Unschooling? Sounds like the

opposite what we should want for our children. But what is Unschooling?

To put it simply, is child-led learning. There is no set curriculum, no schedules and no rules. It is letting children learn how to learn.

Every child is born with the instinct to learn. There are no formal classes that teach talking or walking, children learn them by environment and parental assistance. This is the idea behind unschooling.

It, however, is also not non-involvement from parents. Unschooling requires parents to be there for their children to explain and guide, to show by example, to provide answers and arrange activities.

As an example, I have unschooled my daughters, ages 8 and 6 their whole lives. We spend all day together. From going to the Renaissance Faire, my 8 year old has discovered a passion for history, especially Tutor and Elizabethan history. She can tell you more about King Henry the 8th then you probably want to know. My 6 year old loves video games. With guidance, she can now read numbers into the hundred thousands and is beginning to learn subtraction with those size numbers.

Unschooling isn't for everyone. Just like homeschooling, it takes patients. Unlike homeschooling, you have to trust your child to learn and have a willingness to have a lax or non-existent need for scheduling.

If you unschool, you learn so much about yourself, your children and The world around you. It pushes you to learn about the things you are interested in as well.

I'm glad I chose to unschool and wouldn't have it any other way. If you're looking for a new educational model, check out unschooling and see if it works for you and your family.