Unschooling

Three Children - 7yrs, 5yrs, 3yrs

The way our day unravels depends largely on the weather, the seasons, our moods, and what’s planned for the day (such as playdates, catch up with local unschooling playgroup, sports activities, appointments, shopping, or the need for a home day). Every single day is different and brings different possibilities. Our day begins anywhere between 6am and 8am. My husband feeds the pets (a dog, three rats, three chickens, and a Flemish giant rabbit) and heads early to work. Once the girls and I are up, I usually prepare us a hot drink while they play with toys, draw pictures, interact with their pets, or watch children’s programs on TV. We have breakfast and our morning progresses depending on what we have planned - if we are going out then we get ready, if we are staying home then we talk about what we’d like to do.

My three girls are still in the imaginative-play stage - this often involves their pets and can take up many hours! Throughout the day we also draw, paint, work on projects, and have big discussions started by a simple question. At around midday we have lunch together. Our afternoons bring much the same diversity as the morning - we might be heading out or my girls might return to the game they were playing before lunch. Sometimes my two youngest will play together while I work with my oldest on her reading - she will bring books to me and we’ll read one-on-one. There may be something the girls are wanting to learn about or they might watch Suzy's World or other documentaries.

My husband arrives home early evening to have dinner together as a family. After dinner the girls love to play with their dad and catch up with him. Slowly they start to feel tired so we transition into bed time, I help the youngest to bed and dad takes the two older ones. The time that the girls go to sleep varies for each. As I am writing this my oldest has just asked me what I am doing - I answered that I am writing about what we do all day. She said to me, “So you are writing ‘learn’?” What a great sum up of our typical day!

Three Children - 18yrs, 16yrs, 15yrs

My boys have been unschooled through their whole education. They learn through living life fully and following their own interests. My role is to facilitate opportunities for them, partner them to achieve their goals, and talk through issues they are facing. Unschooling is often viewed as inadequate preparation for technically difficult degrees such as Engineering. I haven’t found that. My oldest had little experience with formal learning, going on to get all A’s in first year uni papers (physics, chemistry, math, academic writing). He is now doing a Mechanical Engineering degree. He tends to sort his own schedule these days and we just make sure to connect regularly.

For my other two, we always make a plan together before the term starts - looking at what each person wants to enrol in or learn about, and seeking a balance in how we spend our time. We prioritise physical wellbeing and mental health. My boys are now in the phase of learning to drive, going to the gym with Dad, heading out on tramping trips with friends, and moving toward being a adult in the household rather than a child. They have their particular interests - art, Chess, karate, etc. They choose to do some classes like pottery or creative writing. Both have chores and two cooking nights each. They chat to friends online or catch up in-real-life to play Dungeons & Dragons.

We have a general rhythm to our day and week that suits all of us. The teen years for my family have been really enjoyable. When we raise an issue or concern with any of our boys, they tend to be open to discussing it rather than defensive or angry. My husband and I have worked to build a strong bond with each child over the years, and I feel our kids know that we are on their team and want the best for them.