By The Green Parent
19th May 2022
Unschooling is a unique form of home education that honours the innate curiosity, pleasure and willingness that children have for discovering and learning new things
FREEDOM FROM PRESSURE
Kate Sharp lives in Gloucestershire with two sons, aged six and three. The family have always unschooled
I chose unschooling because I don’t like being told what to do, and neither do my children. I value freedom, flexibility and individualised learning. We met an unschooling family and I thought, “this is what we do at weekends, but all the time!” It seemed really achievable. Learning occurs through play and real life. We thread our ideas through the embroidered badges created by Pawprint Family. Their challenge badge packs have loads of ideas, including food, craft and game suggestions. It is important to me that the badges are not externally assessed, so they are a souvenir of topics explored rather than being graded.
“My children ask questions, we find out the answers together and activities lead on from there”
Some of the positives are that I can get on with all the domestic tasks without the restrictions of set lesson times. The boys have loads of time to play, so they can get really involved in an idea or flit about between activities as the mood takes them. And I get to learn new things too, which I love!
I would recommend reading up on reassuring literature such as Ross Mountney’s ‘A Home Education Notebook’. And to remember that children will apply themselves to learn a skill when they are motivated; they will get there in their own time, so don’t stress about comparing them to peers in a school setting.
RESOURCES
GET SUPPORT
Last year Lucy supported over 500 families who joined the unschooling online course and coaching membership, Disco Circle - discolearning.com.
“Together we are befriending our fears, growing our community-building skills, updating old limiting belief systems. With a monthly workshop and a seriously brave and alive online community, Disco Circle might just be the heart-work that will keep your unschooling sustainable and joyful.”
LISTEN Adele’s Revillaging podcast and blog can be found at adelejarrettkerr.com
FOLLOW @black_world_schoolers on Instagram
READ How Children Learn by John Holt and The Unschooling Manual by Jan Hunt
