more on pros-cons
Ren Allen
" do think
there are a lot of children(like you said) who would love an
unschooling life but I think some children do prefer more structure.I
was pretty much unschooled(when not in school) because I was alone to
do what I please."
If a child wants structure, we help them have it. Unschooling is
about meeting the child where they are and helping them where they
need it.
"alone to do what I please" is not unschooling. You can't unschool
and go to school. Your mother didn't show enough interest in you,
that isn't freedom, it's neglect.
Our children have an attentive, interested parent available and with
them whenever they need it. My kids aren't forced to clean their
rooms, but they have my help with their rooms all the time. Being
interested in what they need at each moment takes a LOT more effort
than plugging in some curriculum or chores in my opinion.
Unschooling is about being creative, it's about thinking outside the
box, it's about learning ALL the time. If YOU are interested in
life, if YOU are leading the life of your dreams, how could your
children not learn in that environment?
You listed "cons" of unschooling, but they weren't about unschooling
at all...they were about the fears you have in your own life and
lack of trust in your own abilities.
I bet school did some of that to you.;)
If you see lack in your life, how can you turn that around and see
abundance? If you have fear about being able to provide the things
your children are interested in, and the wonderful things they need,
then why do you think even homeschooling will work? How does
implementing a curriculum or lessons overcome the deficits you
listed?
How about finding creative ways to get them to the places they need?
How about seeing the abundance all around you and taking advantage
of unique situations that allow you all to get where you want to go?
We've had some really tight years where we couldn't afford much, but
we always found ways to help them explore the things they were
interested in.
Ren
there are a lot of children(like you said) who would love an
unschooling life but I think some children do prefer more structure.I
was pretty much unschooled(when not in school) because I was alone to
do what I please."
If a child wants structure, we help them have it. Unschooling is
about meeting the child where they are and helping them where they
need it.
"alone to do what I please" is not unschooling. You can't unschool
and go to school. Your mother didn't show enough interest in you,
that isn't freedom, it's neglect.
Our children have an attentive, interested parent available and with
them whenever they need it. My kids aren't forced to clean their
rooms, but they have my help with their rooms all the time. Being
interested in what they need at each moment takes a LOT more effort
than plugging in some curriculum or chores in my opinion.
Unschooling is about being creative, it's about thinking outside the
box, it's about learning ALL the time. If YOU are interested in
life, if YOU are leading the life of your dreams, how could your
children not learn in that environment?
You listed "cons" of unschooling, but they weren't about unschooling
at all...they were about the fears you have in your own life and
lack of trust in your own abilities.
I bet school did some of that to you.;)
If you see lack in your life, how can you turn that around and see
abundance? If you have fear about being able to provide the things
your children are interested in, and the wonderful things they need,
then why do you think even homeschooling will work? How does
implementing a curriculum or lessons overcome the deficits you
listed?
How about finding creative ways to get them to the places they need?
How about seeing the abundance all around you and taking advantage
of unique situations that allow you all to get where you want to go?
We've had some really tight years where we couldn't afford much, but
we always found ways to help them explore the things they were
interested in.
Ren
Ren Allen
">>>>>>>being afraid your child wont
know enough to even pass the GED exam and get a good job-to name a
few.<<<<<"
Hmmmm....how many kids come out of the school system like this?
Quite a few.
You're fearing lack of education, but what kind of education did the
schools give you and your dh? Seems pretty easy to see that
schooling (of any kind) does not equal confidence and learning.
I can tell you about my kids, but I guess I'll just tell you about
my 15 y.o., since his age is more relevant to the above statement.
He's WAaaaaay into computers, has built his own, knows how to
network them, do repairs and is learning programming.
He's a major video gamer...plays many hours. He likes television
too...but is pretty choosy about what he watches. He can spout off
more facts about every American war (and a few others) than I can,
knows the weaponry inside and out, oh, and he's a peace activist to
boot.:)
He works with my dh building decks right now, so he's learning
construction. He hates the work, but loves the pay and his boss.;)
He KNOWS he will make money in technology, not construction...but
heck, it's good pay for a just-turned 15 y.o. ($8 per hour).
I don't worry that he won't be smart enough to pass a GED, I think
he could pass it now with a little coaching and test prep.
Even without all his computer knowledge, I don't worry that he won't
be able to find good work. You know why?
Because all of my children are able to truly KNOW themselves.
Unschooling allows them a unique opportunity to possess that quiet
confidence that they can learn anything at anytime!! A child with
that kind of confidence, with a creative, curious mind, will have no
problem finding work that they enjoy.
Life is a journey.
My kids aren't waiting to turn 18 for theirs to begin. They're
living their dreams NOW and that will continue for them all their
lives.
My 7 y.o. has been making money running her own little "coffee shop"
(she's been selling biscotti and has the equipment for selling hot
chocolate and cappucino, which she will do shortly).
When she expressed an interest in selling hot chocolate, did I just
smile and say "that's nice"?
Heck NO!!
We jumped in the car and went to buy her the supplies. If I didn't
have money for that, I would have gotten creative and done some more
planning....but I always support their interests and dreams to the
best of my ability.
Unschooling has NO limits. The limits are only within each
individual, and how creative and curious they're willing to become.
Ren
know enough to even pass the GED exam and get a good job-to name a
few.<<<<<"
Hmmmm....how many kids come out of the school system like this?
Quite a few.
You're fearing lack of education, but what kind of education did the
schools give you and your dh? Seems pretty easy to see that
schooling (of any kind) does not equal confidence and learning.
I can tell you about my kids, but I guess I'll just tell you about
my 15 y.o., since his age is more relevant to the above statement.
He's WAaaaaay into computers, has built his own, knows how to
network them, do repairs and is learning programming.
He's a major video gamer...plays many hours. He likes television
too...but is pretty choosy about what he watches. He can spout off
more facts about every American war (and a few others) than I can,
knows the weaponry inside and out, oh, and he's a peace activist to
boot.:)
He works with my dh building decks right now, so he's learning
construction. He hates the work, but loves the pay and his boss.;)
He KNOWS he will make money in technology, not construction...but
heck, it's good pay for a just-turned 15 y.o. ($8 per hour).
I don't worry that he won't be smart enough to pass a GED, I think
he could pass it now with a little coaching and test prep.
Even without all his computer knowledge, I don't worry that he won't
be able to find good work. You know why?
Because all of my children are able to truly KNOW themselves.
Unschooling allows them a unique opportunity to possess that quiet
confidence that they can learn anything at anytime!! A child with
that kind of confidence, with a creative, curious mind, will have no
problem finding work that they enjoy.
Life is a journey.
My kids aren't waiting to turn 18 for theirs to begin. They're
living their dreams NOW and that will continue for them all their
lives.
My 7 y.o. has been making money running her own little "coffee shop"
(she's been selling biscotti and has the equipment for selling hot
chocolate and cappucino, which she will do shortly).
When she expressed an interest in selling hot chocolate, did I just
smile and say "that's nice"?
Heck NO!!
We jumped in the car and went to buy her the supplies. If I didn't
have money for that, I would have gotten creative and done some more
planning....but I always support their interests and dreams to the
best of my ability.
Unschooling has NO limits. The limits are only within each
individual, and how creative and curious they're willing to become.
Ren