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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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Why I Don’t Like Play Based Learning
Homeschooling / Unschooling
Why I Don’t Like Play Based Learning
We Need to Talk About Childism
Parenting
We Need to Talk About Childism
10 Things to Say Instead of ‘Stop Crying’
Parenting
10 Things to Say Instead of ‘Stop Crying’
School is Unnecessary
Homeschooling / Unschooling
School is Unnecessary
What Is Unschooling?
Homeschooling / Unschooling
What Is Unschooling?
Why I stopped asking my kids to clean up
Parenting
Why I stopped asking my kids to clean up
8 Reasons NOT to Give Kids a Bedtime
Parenting
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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The reason most people can't fathom homeschooling,
The reason most people can't fathom homeschooling, unschooling, self-directed learning, (insert any kind of education that's not school here), is that they have such a poor view of children.

Sigh.

People really believe that children would not want to learn without being forced to, would do dangerous things without being strictly controlled, and would generally turn out to be awful people if we didn't punish them for mistakes.

And yet, most people have zero experience trying the alternative. They base their views off what children are like when they are forced to learn and strictly controlled with punishment and rewards. That's a very different situation and the results don't apply to children free from those things. What you're seeing is a reaction to the way they are treated, not some innate characteristic of children.

Children who are free from schooling and conditional parenting are much different. Every day I see inspired children actively pursuing their interests out of their own intrinsic motivation. Making healthy choices, being responsible, being trustworthy, connected to their families and communities.

If you expect the worst, you might get that. If you expect the best, you might be surprised that children live up to that too.

❤️

P.S. This photo is my kids planning their year, setting goals, deciding on their daily tasks, making lists of books they want to read, working out their weekly rhythm, coming up with project ideas, etc. They're using our Self-Directed Life Planner which supports kids to have ownership over their own learning *gasp*. You can find it at the link in my bio x


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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