Jeff & Diane Gwirtz

> Our summer of deschooling has consisted of days of my son running between
> the computer, mostly to play car racing games, and watching tv. Of course,
> there have been museum field trips and playing with a few friends, but
> mostly this has been the routine. Will it ever end? I've made suggestions
> for things to do when he says he's bored, but he hasn't been interested in
> what I proposed. He does do other things while watching tv sometimes. I am
> getting worried that he won't break this pattern of electronics obsession,
> and I wonder how much you can get out of repetitive activities like these.
> I also worry that, because he's an only child, he's using the tv as a
> substitute for sibling/peer play that's missing most days.
>
Olivia,

Mine isn't an only child, but he is the only one left at home, so it
comes down to unschooling an only. Chances are his electronics
obsession will end. Before that, you might even see a move to more
quality in what he watches on tv and what kind of games he plays.
It worried me too, but we decided not to restrict tv or video games
and see where it took us. Now, I feel like ds is much more
selective about how he spends his time, than his friends who need
the escape. The fact that he has been bored is good. It means he's
searching for something else. Let him be bored and resolve it
himself. That can lead to really creative ideas. Deschooling may
take more than one summer. Depending on his age, he may test you to
see if you're really serious about this unschooling thing. Good luck
and let us know how it progresses.

Diane from KS
jagwirtz@...

Olivia

At 01:00 AM 09/06/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>From: Hsmotgo@...
>I know they are smart, and are learning, but it just seems that we are stuck
>here on play, and the same play everyday.
>Teresa
>

Our summer of deschooling has consisted of days of my son running between
the computer, mostly to play car racing games, and watching tv. Of course,
there have been museum field trips and playing with a few friends, but
mostly this has been the routine. Will it ever end? I've made suggestions
for things to do when he says he's bored, but he hasn't been interested in
what I proposed. He does do other things while watching tv sometimes. I am
getting worried that he won't break this pattern of electronics obsession,
and I wonder how much you can get out of repetitive activities like these.
I also worry that, because he's an only child, he's using the tv as a
substitute for sibling/peer play that's missing most days.

Olivia

Olivia

Thanks! I'll just take a deep breath (or several) and try to keep my
worrying to a minimum. :-)

Olivia




At 10:51 PM 09/06/1999 +0000, you wrote:
>From: "Jeff & Diane Gwirtz" <jagwirtz@...>
>Mine isn't an only child, but he is the only one left at home, so it
>comes down to unschooling an only. Chances are his electronics
>obsession will end. Before that, you might even see a move to more
>quality in what he watches on tv and what kind of games he plays.
>It worried me too, but we decided not to restrict tv or video games
>and see where it took us. Now, I feel like ds is much more
>selective about how he spends his time, than his friends who need
>the escape. The fact that he has been bored is good. It means he's
>searching for something else. Let him be bored and resolve it
>himself. That can lead to really creative ideas. Deschooling may
>take more than one summer. Depending on his age, he may test you to
>see if you're really serious about this unschooling thing. Good luck
>and let us know how it progresses.
>
>Diane from KS
>jagwirtz@...
>
>--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
>ONElist: your connection to people who share your interests.
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Check it out!
>http://www.unschooling.com

Mary E Gates

>>I am getting worried that he won't break this pattern of electronics
obsession>>

We had a no TV week. Absolutely OFF (no videos or anything) for an
entire week. Helped us to break the habit of watching without really
thinking about it.
Mary Ellen
Hoping nobody tells me to have a no computer week!!

___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.

Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall

>Mary Ellen
>Hoping nobody tells me to have a no computer week!!

(HISSSSSS!!!!) (Hiding behing my hands from this awful suggestion!) Don't
even think that!!!

Nanci K. in Idaho