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You’re an advocate for age-appropriate learning
One study shows that kindergarten is becoming increasingly academic in some parts of the western world. Whereas in years past kindergarten would be a place for play and exploration, five-year-olds are now expected to perform academic tasks previously taught in higher grades. Yet child development experts assert that academics in kindergarten are too early.
Finland’s students consistently rank among the highest in the world academically, and yet they don’t share our “earlier is better” model of education. In fact, Finland delays academics until age 7. Based on what we know about child development, play is the most appropriate appropriate way for kindergartners to spend their days.
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You know your child needs to move and be outside
We are increasingly sedentary, and as a culture we spend over 90% of our days indoors. Our evolutionary development hasn’t caught up with this fact, which means we need time outdoors. It improves our mental health, decreases stress, and improves gross motor, fine motor, and attention skills.
As scientist and nature advocate Scott Sampson explains in How to Raise a Wild Child, “Beyond the obesity, stress, and other negative effects of remaining indoors, recent research indicates that unstructured play in natural settings is essential for children’s healthy growth.”
Children need extended free time outside everyday, something mainstream schools can’t offer.
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You know that learning isn’t limited to a classroom
Learning isn’t confined to school hours; it can occur anywhere at anytime. When we turn learning into work, we teach our children to resist it. In contrast, when we allow spontaneous learning to occur at our children’s direction, we’ll discover just how many ways there are to learn.
…when we allow spontaneous learning to occur at our children’s direction, we’ll discover just how many ways there are to learn.
As educational expert and unschooling advocate Clark Aldrich explains, “All people unschool to learn most of their knowledge during most of their lives. The only variables are how well do they do it, and when do they start.”
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You have the resources to do it
Unschooling, like homeschooling, can feel like a privilege. Some families rely on two incomes to survive, or unschooling doesn’t feel feasible with multiple children. You might have to change your spending habits or lifestyle to make unschooling work for your family. Yet I recognize that even with changes, financial circumstances, health issues, and other factors might make unschooling difficult or even impossible.
The beauty of self-directed learning is that you follow your children’s lead, and you all learn as you go. Motivation and time are the only tools you need to unschool.
However, don’t think you need to have a master’s in education to unschool. The beauty of self-directed learning is that you follow your children’s lead, and you all learn as you go. Motivation and time are the only tools you need to unschool. If you think unschooling might be right for you, do some research and then trust your gut. Odds are that you’re more capable than you believe.
Megan Stonelake is a therapist and parent coach who teaches parents all over the world how to become more peaceful. She has written extensively on peaceful parenting for Parent.co, Hey Sigmund, and The Huffington Post among others. You can follow her blog or schedule a session at her website. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
