Ren Allen

~Ensure? Hmmmm. My kids do these things themselves.~

Yes, but folks that are newer to unschooling, or just trying to get an
understanding might be best to try and see those connections themselves.

I DO ensure my kids get all of that, but not for the sake of teaching
them anything, but because we ALL share connections with each other
all the time. The connections are great to share. It's how and why
we're doing it that affect the relationship.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com

Pamela Sorooshian

On Jul 10, 2006, at 6:02 AM, Ren Allen wrote:

> ~Ensure? Hmmmm. My kids do these things themselves.~

Undoubtedly because they've developed the habit of making
connections, expanding their world. BUT - without us to be providers
of new ideas, resources, connections, etc., their world would be a
lot smaller. I think it IS our role, as unschooling parents, to
"ensure" that our kids are living a lifestyle, with all that
encompasses, which provides them ample opportunities to expand their
horizons in a zillion ways - including helping them make connections
to other things, from the things they are already into.

>
> Yes, but folks that are newer to unschooling, or just trying to get an
> understanding might be best to try and see those connections
> themselves.

And they need to understand that unschooling parents are really NOT
ignoring their kids. When they see my kid playing videogames for 6
hours a day, they might think that I'm "doing nothing." Not true. I'm
talking to them about the game, being interested so that they feel
free to talk to ME about it, I'm keeping my eyes out for connections
that might interest them - movies, other games, books about the
games, new items, game-playing opportunities, etc. I spend seemingly
endless hours at the game store - I may not stay there with them for
all those hours (I go off and have a cup of coffee and read a book or
shop for myself) - but I spend SOME time there and I get to know the
games and what they like about them and all that. AND - I support
their energy, their focus. When we happen to drive by a game store
and they want to go in, I don't groan - I say, "Oh, cool. Yeah, let's
go see what they've got there." And, once inside, I might ask some
questions - "Oh, I haven't heard of that - what kind of game is
that?" "Is that the type of game playing you're into right now?" Or -
I have shy kids, so I'll be the one to initiate a conversation with
the guys/girls working in the game store - to break the ice - and
then my kids will have fun talking to them about how this game plays
and that game's weaknesses and so on.

There is a lot of room for unschooling parents to support a child's
interest in videogames - besides writing the checks <G>.


>
> I DO ensure my kids get all of that, but not for the sake of teaching
> them anything, but because we ALL share connections with each other
> all the time. The connections are great to share. It's how and why
> we're doing it that affect the relationship.

So true. The professor makes it sound a little like parents ought to
force something - videogame connection lessons <G> - having read
other stuff he's written, I don't think that is what he meant by
"ensure." I think he means parents ought to support the interest and
have conversations about it - not be telling the kid he's playing too
much and to go do something more valuable, etc.

-pam


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