Enabled by remote work and driven by a desire for richer life experiences, digital nomad families are choosing to live, work, and learn around the world. They are raising their children as true citizens of the world, and with that a new generation of global citizens are taking hold.
It's not a fringe phenomenon, either. At Boundless Life we are noticing an increase in families who are exploring opportunities to live and move abroad.
Founded in 2021, Boundless Life creates supportive "soft landing" experiences for families in beautiful destinations around the globe, complete with private homes, coworking spaces, and an experiential education program for children.
By organizing families into cohorts at each location, Boundless Life helps parents and children form an instant community even as they move from country to country.
But what will this new era of young global citizens look like as they grow-up? How will they see the world and interact within it? What are the benefits, what are the challenges and what skills and life lessons are they learning in the process?
Meet Khalida: A Parent’s Reflections on Raising Global Citizens
Khalida Karimova joined Boundless Life with her husband and two children, ages 10 and 4, after realizing their routine in Washington, D.C. had begun to feel like “Groundhog Day.” With roots in Uzbekistan and a life that’s taken her across continents, she felt the pull to reconnect with a sense of exploration and growth – not just for herself, but for her family.
Two months into their first cohort in Kotor, Montenegro, Khalida has already noticed remarkable shifts.
“Any length of travel changes you... you come back a little bit different. One travel can change you; many travels can change you more. Even if it's only three months... people who do this, they will not come back the same.”
Through her own journey, Khalida is learning what it truly means to live globally – embracing new cultures, expanding perspectives, and helping her children see the world as their classroom.
On her blog, she shares reflections on this path, blending practical wellness insights with mindful living practices that keep her grounded wherever she lands. As a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and international development professional, she continues to guide others toward meaningful, sustainable lifestyle change – all while living the very transformation she inspires in others.
The Benefits of Global Citizenship
It’s no surprise that growing up in global nomad communities comes with profound benefits. Just ask many of the Boundless Life families who share how they each approach Boundless Life and the benefits they have experienced.
Some of the key advantages of this upbringing include:
Open-Mindedness and Tolerance
Daily interaction with diverse cultures and languages helps children naturally develop empathy and respect for differences. Surrounded by new perspectives, they learn to see beyond stereotypes and appreciate the rich tapestry of the world.
As Khalida notes, having friends from many countries and backgrounds makes it "easier for [children] to look at things from different perspectives" – they gain a "deeper understanding of different perspectives," seeing others’ ways as different rather than foreign. This mindset nurtures a generation that is more reflective, tolerant, and globally conscious.
Language and Communication Skills
Immersion in international communities turns children into linguists and effective communicators. Playdates and school days become language lessons in disguise.
Khalida was amazed at "the speed [her kids] made friends with new people from different cultures" – their cohort included families from the U.S., Canada, Belarus, Brazil, and Taiwan – and how her children came home suddenly "wanting to learn a different language because their friends speak it".
Adaptability and Resilience
Change is a constant element for traveling families, and children learn to thrive in it. New environments, foods, and customs become normal rather than intimidating. Over time, nomadic children become flexible and resilient, comfortable with navigating uncertainty.
Their problem-solving skills sharpen as they adapt to each new setting – whether it's figuring out a foreign transit system or making a game out of unfamiliar surroundings. Every few months brings a lesson in embracing the unknown with curiosity rather than fear. Khalida reflects on how this impacts on a child’s confidence, “I see my kids becoming more confident with every move – they surprise themselves with how much they can handle.”
Confidence and Independence
Global kids often display a confidence beyond their years. They learn to make friends quickly and communicate with people of all ages. They've ordered meals in different languages, helped barter at local markets, and confidently explore new neighborhoods.
These experiences build self-assurance and independence. Parents often find that their children become more proactive and bold – unafraid to ask questions, try new activities, or step outside their comfort zones.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Beyond these skills, global citizenship instills a bigger-picture awareness in nomadic children. They don't just read about world issues – they see different ways of life firsthand. This lived experience can cultivate a sense of responsibility and compassion.
Khalida pointed out that raising children who see themselves as "earth citizens" can "positively contribute to the health of our planet [and] peace in general," because they grow up understanding and caring about people beyond their own immediate community.
In an increasingly interconnected world, such empathy and global mindset are invaluable traits for the next generation.
The Challenges of Global Citizenship
Life as a nomadic family isn't always picture-perfect sunsets and epic adventures. Alongside the thrill of exploration, there are challenges that parents and children must navigate.
