Everyday Unschooling: Construction
Everyday Unschooling / Unschooling

Everyday Unschooling: Construction and Confidence

This post is part of a series of posts documenting our day-to-day life as an unschooling family. Sometimes it’s hard to picture what unschooling looks like, so here I hope to provide a little window into the kid’s life and learning. This is just an example of what unschooling can look like, but it’s very different for each family. It’s not designed to be read as an ‘activity idea’ that you can set up for your child, but an account of four inspired young people who have the freedom to learn how and what they desire.

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The girls love going to the Art Gallery and we’re lucky enough to have more than one near us. We recently visited a construction exhibition where you get to build with large foam blocks and they enjoyed it so much that they wanted to stay even after 4 hours playing. A few days later, we had to make another visit because big plans were made!

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

I wanted to share the experience because it was a fabulous and very obvious example of how children are completely capable of taking charge of their own learning, without any prompting, praising, suggesting, teaching, or evaluating from adults. A lot of learning is hard to see, it’s internal, it’s their own business, and I am quite happy with that. I have complete trust they are learning everything they need to. Some learning is conversations, thoughts, ideas that never make it to paper, and those are hard to document. I know that for a schooled mind it’s helpful to be able to see to believe. It’s so rare to encounter children who have been uninfluenced by school or teaching that most people don’t know what that looks like. So, here we are, some obvious, self-motivated, self-directed learning, 100% their own idea, by children who have never set foot inside a school.Everyday Unschooling: Construction

It started with a plan! After we had visited the art gallery once, they were determined to go back. And this time they wanted to build something big! Now having knowledge of all the different shapes of building blocks that were there, they were able to plan before we got there.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Plans for a house, with garden, and the different pieces they would use.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Furniture plans for the inside. They worked together designing the parts that interested them.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

They even packed a toy toolbox so they could pretend to hammer pieces together.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Surveying the area and finding the perfect location. They had to fend off a few well-meaning adults who wanted to help/direct. It’s really hard for adults to step back and leave children to work things out on their own, especially when they show any negative emotions. It was a little busy when we first arrived and they were worried about not having enough space, and frustrated at some of the blocks not being available. Some of the people looking after the space tried to suggest different ways to do things, direct them where to put blocks, and generally ‘fix’ things for them. But they weren’t asking for things to be fixed, just expressing disappointment and trying to find solutions together. It was only made more difficult by interruptions and having to deal with other people’s directions. Being used to having total control of their own learning, and not having to please others, they were able to handle it well. They explained that they wanted to do it themselves, their own way, and got about doing it.

(I have to admit, I often find this awkward! Even though they are not being rude, I find it confronting that they are so comfortable saying ‘no’ to adults. As a child who went to school I got pretty used to having to manage others expectations, listen to their advice and directions, and do what the adults said I had to do. I also know that most adults still expect the same of children and are often amused, and sometimes even angry when they encounter children who are sure of themselves and not looking for advice. I am so glad they don’t have the same feelings as me and are confident that they are people of equal value who’s opinions and needs matter.)

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Space and blocks were finally secured, and building began!

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Little break at the kitchen table to consult their plans.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Back to work!

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Pond and stepping stones in the back garden. They bought the blue play silk from home especially for this.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

 Putting in the final block!

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Checking that they’d completed everything. In the end there was an entrance, kitchen, table, bedroom with two beds, garden, pond, slide, trampoline, and rocking chair.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

After they had finished they decided to count how many of each type of block they had used and record it so that they would have an exact plan if they wanted to build the same thing again.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

 All done!

They were so happy with how it turned out. So much learning happened that I can’t even list it all and I’m not going to try, because it doesn’t need my evaluation. All play and learning is valuable.

I can imagine them doing similar things in another world, adult initiated and directed. Maybe given a list of materials they had to use, a challenge, assigned a group. But how meaningful would that be? How motivated would they feel? How much of it would they remember? It is absurd to me to think that in educating children we try to create these types of experiences for them, not realising that if we just left them alone to interact with the world they would be perfectly capable of generating this learning on their own. Children not free to direct their own learning often lose their motivation and confidence in their own ability. A person can only take so much of living out someone else’s desires and expectations for them, before they forget what they were once capable of and curious about.

Children are perfectly designed to educate themselves, in their own time, in their own way.

Everyday Unschooling: Construction

Comments

Marlana Qualls
February 5, 2017 at 4:04 pm

Love this! Thank you for sharing! I see the same things happening in my own children and I love it!



