Cat sat herself down on the living room floor yesterday morning, and read herself a book. Out loud, and with very few errors. To my knowledge this was the first time she’d found a book and decided to just sit down and read it to herself, and I was pleased. I didn’t say anything to … Continue reading “Kitchen Table Marathon”
Author: eilonwy902
More to do than can ever be done
The universe. It is large. As far as my conception of it goes, it is infinite. It is infinite in size, in complexity, and in depth. Fractals. Repeating patterns in every direction, each line stretching to infinity. And ideas. Those are infinite too. There are an infinite number of ideas we can explore, and … Continue reading “More to do than can ever be done”
Why Do We Educate?
While driving somewhere in a car, I make decision after decision about which turns to take. As a general rule, I do not choose the roads that are the prettiest. I do not simply try to go the direction that the majority of the other cars are going. I make my decisions based on my … Continue reading “Why Do We Educate?”
Exploring Excess
“A little dab’ll do ya!” Most of the preschool teachers I’ve worked and volunteered with used this catchphrase, or something similar, in their efforts to guide young children in their use of glue. A little dot of glue is adequate to secure a square of construction paper, or a googly eye. Using more is wasteful, … Continue reading “Exploring Excess”
My Path to Unschooling
No assignments. No lectures. No homework. No tests. No grades. No academic work required, ever. Children are allowed to do as they will with their time. There are rules that are in place for practical reasons, but within those rules kids are allowed to do literally whatever they want. Screen time all day long? Go … Continue reading “My Path to Unschooling”
Needs and Covid-19
All behavior is motivated by needs. All of my studies in child behavior and discipline have been based on this premise. When I need to address Cat’s behavior, I look past the behavior and try to find the need that is motivating her, and suggest an alternate, acceptable way that she might go about meeting … Continue reading “Needs and Covid-19”
Stuck at home with kids? Try ‘strewing’
Schools throughout the country are closed. Kids are home with their family. And all of a sudden, my Facebook feed is filled with parents asking for help, seeking activity ideas for their bored, stressed children. There are usually some wonderful suggestions – links to online resources, and suggestions of great activities like cooking together, play … Continue reading “Stuck at home with kids? Try ‘strewing’”
Christmas Feelings
Christmas morning. At long last. Safe to say, nothing in Cat’s life up until now can begin to compare with today’s excitement. A month of growing anticipation. Surrounded by Christmas everywhere, wherever we go. Go to the store and it’s suddenly become a Christmas wonderland. The plaza where she rides her bike is decked out in … Continue reading “Christmas Feelings”
Christmas Unicorns and the Certainty of Death
Christmas is coming, and my family absolutely loves Christmas lights. I leave the job of putting up the lights in Dove’s capable and enthusiastic hands. Each year, he puts up the lights that we already have, and adds something new. This year was the first that he selected one of those inflatable lawn decorations. A … Continue reading “Christmas Unicorns and the Certainty of Death”
TV All Day Long
What if she just watches TV all day? It’s one of the most common concerns about unschooling. The assumption is that given the opportunity, kids will simply consume TV or video games all day long in lieu of doing anything productive. The unschooling position is that screen time, even a lot of screen time, is … Continue reading “TV All Day Long”