Just the thought of having your kids around all the time and having to be responsible for how they learn, sounds so terrifying. But what if it’s actually possible and is the beginning of an adventure you never thought possible? Carrie Paxton Herzberger is here to tell us all about her journey - how possible it is to unschool your kids and embrace real freedom. As an entrepreneurial unschooling mom of 2 girls, she still manages to run 2 businesses- an unschooling cooperation, and a nature camp for local school kids. If you’re a busy mom or dad who wants to slow down and get more done so you can spend more time with your kids (especially outside), Carrie has so much in store in this episode for you.
Knowing she was destined to be a teacher from always accidentally teaching in different schooling systems, from the different client experiences with those from public and private schools and even other states, she noticed that they all had struggles because their needs were simply not being met at their schools. And so the journey began- unschooling was the way to go! Carrie dives into all the benefits and practical ways you allow your children to have the freedom to learn and be creative based on their own interests, plus you get to say goodbye to those unnecessary battles like getting worked up about not getting dirty or what clothes to wear to school… all the things. Tune in!
Here are the main points discussed in Season 1 Episode 9:
- Children learn a lot more on their terms when interested in something vs when forced- think of people’s careers; they mainly remember what’s in their field, not all the other subjects that don’t help their career.
- Clarifying that unschooling is simply child-led learning; when they're curious about something, you help them dig into it using different tools and resources.
- Difference between learning vs being taught and how you don't need to be taught to learn but be exposed, interested and have resources to explore it.
- How parents can practically make the switch if they firmly support unschooling and want to apply it.
- The importance of being open as a parent is to let them change their interests after being exposed; allow them to change their mind if they are no longer interested in it. Tip: Don’t invest in expensive resources- they’re still kids and their interests change.
- How she makes Unschooling possible without screens
- The danger of leaving them in front of the screen for entertainment as we make them dependent. Make it a treat or learning tool rather than a go-to for entertainment + how parents who are working all the time can incorporate unschooling by respecting their journey with it.
- Long term effects of kids these days not being outside and reasons we’re not embracing outside knowing that we ourselves used to be outside all the time. Reasons such as how obsessed we’ve become with educating our kids to a high degree as to go to college and get a good job and overscheduling them all of their childhood.
- Honesty about the criticism she gets for choosing to live like this + the anxiety.
- Being aware that there are many ways to still socialize without school and how with regular school punishing them to be quiet whenever they break a rule, it often doesn’t even allow them to have a voice like unschooling does. Moreover, in that space they’re limited only to their age group when in the real world as an adult, you have to interact with everybody and learn from them.
- Difference between a cool op and private schools and private schools there isn't as much control as a parent.
- Parental development for the homeschool space.
- Husband adjustment to homeschooling life as husbands tend to not be on board.
To find Carrie, she is Carrie Paxton Herzberger on Facebook
Website: Carrie@carriecares.co
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