Thought for the Day: The Role of the Unschooling Parent

Photo by Amy Stein, via Coolhunting

I love this list. I recently discovered it on the trove of Unschooling information that is the website Joyfully Rejoicing, and I thought I would share it here:

Show respect for all of a child's interests equally.

Keep the child in mind as I go through life, so that I notice things that might be of interest to that child.

Find ways to include the child in my own daily life - live a more"open-book' life than the norm.

Follow up on things the child is interested in - and do this in a wide variety of ways, not only by "getting him a book on it."

Live a family life that is rich with experiences of a variety of kinds both at home and outside the home.

Have resources around the home that are interesting and stimulating - things that will encourage exploration of ideas.

Discuss things - spend time in conversation. This is probably overall the most important parental"action' involved in unschooling.

Have a playful attitude - play together, have fun, appreciate the amazing world around you. Don't be cynical, be able to be amazed and find the world a fascinating place. THIS is the most important attitude for an unschooling parent.

Be self-aware of your own thinking and behavior. Purposely stretch your imagination - question your own assumptions, check your own automatic impulses.

Be very observant of what your child is really doing - don't view him/her in a shallow superficial way. Recognize that there is a reason for a child's actions, that a child is born to learn and is always learning. Get to know your child's own special favored ways of learning

Wholeheartedly support a child's passions EVEN if, to you, they don't look like "education."