First task of planning our school: Figuring out our topic. I talked the question over with Leslie, and she requested that we start by focusing on space. Cat’s cousin Maya had just developed a fascination with space and was excited about learning more. Cat has been fascinated by space for a good while, so I … Continue reading “Spacefaring Sam”
Tag: Unschooling
Time for School
My sister and I are ‘unschooling’ our kids, which means that under normal circumstances we don’t bother with things like lesson plans or curriculum. Play is the best way for our kids to learn, so we allow, promote and encourage free play, and a lot of it. Ideally, this play would happen in a … Continue reading “Time for School”
Kitchen Table Marathon
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”
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”
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 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”
Cucumber Kitty Defense
Cat was crying – shouting in frustration and panic. I immediately went to investigate. She was in the kitchen, holding a plastic garbage bag in front of her legs and trying to fend off the kitten, who was engaged in a frenzied game of trying to get her toes through the plastic. When she saw … Continue reading “Cucumber Kitty Defense”
Blocking the Slide
Who is the better parent? The parent following along and playing with their kid at the playground, or the parent sitting on the bench, staring at their phone, more or less ignoring their child while she climbs and plays? My answer is, of course, I have no idea. There are far too many variables for … Continue reading “Blocking the Slide”