Shimokawa Family

Welcome to the list, Carli!

Here's what we do:

The other day, Mook (3yods) asked me, "Mom, why does the earth spin?" I
have no idea where he learned that the earth spins. So I explained to
him about day and night, and we made a model of the solar system with
mandarin oranges and a table lamp (shade removed). We found some great
websites, and now he knows so much about the solar system. Though we do
some simple role playing sometimes (usually after he's had some trouble
with his friends), I don't teach him much except by example. Mostly he
teaches himself. If he has a question, I answer, and sometimes he wants
more info. So we go look it up together. "What does this word say?"
has become the phrase of the month. (his, not mine)

It sounds to me like what you're doing is unschooling - you don't need
our approval, anywho. Helping your children follow their interests is,
IMO, unschooling. Sometimes I expand on Mook's interests a little. Say
for example, Pokemon. (Mook couldn't care less about pokemon, but I
hear it's really big everywhere - not just in Japan) Pokemon comes from
Japan, so you could learn related stuff about Japan. Like, the Japanese
pronounce Pokemon poh*keh*moh*ng (and anime is pronounced ah*nee*meh),
etc. Maybe they'll want to know other Japanese words, so you search the
internet, or get a tape from the library, and before you know it,
they're learning Japanese. Or history, or math, or who knows what
else. It's amazing how one thing leads to another. Just by following
their interests. Sometimes something just dies out.

Unschooling is not worrying about what you "should" be doing. Just
learning in a way that works for you and the kids.

Have fun!

Melanie in Japan