AMA
I'm a radical unschooler AMA
OutOfControlSpirals · 26/07/2018 15:22
I'm a radical unschooling mum, which basically means I've taken the principals of unschooling, where a child is free to learn what they want, when they want, and applied it to every aspect of our lives. So my children have the same freedoms that I do when it comes to eating/sleeping/learning etc.
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 26/07/2018 15:27
Do you think your parenting style is a cop out? If not, why not.
LadyGAgain · 26/07/2018 15:28
What are the age of your children? How well are they progressing academically? Do you measure them at all? Why have you chosen this style of parenting? (Genuinely interested not being goady)
OutOfControlSpirals · 26/07/2018 15:31
Do I think my parenting style is a cop out? No not at all, if anything it takes more work, I have to be present with my children and engage with them, I see my role as a guide and facilitator, not boss.
NynaeveSedai · 26/07/2018 15:32
Do you worry your kids will miss out on basic education and be fucked as adults?
Doyoumind · 26/07/2018 15:32
What do they actually learn in an academic sense and are you planning for them to gain any qualifications?
RunMummyRun68 · 26/07/2018 15:32
what does the local education authority think about this?
HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 26/07/2018 15:33
Do you believe that being obliged to do something you don’t want to do, can ever be a positive thing for an adult or a child?
Normandy144 · 26/07/2018 15:34
Sounds exhausting! What does it actually mean then in practice? What's a typical day for you and your family?
ThatEscalatedQuickly · 26/07/2018 15:34
How do you think they will cope as adults when they can't call the shots on every aspect of their lives?
Hangingaroundtheportal · 26/07/2018 15:34
How do you ensure that your kids will have basic skills if those skills are not what they fancy learning?
How will you ensure that your kids can cope with the real world where they can't do what they want, when they want, for example when they have to get a job etc?
OutOfControlSpirals · 26/07/2018 15:34
Children are 8, 10 and 12. Once a year I ask them to do an online assessment that is inline with the national curriculum, they have consistantly been either at or ahead of their age group, but thats never any surprise to me. We talk a lot and discuss everything under the sun so its pretty easy to gauge their comprehension and abilities.
spugzbunny · 26/07/2018 15:35
I'm certainly not in a rigid routine mum but are you not just really tired all the time if you aren't persuading your child to nap etc when they are obviously tired but fighting it? What about teenagers? Teenage me would have been nocturnal!
Grandmaswagsbag · 26/07/2018 15:35
How does a typical day work out? What sort of stuff do the kids choose to learn about?
Nquartz · 26/07/2018 15:35
So if they don't fancy learning to read or write then they don't? What happens when they grow up & need to get a job?
Hangingaroundtheportal · 26/07/2018 15:36
Will they do formal exams to get qualifications?
ThatEscalatedQuickly · 26/07/2018 15:36
How do you deal with conflict between the kids, or if one wants something that conflicts with the needs of another child?
3luckystars · 26/07/2018 15:37
Do you worry about them when they are older? Trying to get jobs etc.
RosaMallory · 26/07/2018 15:39
I had to train for four years to get my degree in education. It's also a job where you have to do training courses as well. How did you find out how to teach?
Do your dcs have a life outside the home and away from parents?
I think that's one of the bonuses of going to school!
Also my dcs find it really difficult when they're teased as we don't do teasing because I think it's a way of saying something horrible and then pretending it's a joke. Do you think your dcs will find it harder when they come across a bully in adult life as they've not mixed with bullies at school?
RunMummyRun68 · 26/07/2018 15:43
what do they want to do when they are older? careers/jobs?
TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 26/07/2018 15:43
You talk a lot about freedoms: how do your children learn about responsibilities and boundaries?
No not at all, if anything it takes more work, I have to be present with my children and engage with them
Do you think that those of us who choose to parent differently to you are not present with our children and do not engage with them? Or is this something you tell yourself to justify your parenting style?
TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 26/07/2018 15:44
How do they learn spelling and punctuation?
OutOfControlSpirals · 26/07/2018 15:44
How will they cope in the real world? They're living in it right now. As I stated in my original post, they have the same freedoms as I do, I did not say they call the shots. No one in "the real world" calls all the shots.
I guide them towards self regulation, I encourage consideration of others. An example of this is my oldest having an early morning start for a football game, so obviously going to bed at 2am is not a good idea. He knows this from past experience. Thats self regulation. His younger sibling is often up till midnight or later, which is fine, but they know they gave to show consideration to those trying to sleep, so will listen to music with headphones in. Everyones needs are met, no one person is calling the shots. They learn to compromise and consider others.
glitterbiscuits · 26/07/2018 15:44
Why did you do this?
Presumably you think that your way is better than the conventional way? If so what do you perceive the advantages are for your children compared to mine who go to 'normal' schools.
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