first post -- freaking out!
[email protected]
Hello. I am new to the group and to unschooling. My family and I have moved to
Nicaragua and after enrolling and having them miserable at three different
schools, we decided to home school our kids, ages 8 and 7. There's a three
year old, but she just plays and snuggles. These are bright kids, but they
have so far been motivated to do NOTHING! For two months! I'm serious! My
son plays his DS game for HOURS and my daughter rolls around the house for
hours on her heelies. They watch TV, they nap, and they fart around, but their
books are gathering dust and I swear that I can hear their brains rotting! Is
this just a temporary thing that I should grit my teeth and ignore? Will they
want to learn anything ever again? Ahh! Help!
Staci
Nicaragua and after enrolling and having them miserable at three different
schools, we decided to home school our kids, ages 8 and 7. There's a three
year old, but she just plays and snuggles. These are bright kids, but they
have so far been motivated to do NOTHING! For two months! I'm serious! My
son plays his DS game for HOURS and my daughter rolls around the house for
hours on her heelies. They watch TV, they nap, and they fart around, but their
books are gathering dust and I swear that I can hear their brains rotting! Is
this just a temporary thing that I should grit my teeth and ignore? Will they
want to learn anything ever again? Ahh! Help!
Staci
Ren Allen
~~ Will they
want to learn anything ever again? ~~
They're doing just fine...but you might need a dose of unschooling
right now.:)
Everything you listed involves learning. Books are only one resource
among thousands of resources in the world, why would that be the only
way to prove learning is happening? If you love books, why don't you
pull one out and read it to them? Why wait around for something to
happen? Unschooling isn't just turning kids loose and waiting...it's a
lifestyle that involves interacting together and doing the things we
all love!
Their brains aren't rotting, they are learning every moment they are
alive. A shift in perspective is needed right now. See them learning
everytime they are doing what they love. Bring out fun projects and
books and movies and DO them together. Bring these things into their
lives to enrich their world, not because you think they need to learn
anything.
Learning will be happening...for all of you though.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
want to learn anything ever again? ~~
They're doing just fine...but you might need a dose of unschooling
right now.:)
Everything you listed involves learning. Books are only one resource
among thousands of resources in the world, why would that be the only
way to prove learning is happening? If you love books, why don't you
pull one out and read it to them? Why wait around for something to
happen? Unschooling isn't just turning kids loose and waiting...it's a
lifestyle that involves interacting together and doing the things we
all love!
Their brains aren't rotting, they are learning every moment they are
alive. A shift in perspective is needed right now. See them learning
everytime they are doing what they love. Bring out fun projects and
books and movies and DO them together. Bring these things into their
lives to enrich their world, not because you think they need to learn
anything.
Learning will be happening...for all of you though.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Joanne
Hi Staci,
What you're feeling is pretty common. I think most unschooling
parents feel what you're feeling in the beginning. This is a great
place to see that you're not alone. :-)
It sounds to me like you need to deschool yourself. Early on in our
unschooling journey (it's been two years now), I remember the
lightbulb going off in my head and I realised the change had to
start with ME. That was an eye opening revelation for me.
One of the things you can do is find a hobby (phptography, knitting)
or something you've always wanted to try (rollerblading, baking) and
go for it! It will take some of the focus off being concerned about
what you're kids are learning, you'll be modeling how much fun
learing something new is and I bet your enthuasium will rub off on
them. Invite them to join you in your new interest. :-)
Here's some thoughts on deschooling for parents that I have on my
blog that may be helpful to you. It's bits of posts from an
unschooling board that is now gone.
http://tinyurl.com/ymudas (part one)
http://tinyurl.com/yhpqor (part two)
Also some good reading is Sandra's "deschooling for parents" page:
http://tinyurl.com/ydlplj
Hang in there and enjoy this time with your kids! Go out and have
some fun!
~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (8), Shawna (11) & Cimion (14)
Adopted into our hearts October 2003
************************************
Unschooling Voices ~ Add Your Voice
www.foreverparents.com/UnschoolingVoices.html
What you're feeling is pretty common. I think most unschooling
parents feel what you're feeling in the beginning. This is a great
place to see that you're not alone. :-)
It sounds to me like you need to deschool yourself. Early on in our
unschooling journey (it's been two years now), I remember the
lightbulb going off in my head and I realised the change had to
start with ME. That was an eye opening revelation for me.
