As a general rule, it is legal to unschool in every location that homeschooling is a legal educational option. Unschooling is a method and philosophy that many parents engage with as the route they take in educating their children.
Unschooling is one of many different homeschooling philosophies. It is the most free type of schooling that exists. The basic premise is that it is child led learning. Your child will direct you to what they are interested in and then you will facilitate the learning or offer them the resources to do the learning independently.
How Does Unschool Differ From Traditional Schooling?
When you think about unschooling you need to take everything you know about traditional schooling and throw it out the window. It is about as opposite to a traditional school as you can get.
One of the main goals of an unschooled education is to develop a natural love of learn so that the child seeks out and yearns for knowledge. They are then able to access and acquire the knowledge they desire. The traditional school system dictates what a child learns and when they learn it. There is very little say in what they learn. Any additional interests need to be addressed outside of school hours.
Traditional schools students are constantly tested to assess whether they are on target for their age. There is very little testing, if any in unschooling. Where testing does exist it is usually on the child’s own terms. For example they may have chosen to take a course which has a final exam.
Unschool happens 24/7. There are no set hours or routine. A lot of what is learned in an unschooled, homeschool happens on weekends, late nights or early mornings. It can happen during holidays or on vacation.
Unschooled students can progress at their own rate. There is no need to keep up with or wait for fellow students. If a child is interested and passionate about a subject they will excel at it and go far beyond the norm for their age bracket. This also applies in the opposite direction. If a child is not ready to learn something or they are taking longer to solidify a skill there is not pressure, they can simply take their time.
How to Unschool
This is a difficult question to answer, because it will be different for every family and every child. There are some ways that you can start working at having an unschooled homeschool though.
Discover Your Children’s Interests
The best way to engage your children in learning is to discover what they love. Observe them, and their interactions with their toys or what they choose to spend their time doing.
I have one child that loves to bake. She is a phenomenal cake decorator at six years old because that is something she is passionate about. She has spent hours scrolling Pinterest and watching Youtube videos in an effort to learn all she can.
Once you have nailed down their interests then build on that. Provide them with the resources and the skills to be able to delve deep into those interests. This might come from videos, library books, visiting exhibitions, or field trips. There really is so many options here.
Expose Them to Variety
How do you know if you are interested in something if you have never had any exposure to it? This is personally my favourite part about the unschooling culture.
There are a multitude of ways to do this.
- Museum: Most museums change out displays and exhibitions semi-regularly. Make it a point to visit the museum often and utilise their education programs that they offer.
- Zoo: Aside from just visiting the zoo there are education programs they run, encounters with animals as well as being a keeper for the day. Zoo’s will often have day programs during school breaks that you may want to sign your child up for
- Science Centre: Children love science centres. I am sure it is the hands on aspect but they are so enriching for the mind.
- Volunteer Programs: Check you local area for ways that you can volunteer. This might be at animal shelters, with the city’s homeless, libraries, visiting the elderly etc. This type of work gets children out into the community and teaches them life skills, interpersonal skills as well as exposing them to different occupations, of areas of interest.
- Field Trips: Take them to lots of different places for fields trips. Include nature, different occupations, places where they can be hands on and interact, and places where they can experience things that they wouldn’t inside a classroom. Let them touch history, not just read about it.
Teach them How to Learn
This is the most beneficial skill you will likely ever teach your child. If you can teach them how to learn, the world is their oyster. There is absolutely no stopping them.
Show them where to find information, whether it be in books, online, in videos or out in the community.
The best way to do this is by example. When the see you engaged in learning they will naturally follow suit. Just as a young child will mimic you pushing the lawn mower, brushing your teeth or reading a book, they too will watch how you learn.
Provide the Resources Needed
You can not expect your child to do all the work. Unschooling can seem “lazy” to some but it actually very parent intensive. You need you ensure that you are offering them the experiences and the tools they need to follow through with their ambitions. This can feel incredibly daunting and overwhelming.
Your unschooled child will need you to be somewhat of a mentor or guide. If they are interested in marine biology for example you can help them find a course on the subject and teach it to them or enrol them in the course. You could also help select appropriate books or help them to find someone who may be willing to let them shadow them as a marine biologist.
What Does and Unschooling Schedule Look Like?
Again, this is going to be different for everyone. However I will give an idea of what it could look like.
8am
Wake up have breakfast and enjoy a read a loud for 20 minutes. Enjoy some unstructured play time outside.
10 am
Head out for a nature walk on a local hike. Collect different shaped leaves that have fallen. Discuss the changing seasons and weather cycles
11 am
Your child really wants to learn cursive so you have purchased a handwriting book for them to practice in. They spend 30 minutes doing this then decide to put it into practice by making cards to send to grandparents.
Midday
Lunch time. Instead of staying home you head across to the park to have a picnic. They enjoy running around and make friends with some other children so you stay a bit longer than intended.
2 pm
They found have recently discovered the wonder of science experiments after visiting the science centre last week. You try to recreate some of the same experiments at home. After some successful attempts you look up videos online to help explain the science behind them. Later that night they excitedly recreate the experiment again to show dad and explain to him the science. They spend the next hour looking up new experiments to do later in the week. They have written a comprehensive list along with a shopping list of supplies they need.
4 pm
It’s time to get dinner started. Your child’s interest has been peaked from a cook book they checkout at the library yesterday. So you get organised to make something from it. This involves reading from the recipe as well as doubling the recipe because you have a big family.
7 pm
Time to head to bed and read for an hour before lights out.
Now this is simply an example. It will differ based on the age of your child and their interests.
Unschooling can be a great way to give your child a wonderful education. It is going to cater to their specific interests and let them be the master of their own education.
It is however not for all children. Some children want and need a solid structure and routine. They like text books and tests. My children want me to grade everything they do! They have never been to school but they like the whole grading system.
If you are considering homeschooling, unschooling is definitely a viable option that has worked amazingly for so many children. There are so many wonderful ways to educate our children and this is definitely one of them.