The Goodbyes
One inevitable aspect of the lifestyle is frequent goodbyes. Children (and adults) form close friendships in each location – with fellow Boundless families and with locals – and it can be heart-wrenching to part ways when moving on.
"Of course it's not easy," Khalida admits, anticipating the sadness when her cohort's time in Montenegro ends in a few weeks. Beyond the cohort, she also acknowledges the challenges of leaving family and friends back home. Yet, the flip side is learning that goodbye doesn't have to mean forever.
Khalida’s previously hesitant son discovered that when you leave, the relationship doesn't have to be over – now he’s comforted knowing he can keep his new friends and "make plans for the future" to see them again.
This understanding helps children develop a healthy approach to relationships and change: they learn that true friendships can endure distance.
The Changing Routines
Another challenge is the cycle of constant transitions. Adults might find this disruptive, and children can struggle with leaving behind the familiar.
"We settle down, know our environment, have this wonderful community... and then you go to a new place and have to start over again," Khalida explains. There’s no denying that uprooting frequently can be tiring.
However, families can also reframe this as a positive: each move is a chance to reset routines, meet new people, and experience a fresh environment. An opportunity for children to learn how to cope with and invite change, with enthusiasm and positivity.
The Discomfort
Living around the world also means occasionally confronting discomfort and uncertainty. From unfamiliar foods and languages to different standards of living, not everything will match what you’re used to back home.
Yet, this very discomfort is what drives growth. "When you travel, you might not find everything you need in [each] place... but I think there is a beauty in that as well," Khalida says.
Her perspective – is that being out of your comfort zone pushes you to "adopt new behaviors... try new things, and discover new things" you might never have otherwise.
As a result children can become more adventurous eaters, more creative in overcoming language barriers, and more patient and open-minded overall. The occasional inconveniences can teach gratitude and flexibility in return.
A Lack of Identity
Perhaps the most subtle challenge is the question of roots and identity. In a traditional upbringing, a child might have a hometown that becomes a core part of who they are. For nomadic children, the concept of "where are you from?" becomes a more complex story.
Khalida, who was born in Uzbekistan and later lived in Europe and the U.S., jokes that her family now feels "boundless, homeless" – they no longer identify with just one place.
"If they know their history... it doesn't mean that you don't have any roots," she reflects. In fact, this lifestyle can broaden a child's notion of roots – perhaps roots are not one town or house, but rather the network of people and communities that have shaped them along the way.
Khalida explores this perspective in more depth in her personal blog on the idea of ‘home’ and what it really means. In essence, she suggests that home becomes something you create wherever you go, and children learn that they can belong in many places at once.
What Are We Role Modelling?
A Pursuit of Happiness & ‘More’
The rise of digital nomad families represents a new era of global citizenship. These families are pioneers of a lifestyle that prioritizes experiences over things, and personal growth over conventional definitions of success.
As Khalida insightfully puts it, her family left behind the comfort of a stable, predictable routine in pursuit of “more” out of life.
The uncertainty that comes with this kind of nomadic life isn't a flaw in the plan; it's a feature. "Maybe the uncertainty or discomfort... is part of this growth, of a more interesting life," Khalida suggests.
In taking that leap, parents also send a powerful message to their children: it's okay to take risks in pursuit of fulfillment. Trying something new – whether it's moving abroad, starting a different career, or even a small lifestyle change – inevitably involves stepping outside the comfort zone.
And that is often where the most meaningful growth happens. "All these decisions... include some level of discomfort and uncertainty. But I think that's what makes life more interesting and makes us grow," Khalida observes.
Her words echo a core philosophy of this movement: life expands when you have the courage to push beyond the familiar.
Global Advocates
As global family travel moves from avant-garde to almost mainstream, we are watching the emergence of a generation of children who truly feel at home in the world.
They are growing up global – collecting memories in multiple countries, speaking several languages, and developing the kind of cultural fluency that can't be taught in a mainstream classroom.
This exciting new era of global citizens, carry their passports and make bold core memories that ultimately will shape them into global advocates.
And whether they spend just one year or a decade on the move, these young global citizens will carry a unique legacy into adulthood: the understanding that different places and people have lessons to share, but also that home and family transcends any one border.
A New Era of Global Citizens - The Ultimate Education
In this new era of global citizenship, the world is both classroom and playground.
Families like Khalida’s are proving that with the right mindset and support, it’s possible to give children the ultimate education – one that broadens their horizons literally and figuratively.
The path isn't always easy, but as countless nomadic parents will attest, the rewards are rich and lasting. Each destination brings new friends, new knowledge, and new growth.
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