Talking To, And About Your Child Respectfully

It seems everywhere today, from tv news, to print, and even sit-coms, parents are being offered advice on how to talk to their kids. This advice usually comes with an agenda. How to talk to your kids so they’ll listen to you; so they’ll tell you what they’re up to; so they’ll take you seriously; so you can keep them safe; how to get them to do what you tell them and not do what you tell them not to...

Unschooling, TV And Trust

While clearing out some old files on google docs, I came across this and thought it would be helpful to share it. It was written by the very wise Pam Sorooshian, who helped me when I began unschooling more than she probably realises. Instead of putting our focus on whether or not the kids are watching too much tv, we can put our focus on supporting their interests and offering them lots and lots of possible experiences. If...

50 Ways To Bring Out Your Child’s Best

There’s a lot of good tips in this list, such as #8 (especially the part about involving them), #26 and my favorite #50. 50 Ways to Bring Out Your Child’s Best Written by Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. 1. Let your child discover her own interests. Pay attention the activities she chooses. This free-time play can say a lot about where her gifts lie. 2. Expose your child to a broad spectrum of experiences. They may...

Letting Go Of Food Control

I know that some of you just starting out with unschooling, have a hard time understanding how a child who is able to make their own food choices, will choose healthy foods on their own. The misconception is if you give up food control, they’ll live on cookies and soda. I want to offer a quick glimpse into our lives with something that happened the other day. I went grocery shopping and bought some snacks for my...

Unschooling Math

**originally written in 2008** When my daughter Jacqueline was seven years old, she asked if I could buy some stories that explained math. She was becoming more and more interested in how math fit into her world and had started to take notice of it in movies, TV shows and by watching my husband & I. She had a basic understanding of addition and telling time but she was more interested in math as a whole, not broken down...

A Child That Has Freedom Of Choice

*originally posted 1/2009* Let me tell you about a ten year old child that had freedom of choice. That child is my daughter Jacqueline. I hear all the time…”If I let my kids have freedom over their food, they’ll eat chips all day” or “If I let my child have freedom over video games, they’ll play 24 hours a day”. Sure….if all they know is control and someone else making their...