids to fit into the world—it’s about helping them shape it.
So what does that look like?
Problem Solvers, Not Box Tickers
I remember watching our 8-year-old son try to code a new game. After five failed attempts, a few tears, and a snack break, he got it working. He ran to tell me, beaming, that he was a problem solver. I was so proud. In that moment, I could see the lesson sinking in.
That wasn’t just a win in coding. It was a milestone in resilience, critical thinking, and trial-and-error learning.
In contrast, I remember school being all about ticking boxes and memorising facts for tests I never looked at again. That may have worked in a world built around factory lines and conformity, but our kids are growing up in a world that values creativity, adaptability, and initiative.
So instead of asking, “What did you get right?”—we ask, “What did you figure out?”
Learning How to Learn
We’re intentional about teaching our children that learning isn’t about getting it “right the first time.” It’s about being curious enough to keep going even when it’s hard.
That’s a lesson I didn’t really absorb until my 30s. I used to treat failure as a reflection of my ability, not part of the process. It shook my confidence. But since starting alittlemoreoutdoor.com, we’ve had plenty of failures—and oh, the things we’ve learned.
Worldschooling appealed to us for exactly that reason. It isn’t about cramming knowledge in—it’s about drawing it out through experience, questions, and conversation.
We’ve learned just as much as our kids along the way. That’s the beauty of it: learning doesn’t stop—it just evolves.
Success is never guaranteed. But with the ability to learn from mistakes, ask good questions, and stay curious, our kids can go anywhere. That’s why we focus so much on helping them learn independently.
When they’re curious, we encourage them to explore. When they hit a wall, we don’t rescue—we ask, we guide, we stand back, because learning how to learn is the foundation for a life of possibility.
Letting Failure Be Just Another Step
One of the biggest shifts we’ve made as a family is how we think about failure.
In school, failure often becomes a label. In life, it’s a tool.
Whether it’s a burnt campfire dinner or a business idea that doesn’t land, we talk about it, laugh about it, and learn from it. Falling doesn’t mean you’re behind—it just means you’re moving.
Embracing Tech—But Knowing Its Limits
Technology isn’t going anywhere. It’s helped us build our online business and connect with others, but it’s also something we need to approach with awareness.
We’ve seen how addictive screens can be. We talk about it: how algorithms work, why scrolling feels good (even if it’s not always helpful), and how tech can be either a tool or a trap.
We don’t demonise it. We help our kids understand it—so they can choose how to use it, rather than be used by it.
Freedom Over Employment
This one’s big for us.
We want our kids to know they don’t have to trade their freedom for a payslip. They don’t need to ask permission to go camping or take time off for something that matters. They can use their ideas, skills, and values to create something instead of clocking in for someone else’s dream.
We talk about our business at the dinner table. They help brainstorm content ideas. They love seeing how things come together. We talk about their ideas too—and we cheer them on.
Making Enough in a World That’s Struggling
Let’s be real: in today’s world, even basic things can feel out of reach.
So we don’t make money a taboo topic. We talk openly about why we don’t always buy the newest thing—and why sometimes we do. Saving and spending are both tools.
We want our kids to know that money shouldn’t hold them back from their dreams. Too many families are living paycheck to paycheck, and the stress that brings is heavy. No one should have to carry that silently.
Qualifications ≠ Success (But the Skills to Earn Them Still Matter)
We’re not anti-education. But we know there’s a difference between being qualified and being capable.
Top grades and degrees don’t guarantee happiness, security, or freedom anymore. But the skills you develop along the way—perseverance, problem solving, creative thinking—those are gold.
Those are what transfer to building a business, learning a language, and navigating real life. Our kids may never need to sit an exam to prove their worth, but if they can set a goal, follow through, and adapt when it gets hard? They’re already ahead.
Of course, if they want to take exams, we’re right there cheering them on.
Using Your Gifts to Help Others
Here’s what we hope sticks with them the most: You are here to make a difference.
Whether that’s through starting a business, painting murals, planting trees, or making people laugh, your quirks and passions aren’t a problem to fix. They’re your superpowers.
When kids learn that their individuality is valuable—not just in a feel-good way, but in a practical, powerful way—they begin to show up differently in the world.
That’s what we want for Charlie. That’s what we want for every child.
Leading By Example (Even If It Wasn’t How We Were Raised)
The truth is, this kind of parenting didn’t come naturally to us. We were raised to follow rules, avoid risk, and define our worth by titles and grades.
But just because that’s how we were raised doesn’t mean that’s how we have to raise our kids.
We’ve had to unlearn a lot—how to embrace failure, how to believe in our value without needing a certificate to prove it, how to pursue freedom over familiarity.
We’re still learning. Still growing. Still catching ourselves slipping into old patterns.
But here’s the truth: our kids don’t need us to be perfect. They need us to be real. To show them what it looks like to start again. To question things. To value ourselves, even in messy moments.
We talk about money at dinner. We talk about how not struggling is a valid goal. Wanting financial ease isn’t greedy—it’s wise.
And when our kids see us doing work that matters, that lights us up, that funds our lifestyle, they learn what’s possible. We’re not waiting for permission.
We’re showing them how to take it for themselves, even if we’re figuring it out as we go.
What Are We Preparing Them For?
Not for tests.
Not for titles.
Not for systems that no longer serve them.
We’re preparing them to:
- Be bold enough to ask their own questions
- Be kind enough to help someone else find the answer
- Be strong enough to fail and curious enough to try again
- Be tech-savvy, but still crave the feel of grass under their feet
- Be independent in a world that profits from dependence
- Be guided by their own compass, not someone else’s roadmap
And most of all, to know that life isn’t about fitting into a box.
It’s about building your own.
What do you want your kids to know about the world?
The world has changed—and so should the way we prepare our kids. At A Little More Outdoor, we believe real learning happens beyond the classroom: in nature, through failure, and by asking big questions. From coding wins to campfire flops, we’re raising curious, capable, and confident problem-solvers ready to shape their own future. This isn’t about fitting in—it’s about standing out.
If you’re ready to lead by example—to step into a life of freedom, stay curious, try new things, and learn through both failure and success—you’re in the right place. Below, you’ll find a link to the exact resources we used to get started. Or, if you’d like tips, insights, and real talk about building a life on your terms (and paving the way for your kids to do the same), sign up for our email series. Your journey starts here.
Adventure – Your style, your pace
Earning – Income your way
Education – Fit for your family
