Ren Allen

"Are unschoolers saying that
they can ALWAYS trust their children to make the best choice"

Can I always trust MYSELF to make the best choice? Yes and no.
I always (as do my children) TRY to make the best choice with the
tools and experience I have in the moment. Hindsight often shows me
where I could have done it better or different, that's what we call
learning.:)

I trust that my children are doing the best they can under the
circumstances. I don't trust they always have the tools and experience
necessary to navigate every situation, and that's why they need
parents to assist them. ASSIST, not force. I can get downright
coercive if I need to keep a person safe or stop anything physical
between my children. Coercive can still be done in a more respectful
manner though.........no, I'm not going to let you hit your sister,
but yes, I understand how upset you are right now let's get some space
from this situation type thing.

Sunscreen is overrated if you ask me! It gives people a false sense of
safety in regards to UV rays. You are still bombarded with the cancer
causing rays, so I don't think it needs to be an either/or situation.
Anytime we draw a sand in the line and say "don't cross this or else"
we are setting up an adversarial situation. Doesn't need to happen
that way. Joyce explained it so thoroughly and clearly I'm not even
going to attempt another explanation.:)

The movie issue; we have children that have a variety of taste in
movies. My two older still enjoy some pretty violent films, with no
ill effects. My 9y.o. does not enjoy extreme violence, but is
beginning to be less sensitive to movie violence as she gets older. My
5 y.o. is not bothered by much of anything.

Deciding what they can and can't watch based on age would be
pointless. What I HAVE done is warn them about content and be present
for them. It isn't the end of the world to see something a bit beyond
your comfort zone when you know the adults in the home are going to
support you and help you cope with it. My children don't have any
desire to watch the things that bother them, since it IS their choice
and I'm here to facilitate anything that fascinates them rather than
forbid it.

Ren
learninginfreedom.com