27 Play Hanging out and Fun – Parenting for the Future

by Lehla Eldridge in

01 Alternative Education and Learning, 08 self-directed learning, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun, 30 Screen Time, 017 Happy Healthy Parents Introduction

Great grades without years of schooling? Yes! Here is the recipe.

In all truth, I wouldn’t have 100% believed that years ago but the answer is a definite yes, a child can get their grades without years of schooling!Our 17 year old daughters were not homeschoolers but solid self directed learners for 8 years, from the age of about 8 through to 16. Nor was our son homeschooling. He was also self directed aged 5 through till, well he is still doing it. Prior to that they had a few years in school and a few years of me not really

by Lehla Eldridge in

01 Alternative Education and Learning, 07 Unschooling, 08 self-directed learning, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun

Key One; Nurturing Curiosity, a wonderful gift for your child and yourself

When we went to live in Italy, I was the one who could speak Italian. There was a moment where I didn't understand a joke that the kids were sharing in the car with their friends. In that instant I knew that they had surpassed me in their Italian, I knew from then on I would always be keeping up with them. That they are now fluent in two languages is, to me, invaluable. They will always now have that skill. I think that giving kids the opportunity to learn

by Lehla Eldridge in

03 Parenting and Working, 08 self-directed learning, 09 For Parents, 18 Self Care for Parents, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun, 28 Self Care, 017 Happy Healthy Parents Introduction

The Best Time to Embrace Alternative Education is Now

Embracing Alternative Education During a Pandemic By Lehla Eldridge Everything has shifted, nothing is as it was, the world is changing then surely so should we. Having the whole family at home is a normal situation for me, as we have been unschooling (I will get to that bit later) for nine years. Only in the last year have our older children decided to go to college and THEY LOVE IT and are now going on to do A Levels. We have had a lot of experience of them being

by Lehla Eldridge in

04 Family Wellbeing, 07 Unschooling, 08 self-directed learning, 09 For Parents, 16 The healthy child, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun

Step Back and Give Them Freedom

‘Please put your shoes on’ were the words that came out of my mouth, we were about to walk to the beach. My son in his pyjama trousers, bare footed, free spirited. There are days when I just want him to put his shoes on, it is simple. But the shoe less days are there to teach me something. ‘Mum, I was born without shoes, shoes were invented after feet were, I don’t want to wear them’ In Spain or Italy, not wearing shoes socially is a thing. In South

by Lehla Eldridge in

01 Alternative Education and Learning, 07 Unschooling, 08 self-directed learning, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun, 29 Gaming, 39 learning maths

What is Self Directed Learning?

Right now one daughter is the computer, on the Khan Academy, my other daughter is cooking, my son is on a new scooter that was kindly donated to him by another very generous worldschooler. The kids choose their activities, we flit in and out trying to assist where we can but mostly we step out of the way. That to me has been one of the hardest parts, the stepping away bit, which we talk about a lot in our book. Here are some self directed things that they are

by Lehla Eldridge in

04 Family Wellbeing, 07 Unschooling, 08 self-directed learning, 09 For Parents, 12 relationships, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun, 38 Money

Life Without School

Our children do not go to school and they love it. They have no uniforms, there is no homework to be done, no tests to be taken, no sticker charts, no lunch boxes to pack, no exams to pass. If schooling was a train then they are not on it, they are not even on the platform and if learning was an ocean then they are in it riding the waves and nobody is telling them how to swim. We don’t tell them what they have to learn, they don’t

by Lehla Eldridge in

04 Family Wellbeing, 09 For Parents, 12 relationships, 16 The healthy child, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun, 017 Happy Healthy Parents Introduction, 70 Age 0 to 7yrs, 71 Age 7 to 14 yrs

Unschooling, Community and Choosing to say Yes

Fourteen children of varying ages troupe around here, sometimes together, sometimes in small groups. They are shoe-less school-less the sun is out and so are they. Their parents are all doing different things, some working, one making a cake, another on a business call, someone else is writing. You are not allowed to walk across the veranda you have to ‘swim’ over the rainbow fairies and the small horses. The small ones have turned it in to their ocean and swimming is what has been decreed. Yesterday our son was

by Lehla Eldridge in

02 parenting for the future, 07 Unschooling, 08 self-directed learning, 09 For Parents, 10 for grandparents, 11 for friends, 20 Creativity, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun

The First Step Toward Unschooling: Unschooling the Parents.

‘Just let me live my life’ were the words that came out of my sons mouth yesterday as I tried to teach him about following a recipe. He was furious. He was wanting to cook, I was wanting to help him cook. He was wanting to make biscuits, I was wanting him to follow a recipe. He didn’t want to. I wanted him to. We hit a stalemate. ‘Just let me live my life and let me learn how I want to learn’ I caught myself in that moment, caught

by Lehla Eldridge in

02 parenting for the future, 07 Unschooling, 08 self-directed learning, 09 For Parents, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun, 38 Money, 39 learning maths, 41 Socializing

Can kids learn more when the parents are not getting in their way?

When we recently went to the Unschooling/homeschooling event in Italy I was slightly frustrated as I knew that there was going to be a market and we did not have our car. It is a long story. We had a tiny car that the mechanic lent us, so there was no space to put in all the toys that our kids had wanted to sell at the market. They had nothing to sell. So on the day of the market this lovely family asked if our son would like to

by Lehla Eldridge in

01 Alternative Education and Learning, 06 homechooling, 07 Unschooling, 08 self-directed learning, 09 For Parents, 10 for grandparents, 11 for friends, 15 Entrepreneurship, 27 Play Hanging out and Fun, 41 Socializing

18 things I learnt from the S-COOL HOMESCHOOLING/UNSCHOOLING BIGGEST MEETING EVER IN ITALY.

Our mechanic crashed our car prior to going to this unschooling/homeschooling event. Yes, you read that right. So the five of us were left with a very small 4 seater car which belonged to the garage. It wasn’t great. But we got there. The girls took the train with Ant and I drove with Jahli. Things don’t always go as planned. Turning up in Rimini was like going to Blackpool in the height of summer. I had a sleeping boy in the back and due to the fact that my sat nav didn’t work

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