When people find out we are unschoolers, they often wonder exactly what it is we do all day. That's a hard question to answer, as every day is different. Some days we have more structured experiences (like attending a class or field trip), but much of the time we are just living in the moment and flowing from one discussion or activity to the next. Here is a moment in our lives from yesterday afternoon:
When: 2:10 p.m. on a frigid (-10 degrees Celsius!) but sunny Thursday in February 2008
Where: Living Room of McLaughlin Manor
Who: Karen, Noah (10) and Nathan (8)
What: Iggy Arbuckle is playing on the TV, the Juno soundtrack is blaring, Nathan is on the couch playing his DS (still in his pajamas, as is Noah). I'm helping Noah play with the Geosafari Laptop our neighbour gave us this past weekend and reading snippets from half a dozen different books I hauled home from the library earlier today. We're all working intermittently but with great zeal on a poster size Pokemon puzzle.
How: Loud (very loud!) and silly
Now, maybe nothing about that moment seems especially noteworthy to the casual observer. But I can tell you, there was definitely a lot of learning going on at several different levels. It just so happens that what it looks like from the outside is a family having a joyful, carefree time together. Half an hour earlier or later, and the scene would have shifted to something else. But the undercurrent of living and learning in joy and freedom while enjoying each other's company is what runs through ALL of our days together.
2 comments:
Do you find your kids much happier than their friends who go to school?
I noticed an earlier post about back-to-school anxiety and that your kids aren't affected by it. I suppose without the pressures of school, tests, mean teachers, bullies and other school related problems, they are probably much more laid back and happy children.
Have they ever attended a structured school? If they have, what kind of difference do you see in their mental/emotional well-being?
Sorry about all the questions. I'm just writing them down as they pop into my mind, having my own child (just a little older than yours) who deals with these problems on a daily basis.
I would definitely describe my kids as laid back and happy :) Neither of them has ever been to school, but I have quite a few friends who took their kids out of school to unschool them and it positively transformed their lives. Some kids were on meds for "behavioural issues" in school and were able to stop taking them after they started unschooling. In general, I'd say the whole family is usually much happier :)
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