One of the things you can do is find a hobby (phptography, knitting)
or something you've always wanted to try (rollerblading, baking) and
go for it! It will take some of the focus off being concerned about
what you're kids are learning, you'll be modeling how much fun
learing something new is and I bet your enthuasium will rub off on
them. Invite them to join you in your new interest. :-)
Here's some thoughts on deschooling for parents that I have on my
blog that may be helpful to you. It's bits of posts from an
unschooling board that is now gone.
http://tinyurl.com/ymudas (part one)
http://tinyurl.com/yhpqor (part two)
Also some good reading is Sandra's "deschooling for parents" page:
http://tinyurl.com/ydlplj
Hang in there and enjoy this time with your kids! Go out and have
some fun!
~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (8), Shawna (11) & Cimion (14)
Adopted into our hearts October 2003
************************************
Unschooling Voices ~ Add Your Voice
www.foreverparents.com/UnschoolingVoices.html
--- In [email protected], staci@... wrote:
>
> Hello. I am new to the group and to unschooling. My family and I
have moved to
> Nicaragua and after enrolling and having them miserable at three
different
> schools, we decided to home school our kids, ages 8 and 7.
There's a three
> year old, but she just plays and snuggles. These are bright kids,
but they
> have so far been motivated to do NOTHING! For two months! I'm
serious! My
> son plays his DS game for HOURS and my daughter rolls around the
house for
> hours on her heelies. They watch TV, they nap, and they fart
around, but their
> books are gathering dust and I swear that I can hear their brains
rotting! Is
> this just a temporary thing that I should grit my teeth and
ignore? Will they
> want to learn anything ever again? Ahh! Help!
>
> Staci
>
plaidpanties666
--- In [email protected], staci@... wrote:
It sounds like they are keeping pretty busy, to me, but aside from
that, have you *asked* them if they are happy/comfortable with their
lives now? Do they want more or are they content for the moment?
I asked my stepson this the other day - he seemed bored, so I asked
if he wanted me to look for more fun stuff to do. His answer was
pretty equivocal (sp?) - he *does* feel like he's spinning his
wheels a little, but he's also relieved that he doesn't *have* to do
*anything*.
We're weeks into deschooling, rather than months, so that makes a
lot of sense to me. Right now he's still not sure this whole
unschooling thing is real. Last night he found an old homework paper
in his room and screamed: "aaaaaaah! its homework!"
"No, Ray, that's just a piece of trash"
"Oh, yeah. Can we Burn it?"
"Sure"
Anyway, to get back on topic, if they seem bored, talk to them about
that, specifically. Do they want to do other things but need your
help? Not "schooly things" fun things. If they seem happy - great!
Take some deep breaths and do more reading about unschooling.
---Meredith (Mo 5, Ray 13)
> These are bright kids, but theyserious!
> have so far been motivated to do NOTHING! For two months! I'm
It sounds like they are keeping pretty busy, to me, but aside from
that, have you *asked* them if they are happy/comfortable with their
lives now? Do they want more or are they content for the moment?
I asked my stepson this the other day - he seemed bored, so I asked
if he wanted me to look for more fun stuff to do. His answer was
pretty equivocal (sp?) - he *does* feel like he's spinning his
wheels a little, but he's also relieved that he doesn't *have* to do
*anything*.
We're weeks into deschooling, rather than months, so that makes a
lot of sense to me. Right now he's still not sure this whole
unschooling thing is real. Last night he found an old homework paper
in his room and screamed: "aaaaaaah! its homework!"
"No, Ray, that's just a piece of trash"
"Oh, yeah. Can we Burn it?"
"Sure"
Anyway, to get back on topic, if they seem bored, talk to them about
that, specifically. Do they want to do other things but need your
help? Not "schooly things" fun things. If they seem happy - great!
Take some deep breaths and do more reading about unschooling.
---Meredith (Mo 5, Ray 13)