WEBINAR

What I’ts Really Like To Unschool

Quick recap

Sylvia shared her extensive knowledge and experience with unschooling, explaining its principles and practical applications in her family and community. The conversation concluded with discussions about parenting approaches, screen time impacts on children, and the balance between structure and natural learning in unschooling environments.

Summary

Unschooling: Natural Learning Principles

Sylvia, a founder of A Place To Be, an unschooling neighborhood in Madeira, discussed the history and principles of unschooling. She explained that unschooling mimics the natural learning process observed in pre-industrial societies, where children learn by observing and participating in real life. Sylvia contrasted this with modern educational systems, which she argued were designed to produce obedient workers rather than thinkers. She emphasized the importance of natural parenting practices and community living in fostering holistic development.

Understanding Unschooling: Natural Learning

Sylvia discussed the concept of unschooling, drawing from her research and personal experience. She explained that unschooling aims to mimic the natural learning process of humans, emphasizing freedom, curiosity, and a return to how humans have traditionally learned through life experiences. Sylvia shared three stories that influenced her understanding of unschooling, highlighting common themes of natural learning and community involvement. She also described the practical aspects of unschooling in her family, emphasizing freedom, following one's natural rhythms, and spending time outdoors.

Unschooling and Natural Learning

Sylvia shared her experience with unschooling, describing how her children learn naturally through their interests and daily activities, including running a dog walking business. She emphasized that learning happens organically when children are allowed to pursue their passions and that self-correction is more effective than adult correction. Sylvia also discussed her philosophy of "less is more," explaining how simplifying their lifestyle and returning to natural behaviors can improve physical and mental well-being. She concluded by outlining three personal rules that guide her approach to parenting, with the first being the importance of setting boundaries for herself rather than imposing them on her children.

Parenting with Boundaries and Independence

Sylvia discussed her approach to parenting and setting boundaries, emphasizing the importance of respecting children's boundaries and allowing them to learn independence. She outlined six rules for herself, including not serving her children, limiting screen time, and not solving their problems, while also allowing them to make mistakes and feel emotions. Sylvia stressed the importance of internal work to overcome personal conditioning and raise children who are free and in touch with their intuition.

Parenting Strategies and Emotional Balance

Sylvia discussed her approach to parenting and maintaining flow with her children, emphasizing the importance of observing one's own behavior and not reacting impulsively. She advised Niek to sit down with his son after an emotional outburst and have a neutral conversation about the event, using storytelling to help the child process their feelings. Sylvia also shared her experience of learning to stop serving her children and instead finding a natural balance in their interactions. The discussion concluded with Sylvia reading a question from Michelle about balancing attention between her three children, particularly regarding her eldest daughter's learning and playtime being disrupted by the toddler.

Balancing Screen Time for Children

The group discussed the impact of screen time on children, with Sylvia sharing her perspective on limiting TV watching and social media use. Sylvia emphasized the importance of natural learning environments and suggested reducing separation between siblings to foster better connections. She highlighted the need to protect children's formative years from excessive screen time, citing concerns about brain development and physical activity. The discussion touched on the challenges of balancing screen time with other activities and the potential long-term effects of early exposure to screens.

Unschooling and Natural Rhythms

The group discussed unschooling and the role of structure in children's lives. Sylvia shared her experience with a natural, flexible approach to daily routines, emphasizing the importance of following children's interests while maintaining some structure. Linah commented on the balance between routines and natural flow, suggesting that fighting against natural rhythms can lead to resistance. The conversation also touched on Sylvia's unschooling community and their plans for a communal land project, including potential activities and future accommodations.