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Tag: autonomy

What if They Ask to Go to School? Here’s Why They Probably Won’t.
  • May 24, 2021
  • 1,694 word
  • 8

What if They Ask to Go to School? Here’s Why They Probably Won’t.

I have four children. Currently aged 12, 10, 7, and 5. None of them have ever set foot in a classroom. And […]

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I tried freedom… but it didn’t work
  • March 18, 2018
  • 854 words
  • 7

I tried freedom… but it didn’t work

‘I tried letting my children choose their own bedtime, but they didn’t sleep when I wanted them to.’ ‘I tried respecting my […]

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When Children Do Whatever They Want: What Autonomy Looks Like
  • September 17, 2017
  • 2,026 words
  • 14

When Children Do Whatever They Want: What Autonomy Looks Like

All children have a right to autonomy. This means they should be in control of their bodies, minds, and time. Mainstream parenting […]

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What does bedtime look like for autonomous kids?
  • July 18, 2017
  • 1,758 word
  • 6

What does bedtime look like for autonomous kids?

“Listen to the desires of your children. Encourage them and then give them the autonomy to make their own decision.” -Denis Waitley […]

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8 Misconceptions About Children NOT Having a Bedtime
  • July 18, 2017
  • 1,102 word
  • 6

8 Misconceptions About Children NOT Having a Bedtime

“The things we know and believe are a part of us. We feel we have always known them. Almost anything else, anything […]

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8 Reasons NOT to Give Kids a Bedtime
  • July 18, 2017
  • 1,322 word
  • 9

8 Reasons NOT to Give Kids a Bedtime

My children have no bedtime. All four of them. Apart from a short period with our oldest two where we fell into […]

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Homeschooling / Unschooling
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Why I stopped asking my kids to clean up
Parenting
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8 Reasons NOT to Give Kids a Bedtime
The Socialization Homeschooled Kids Don’t Get
Homeschooling
The Socialization Homeschooled Kids Don’t Get
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We've tried our best to raise our kids with freedo
We've tried our best to raise our kids with freedom and responsibility from the very beginning. Real opportunities to make decisions, experience consequences, solve problems, and ask for help.

We have not relied on strict rules, we have not punished them for mistakes, we have tried to respect their rights and freedom in everything.

Instead, we have principles, conversations, flexibility, advice, and even more conversations when we feel really strongly about something (hello social media! 🙃). 

We have definitely not been perfect at this, but we've done our best, and I'm so glad we didn't wait until adulthood to start treating them like people capable of making decisions.

If children spend their whole lives having decisions made for them, why do we expect them to suddenly know how to make good ones at 18? Making decisions is a skill and skills need practice!

Now my oldest is 17 and I'm so grateful we did it this way. I can see the proof. She makes good choices, she asks for advice when she needs it, she shares her excitement and her problems, and she's an all round wonderful person.

I know it's scary when kids get older, and sometimes the instinct is more rules, more control, to try and keep them safe, physically and emotionally! But I'm so glad I trusted them. What would be terrifying is if they hadn't had a lot of practice making decisions by the time they got to 18.

But by now, they're pros. And they know where to ask for help if they need it.


How We Plan Amazing Weeks as Unschoolers
Unschooling Tips: The 5 Ingredients Behind Our Most Magical Days
Rethinking Independent Learning
10 Essential Ingredients for Inspired Learning in Teens
The Real Gifts Your Children Need
Cheerleader, Not Coach: Why Your Kid Needs You to Step Back
The Unschooling Effect: Exceptional Teens?

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