Is this type of parenting crazy?

[tweednickers]

I met some radical unschoolers at the park - rather than seeming like complete hippy weirdos they seemed like a really happy family with well-adjusted kids. I on the other hand probably came across like a psychotic fishwife as I had to keep yelling at my kids not to do this and that (it was pretty awful). Needless to say I have turned into the shouty mum I never wanted to be so I am now really interested and open to other ways to parent. Wondered if anyone else has come across this idea and if they are living it. Any pointers on where to go for more info?
I have read www.theunchainedchild.com and www.joyfullyrejoycing.com which were both very inspiring but now i want to know more. Anyone?..
Cheers,
K,

The ideas of John Holt are very interesting. He provides the philosophy behind a lot of home education where it's based on informal, child-directed learning. How Children Learn is a good book, but he's written How Children Fail as well as lots of others. Very easy to read, and quite compelling when you get into them.

(I'm considering the informal home education myself, although DS is young yet, and DH might draw the line at anything involving the word 'radical'. )

There's also a Home Education forum on here - might be other MNers there who take this approach.

Hi - I take my DD to a Steiner toddler group, its brilliant, a more natural way of parenting.

I'm not a hippy weirdo!! I really enjoy the group, its very calm, all the toys are made of natural materials, each week we do things like making bread rolls, painting with natural paints or making seasonal things.
The children help set the table for snacks (and tidy up afterwards) - if they want to - and are encouraged to share and pass the snacks around.

You Are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin (the latest one) is a good read and I get The Green Parent magazine which I think you can only buy from WHSmith and Sainsburys.

Hope that helps!

I'd recommend the following books for an insight into other ways to parent (not specifically Home Ed related)

Unconditional Parenting - Alfie Kohn
Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves - Naomi Aldort
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen - Adele Faber
Playful Parenting - Lawrence J Cohen

Completely revolutionised the way we decided to parent our daughter

Just got playful parenting myself and it seems fab!

Thanks everyone for your response.
The Unchained Child by Chaley-Ann Scott has really opened my eyes and my husband agrees. I think it is going to revolutionise the way we parent. It all makes so much sense but sometimes you get so used to doing what everyone else is you can't see how disrespectful you are being to your kids.

I have ordered the Holt books as well so looking forward to getting those.
K.

I wonder what really makes these books worth reading - can someone possibly spare the time to tell me, I would be really grateful for your time. I have bought so many parenting books over the years but find they just tell me what I know already or are too much the ideal and so not at all practical for everyday life.

I know what you mean - my shelf is full of them and it just gets confusing. I like a mix of 'philosophy' and real life which is why I liked Chaley's book. She gives a real warts-and-all account of what I considered to be an idealistic philosophy. It actual makes a lot of sense which surprised me.
K