Hi!!! Yes, I'm an unschooling mom. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
The difference between child-centered learning and unschooling was hard for me to get at first too...
Here it is. You can do child-centered learning and still have a set curriculum. For example, you may teach your child about Egypt but plan child-centered, hands-on activities that will hold your child's interest.
Unschooling is totally child-led with the parent serving as the facilitator, exposing the child to new concepts, places, and people while allowing the child to delve as deeply as he or she prefers.
For example, right now my son is interested in planes and space....We've done a trip to Kennedy Space Center, etc...Lots of books on the topic from the library, videos, anything we can get our hands on regarding this topic.
He wanted to try gymnastics, so he does that each week. He also has played soccer and basketball. He wants to play a musical instrument--specifically the trombone...Not sure what we'll do for that..LOL <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
He has taken art classes. We cook together since that interests him. We garden a bit but hope to do more.
Just remember that unschooling means your child is learning 24/7. You don't take summers off. You don't take weekends off. The idea is that your child is learning constantly--even if he's playing with no traditional curriculum requirements.
With that being said, I should explain this doesn't mean unschoolers never use textbooks or curriculum. My son asked me to teach him to read and write this year so I ordered Sing, Spell, Read and Write because he's so musical. I knew he'd love to learn that way.
I don't initiate it though--he does. And guess what!! He wants to do it mostly everyday. He calls it is "homework" and wants to do his reading/writing when Loralei goes to sleep.
We spend our mornings out and about town visiting the museum, going to storytime, etc and then our afternoons doing quiet things at home like crafts, reading, and baking.
Unschooling doesn't mean that a parent isn't active in their child's education. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Hope this helps...Oh..here's a good article called "Nurturing your Child's Natural Love of Learning" by Jan Hunt. I share this with EVERYONE!!!
http://www.naturalchild.org/jan_hunt/unschooling.html