BellaOnline Forums Education Homeschooling Unschooling - playing all day?

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Well, this article still reflects the idea that we should use the child's play and add to it. Here is an article that supports play all the way:
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Hemyola: I love the article you referenced. It hits the nail on the head. We "un-schooled" our two kids. Ultimately, the oldest graduated from college with honors and the other one is in college with a 4.0 average. While we were raising them, I kept thinking that God (or what the article called "nature") must have given them certain interests and traits for a reason. Allowing those interests and traits to develop seemed key, along with a framework of teaching them values and providing them with as many tools as we could reasonably afford. It wasn't always obvious where the kids were headed, but it all worked out. Sometimes we get too hung up on "proving the pudding" before it's cooked. We fail to allow the process to unfold because it's not obvious what the results will be. Lest anyone think I'm saying children raise themselves, I, most assuredly, am not. To repeat, you do have to instill values, and you have to keep track of where your child's interests lie in order to buy the "tools." If you do these things, you WILL be closely involved with your child. If you leave the general direction up to them, though, you can definitely relax a little. I don't think parents were meant to spend every waking moment policing and evaluating their offspring--there should be lots of enjoyment time in raising kids.

I would say my kids spend more time playing than doing "school" and it works for them.

I have 5 kids and we've always homeschooled and mostly unschooled or done what we call "delight directed learning." In other words, we allow our kids to immerse themselves in the things they love until they grow tired of it and became interested in a new topic. My oldest who is 18 and will graduate with his AA degree in May studied astronomy for years. He lived, ate and breathed astronomy. That was his "science."

We really encouraged this. He learned how to build and launch small rockets, went to Space Camp with his dad when he was 11yo, toured Kennedy Space Center, read everything he could on the solar system, etc. I never tested him or required that he write papers about his learning. Just allowed him to fill himself up to overflowing based on the things that excited him. He also loved to watch Steve Irwin-type shows and the history channel.

As my other kids have gotten older I've tailored their learning to each of their personalities. For one child, that meant more specific assignments. For another, brief 10 min spurts a la Charlotte Mason style. But, the rest of the time they are free to go after their interests. My 12yo has written 2 books on his own initiative that he hopes to have published and has dreams of being a professional writer. When he's not writing, he is outside having imaginary sword fights and medieval battles or exploring our backyard creek. He and his 8yo brother catch lizards and toads and turtles...sometimes feed them and always set them free. Inside he plays computer games or watches the history, discovery and learning channel like his brother. He also gets plenty of Sponge Bob time.

The freedom to play and explore for all of them has been a huge part of their lives.

Donna

I envy you ladies - I couldn't home school at this point because the kids are teens and used to going to school and seeing their friends, but from an educational stand point, I'll tell you I am sick to death of standardized tests and how every class no matter how old is geared to teaching the student to pass the test. I am also annoyed that kids who are middle of the road students get shuffled through (basically ignored and not challenged!) Sorry to interrupt this post, but I wanted to tell you how lucky (and smart) you were to make the decision to home school.