A Little More Unschooling, Please!

Good Morning fellow homeschoolers, 
​
Today, I realized just how quickly a school year goes by. Even as I am surrounded by my children on a daily basis, the school year flies by. Before I know it, it's time to start planning the next school year, finding activities to keep them busy through the summer, and well... finding time to breathe as a mom, wife, and grad student. 

It can be done. But it is also important to remember the basics. 
​Curious? Read on. 

As I was preparing my scheduled updates for our Facebook page, I came across one of my previous blog posts about unschooling. I decided that it was more important to me now than when I first blogged about it. Why? Because it is important to remember the basics.

Children and adults alike, can become inundated with the newest, the hippest, (or sometimes, the most stressful) of plans and activities. But this year, I want something different. I don't want them watching TV all summer. I don't want them to feel a deeper attachment to devices, techno gadgets, or video games. I want them to be FREE.

YES! Free to learn in the most natural, organic way possible. 

I want them to: 

• get dirty       
• eat sweets        
• play in the mud        
• run through the sprinkler
• stay out all day            
• be filled with Kool-aid and freezer pops
• get lost in a game        
• go fishing       
• jump in the lake      
• splash in mud puddles (we've done it before)
• play in the rain        
• drink lemonade made by themselves        
• nap under the shade tree
• listen to the birds        
• get lost in their own imagination      
• learn to resolve conflicts
• make new friends        
• walk around the block        
• eat junk food        
• have a backyard camp out
• build a fort
• play hide and seek
• watch the stars
• dream
• laugh      
• smile      
• grow      

 
I am tired of limiting fun for the sake of rules. I'm tired of saying no because we live on the "wrong" side of town. I'm bored with textbook learning and I want them to experience natural learning. Summer is the perfect time for unschooling. Not just because it's natural, but because you can truly assess their knowledge by how they interact with others, how they show independence, and how they constructively entertain themselves. Truth be told, it is also a great way to build your relationship with them in a setting outside of your typical role as mom and teacher: friend. 

This summer, I resolve to spend less time worrying about their diet, their political correctness, or their socially acceptable behavior. Granted, I will not allow them to break the law or to be a bully to anyone. But I want to give them the room to see how they respond to such freedom. Yes! A little more unschooling, please! 

Until next time, 

For my first post on unschooling, click here