Advice, please!
Linda
I have been homeschooling my 14 yr. old son for 5 years now.He has some developmental delays but is an easy going, co-operative teen. About 3 yrs. ago I decided that unschooling was the way to go with him. I have a lot of trouble with the fact that he plays the same vidoe game hour after hour, day after day, year after year. Honestly, year after year! I have not said anything about this to him, although his brothers tease him about it.
I have tried getting involved in the game with him, but my boredom level just can't take any more!If I suggest a new game, he, ever eager to please, will play it for a short while and then revert to the old one.
Unfortunately, too, I started suggesting other activities which I thought he may enjoy, and I have slowly allowed those activities to become more and more 'schooly'. We are almost back to where we started with 'School at home'. This happened without me really noticing, and was also easier in view of the fact that there is some family opposition to unschooling.
My question is, now what should I do?He will do whatever I suggest, and if I ask him what HE wants to do he can't think of anything.(Except for Lego Indiana Jones!!) He likes structure, and a set schedule. He has no definite direction and we have already exhausted any interests he has had. Should I totally de-school him again, or just be more conscious of what I suggest to him? Please help, any advice will be appreciated.
I have tried getting involved in the game with him, but my boredom level just can't take any more!If I suggest a new game, he, ever eager to please, will play it for a short while and then revert to the old one.
Unfortunately, too, I started suggesting other activities which I thought he may enjoy, and I have slowly allowed those activities to become more and more 'schooly'. We are almost back to where we started with 'School at home'. This happened without me really noticing, and was also easier in view of the fact that there is some family opposition to unschooling.
My question is, now what should I do?He will do whatever I suggest, and if I ask him what HE wants to do he can't think of anything.(Except for Lego Indiana Jones!!) He likes structure, and a set schedule. He has no definite direction and we have already exhausted any interests he has had. Should I totally de-school him again, or just be more conscious of what I suggest to him? Please help, any advice will be appreciated.
Robin Bentley
~ About 3 yrs. ago I decided that unschooling was the way to go with
him. I have a lot of trouble with the fact that he plays the same
video game hour after hour, day after day, year after year.
It hasn't been that long, in terms of a lifetime. Seriously.
And if you are the one "having trouble with" it, *you* might need the
deschooling. Read here:
http://sandradodd.com/deschooling
Then some more, here:
http://sandradodd.com/videogames/
It's possible that your son is playing the same game over and over
*because* you keep trying to get him to do other stuff. He might be
wondering just when it's going to be taken away for "more worthy"
pursuits.
It's okay to offer different activities to your son or "strew" around
your home (see http://sandradodd.com/strewing). Those things should
come with no expectations, though. If he wants to branch out, he will.
In the meantime, why not find opportunities that feed his passion? Are
there tournaments he could play in? Does he have gaming buddies? I
Googled "Lego Indiana Jones" and there are countless sites, YouTube
videos, and Lego to explore. What about the Indiana Jones movies? Does
he like the IJ hat? The whip? So many possibilities!
When you start relaxing about what he's passionate about, he will, too.
Robin B.
him. I have a lot of trouble with the fact that he plays the same
video game hour after hour, day after day, year after year.
It hasn't been that long, in terms of a lifetime. Seriously.
And if you are the one "having trouble with" it, *you* might need the
deschooling. Read here:
http://sandradodd.com/deschooling
Then some more, here:
http://sandradodd.com/videogames/
It's possible that your son is playing the same game over and over
*because* you keep trying to get him to do other stuff. He might be
wondering just when it's going to be taken away for "more worthy"
pursuits.
It's okay to offer different activities to your son or "strew" around
your home (see http://sandradodd.com/strewing). Those things should
come with no expectations, though. If he wants to branch out, he will.
In the meantime, why not find opportunities that feed his passion? Are
there tournaments he could play in? Does he have gaming buddies? I
Googled "Lego Indiana Jones" and there are countless sites, YouTube
videos, and Lego to explore. What about the Indiana Jones movies? Does
he like the IJ hat? The whip? So many possibilities!
When you start relaxing about what he's passionate about, he will, too.
Robin B.