Mission: To encourage free learning in your child.
Recently, Nxt Era spoke with Pat Farenga, who is a former homeschool dad and publisher of Growing Without Schooling (GWS) magazine. John Holt originally began GWS to help families discover the beauty of unschooling. Now, Pat Farenga cares for the organization. He supports unschooling and free learning for children.
He came upon the GWS/John Holt organization during his time working as a bookstore clerk. At this time, he hoped to become a teacher. However, his future changed after speaking with Holt himself and learning about unschooling. Holt told him that he would work on children as a public school teacher, not with children.
Farenga explained that children have learned for centuries without a structured system. Parents can become open to a child's learning at home. They can embrace flexibility and let their child free play. Farenga also encourages parents to recognize that every child learns differently.
Farenga believes that we base learning around school structure. However, we should base learning on trying new things and free play, especially for youths.
How can you definitively implement unschooling in your home? Think about these practical solutions as you consider unschooling.
- Don't follow the school structure
- Encourage free learning
- Encourage social learning
- Interweave subjects
- Work with your child
- Model the behavior
- Show progress and success
- Pay attention to and love your child
Farenga recommends several ways that parents can implement unschooling/free learning at home. First, step away from the rigid structure of the school system. Then encourage free learning and discovery, so your child can learn with freedom. Next, find friends for your child. Let them play together, and this way they will learn. Older children can model how to do things for younger children. Or children will simply copy the older children. Farenga passionately expressed that we all learn socially. Therefore, encourage your children to join a local book club or park days. Perhaps you can enroll them in an art class, or maybe they can simply find friends in your neighborhood.
Next, Farenga encourages parents to allow subjects to interconnect. School structure creates a divide between subjects. In unschooling, parents can connect subjects. Let your child play football and show them the connections among math, English, and science. Use this time to work with your child and learn about their interests. Talk with them. See what they like and don't like.
Continuing, now, you, as the parent must model certain behaviors. Be open to learning, be flexible, and be kind. These behaviors will show your child how to learn and grow into an adult. Then encourage your child to show their progress. For instance, if they want to build a dollhouse, let them learn how to do it. Then have them explain to you how they built it. Perhaps they want to write a story. Again, let them learn and then read their work. This measures progress creatively and flexibly. Finally, and most importantly, pay attention to your child's learning style and needs. If they don't like something, help them. Encourage them and let them explore diverse interests. This not only shows attentiveness but also love.
If you are new to unschooling, Farenga's words can encourage and inspire you. Be flexible, open, and encouraging. Allow your child to become creative and playful. In essence, they will learn this way as young people. Break them free from the structural system of today's society.
School is a social control mechanism, and you can encourage them to learn freely. Think about the question: What makes a good citizen? Certainly not the ability to sit still for 8+ hours and receive excellent marks on assignments. A good citizen develops from their heart and mind. Are you ready to raise a good citizen by unschooling? You can do this!
