We all know that play is the work of children. If that is not already a given for you then you need to read THIS. And THIS. And watch THIS. And the many, many more studies and articles that point out the importance of play for kids and why we are causing serious damage by not giving them the time …
Celebrating Autumn: A New Season is Here
Autumn arrives today in North America; the Autumnal Equinox. Leaves are changing, temperatures changing, daylight and darkness are changing. So much change happening. I love it! I love the briskness of the air, at least here in the Pacific Northwest, the bright leaves, the mix of rain and Sun, the smell of nature wafting through the atmosphere. With these changes, …
Nature Hike: An Unschooling Day With Sam
Hi lovely community! We are starting a new weekly post series; peeking into the lives of our writers. We always enjoy seeing glimpses of other mamas living their day-to-day, so we want to share what our life is like without a bunch of bells and whistles. Sure, some posts and activities may be more extravagant than other days, but …
Back to school? When homeschooling doubt strikes
It’s the MOST wonderful tiiiiiime of the year. Nope, it isn’t Christmas. It’s back to school season. For many families, this is the time of year that feels magical. There is excitement in the air. There are shopping trips. There is preparation. There is buzz and hope and possibility. It begins with the lure of the school supplies. You see …
Why Kids Don’t Need School to Learn Math
Let’s be honest for a minute. How many of you had a good experience with math when you went to school? I know I didn’t, and it’s really unfortunate because I think I could have loved math. I used play all sorts of counting games as a kid: counting my steps, counting coins, doing it in groups of 2, 4, …
Why I Let My 5 Year Old Use A Sharp Knife
My five year old loves to help. REALLY help. Not in the ‘here’s bowl for you to pour some flour into’ kind of way. She wants to be a part of the real work we do. We run a business and when she comes to the shop with us she sweeps and mops the floors, she washes walls and cleans …
I teach at a university and I unschool my kids
I’ve been in school almost my entire life. I started preschool shortly before turning 3. I started elementary school at age 6. I followed the standard path through middle school and high school and then went directly to college. After college I earned two Master’s degrees and then a PhD. Even after that I didn’t want to leave. I now …
How we found balance with screen time
Like any 1980s child, I grew up watching TV. And not just the occasional commercial-free documentary for its educational content. We’re talking Looney Toons, Nickelodeon shows with the apparent sole purpose of broadcasting green slime dumped on people’s heads, and the same Disney movies hundreds of times over. It was fun. Sometimes it was boring. I believe it was referred …
I Don’t Know If I’m Cut Out For Homeschooling
I was at a friend date today with three other mothers. None of our children attend public school. We got onto the conversation of schooling our children. One mother said, “I have a great support system, but sometimes my in-laws will make a comment that clearly tells me they aren’t so sure about this whole not-going-to-public-school idea. It allows that …
Why I don’t teach SCLANs (shapes, colors, letters, and numbers).
What do you want most for your kids? To be happy? Successful? Generous? Inspired? Fulfilled? When was the last time you felt all of these things? When was the last time you felt invigorated? The lucky ones among us will recall the glorious days of summer break as kids, when we couldn’t wait to get started on building, reading, moving, …
- Page 1 of 2
- 1
- 2
