Our Journey to Unschooling

When we first became parents, we knew we wanted to be intentional about our children's education. Unlike many families, we always had homeschooling on our radar as a potential option. But as our kids grew and we reflected on our own experiences and educational backgrounds, we realized there might be an even better way. This is the story of how our family found unschooling, and why we believe it's the right choice for us - at least for now.

Two Different School Experiences

As parents, we came from contrasting educational backgrounds, but we share a common thread: a deep interest in education itself. Both of us focused on education during our college years, studying pedagogy and gaining valuable experiences in classrooms as both students and teachers.

Dad bounced around numerous schools as a kid, never quite finding a place where he felt he truly belonged. Each new school brought its own challenges, and he often felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. This constant struggle to adapt left him feeling disconnected from his education and questioning the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional schooling. He was inspired to study alternative educational models in college, seeking better ways to engage and support diverse learners.

Mom, on the other hand, had a generally positive experience in school. She enjoyed her classes, did well academically, and has fond memories of her school years. This positive experience inspired her to pursue education as a career path. However, as she delved deeper into educational theory and gained teaching experience, she realized that while traditional schooling had prepared her to be a good student, it hadn't necessarily equipped her for the independence and agency required in adult life.

Our combined experiences and education gave us a unique perspective on learning and child development. We saw firsthand the strengths and limitations of traditional educational models, and this knowledge played a crucial role in our decision to explore alternative options for our own children.

Embracing Unschooling

The philosophy of unschooling resonated with us immediately, particularly the idea that children are people too, with their own interests, learning styles, and pace of development. We were drawn to the belief that children often know what's best for themselves when given the freedom and support to explore. It's the same philosophy we espouse as parents, and it feels natural to extend it to the realm of education.

The decision to explore unschooling wasn't made with the idea that it's an irreversible, permanent commitment, but rather as the next exciting step in our family's educational journey. We were inspired by how our children thrived in their child-led, play-based preschool environment. Seeing their enthusiasm and natural learning through play, we wanted to create a similar atmosphere for them as they entered their elementary school years. We experimented with giving our children more freedom to pursue their interests, and saw how learning happened naturally in the course of everyday activities. This reinforced our desire to continue down this path, while remaining open to adapting our approach as our children grow and their needs evolve.

For us, unschooling means:

• Trusting our children's innate desire to learn and grow
• Providing a rich, supportive environment full of resources and opportunities
• Being present and engaged in our children's explorations
• Allowing our children to learn at their own pace and in their own way
• Emphasizing real-world experiences and practical skills alongside academic knowledge

The journey hasn't always been smooth. We've had moments of doubt, faced skepticism from friends and family, and sometimes struggled to shake off our own ingrained ideas about what education should look like. But the joy we see in our children's eyes when they master a new skill they've chosen to learn, or the depth of knowledge they display about subjects they're passionate about, reassures us that we're on the right path.

Looking Ahead

As we continue on this unschooling journey, we're excited to see where our children's curiosity and interests will lead them. We believe that by fostering their natural love of learning, supporting their individual paths, and treating them as capable individuals, we're preparing them not just for academic success, but for a life of continuous growth, adaptability, and fulfillment.

Unschooling isn't just an educational choice for us – it's a lifestyle that has brought our family closer together and changed how we view learning and personal growth. It's a journey we're grateful to be on, challenges and all. One particular challenge we have faced is how to document the learning that is happening every day. The next two posts will explore unschooling documentation - the why and the how.