Cate
February 5, 2017 at 6:11 pm

Really cool. 🙂



February 6, 2017 at 7:26 am

How exciting!! They are thoughtful, and self-directed in a world where we often have lazy whiners. Thank you!



Andie B
February 6, 2017 at 8:02 am

“in educating children we try to create these types of experiences for them, not realising that if we just left them alone to interact with the world they would be perfectly capable of generating this learning on their own” I have found this to be sooo true in our unschooling house. As an ex-primary teacher, I regularly see parallels between what my two are up to and the kinds of attempts we made in schools to generate a similar kind of ‘learning outcome’. Without exception, the school-learning setup just wouldn’t come close!! I long ago gave up trying to do anything but facilitate their plans and encourage the odd attempt at tidying up! (Btw that museum construction setup looks amazing – my two would be in their element – *such* a shame we are on the other side of the world…) Keep up the good work – you put so many of my thoughts into words that I am very grateful. xxx



Patricia Hope
February 6, 2017 at 8:12 am

This post is a keeper for times when parents have doubts.
I love, love, love it, and yes I also find it hard not to interfere with the learning.



    Kristen
    April 30, 2018 at 10:46 pm

    Exactly! I came on here today because I’m forever worried if my 6 year old son is learning enough. Its our first year homeschooling and it’s a little nerve wracking doing something that I’m not sure that I’m doing right. In my heart though I know that this is the right path for our family. It really just comes down to me getting out of my own head and silencing the voices of doubt that come from myself and others around me….easier said than done though!



Niamh Ní A
February 6, 2017 at 10:03 pm

Fabulous!



February 7, 2017 at 5:50 am

So fun! Just out of curiosity, besides taking pictures, what are you doing while they play for so long. Bring a book?



June 10, 2018 at 5:35 pm

This construction place looks awesome ! We are a family from the uk and very early on in our Unschooling journey – we are currently travelling around Europe in our caravan on a European ‘unschooling adventure’. We left our home 3 weeks ago and whilst some days are great i.e. When we are out and about snorkelling in beautiful coves and exploring local areas I find they are still gravitating to their screens or constantly asking ‘what are we doing today ?’ They are 13, 8 and 6 yrs old. I fear they have been so ‘micro-managed’ for so long in the school environment that they are now struggle to think for themselves or make decisions for themselves. When I ask them ‘what would you like today ?’ They look at me or each other for the answer ! Will this pass ? Will they find their inner selves once again ? How long should I completely unschool for to allow them to breathe again ? When I said to my 6yr old the other day that he doesn’t go to school anymore he looked visibly shocked and a little worried 😩 he asked about he friends at school back home, so we bought some postcards to send to them and we are going to email photos of our travels to them also, but essentially I gently reminded him of all the lovely friends he has made already on our trip…… the little German boy him and his brother played with in Lake Garda, the little Dutch girl who came to introduce herself on our pitch in San Marino, Dimitri the lovely old man in our campsite shop here in Corfu who adores him and teaches him basic Greek words every morning when we go to buy our fresh bread. Sorry to ramble on but I worry every day if I’m actually doing the right thing even though I follow your blog and Facebook page and instagram and nod and agree with everything you say passionately 😊



lisa
June 3, 2020 at 9:36 pm

Love this makeover Chelsea! I especially love the herringbone pattern of the subway tile. You say they have two big German Shepherds? They don’t have to hide crumbs on the floor, dear. The dogs take care of the crumbs !! I know this because i have a big crumb-eating black Lab. If I could only get her to somehow eat or sweep up her shredded black fur I would be good to go!!! Hugs, Dorinda ps now that I’m thinking about it you have a furry child too ?For more Visit hereto get any type of information about you garage.



lisa
June 3, 2020 at 9:40 pm

Hi,
Love this makeover Chelsea! I especially love the herringbone pattern of the subway tile. You say they have two big German Shepherds? They don’t have to hide crumbs on the floor, dear. The dogs take care of the crumbs !! I know this because i have a big crumb-eating black Lab. If I could only get her to somehow eat or sweep up her shredded black fur I would be good to go!!! Hugs, Dorinda ps now that I’m thinking about it you have a furry child too ?For more Visit hereto get any type of information about you garage.



September 21, 2020 at 12:36 pm

Great collection of ideas!! Wish I had this when I was planning Ethan’s party. Thanks for featuring the wrecking ball crane! It was a BLAST to use.



September 21, 2020 at 12:38 pm

Hi,

Great collection of ideas!! Wish I had this when I was planning Ethan’s party. Thanks for featuring the wrecking ball crane! It was a BLAST to use.



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