Welcome back from the holidays folks! I’m catching up from the past two weeks so there’s lots of articles to check out. Happy new year!
OK, let's talk about crap parents
January 6, 2024 from Small Places By Eloise Rickman
Are “crap parents” to blame for struggling children? Well, that’s what the Conservative MP for Bury North James Daly thinks. Speaking to the i newspaper last week, he said: "Most of the kids who struggle in Bury are the products of crap parents and so what do we do to try to address that issue? "On the left it would just be we'll throw money at this and hope something sticks, somebody like me thinks about this more fundamentally."
60. The Essence of Childhood
January 5, 2024 from Radical Learning Talks
Many adults spend so much time preparing kids for adulthood in ways that society has predetermined as the necessary or “right way”. Yet, we don’t realize that this comes at the expense of their childhood. And, many of us have even lost touch with what childhood is all about.
Helping Kids When Their Interests Are Different to Yours
January 4, 2024 from Stories of an Unschooling Family
The other day, while in the undercover parking area of our local shopping centre, I spied a shiny black Rolls Royce. I didn’t at first know what car model it was because I don’t take any interest in that kind of thing. But I did know it was special, an out-of-the-ordinary vehicle.
How to Worry Less About Very Unlikely Dangers: Some Tips!
January 4, 2024 from Free Range Kids
Did you know that January is Mental Wellness Awareness Month! Woo hoo! How can you celebrate? Get mentally well! That can be a challenge, especially in an era that can seem hellbent on creating new things to worry about. So here’s something that may help. Let Grow President Lenore Skenazy sat down with Tampa talk show host Maggie Rodriguez for a chat about the second edition of Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow.
Why Does School Make Me Nervous?
January 4, 2023 from School Survival
Hey there, fellow School Survivors! If you're reading this, chances are you've felt that familiar knot in your stomach, the jittery nerves that come with the mere thought of school. First off, let me say this loud and clear: there's absolutely nothing wrong with you. Not a single thing. School can feel like an anxiety-inducing rollercoaster, and sometimes it's hard to put a finger on why. It's okay to feel this way, and you're not alone.
Building Community, Episode 357
January 4, 2024 from Living Joyfully with Unschooling
In this episode, Pam, Anna, and Erika dive deep into building community. As we regularly mention, people are different, and each member of your family will likely have different needs for community, friendship, and social time. We talk about in-person versus online connections, the value of interest-based communities, some of the many different ways we've found community during our unschooling years, and more.
Gifted and Distractible with Julie Skolnick
January 3, 2024 from Raising Lifelong Learners
Homeschooling is an incredibly personal and varied experience, and when it comes to understanding gifted children, sometimes even the most well-equipped parents can find themselves searching for answers. “But… what’s wrong with him?” is a question you’ve probably asked yourself as you faced certain behaviors that seemed out of place or misunderstood.
Why does school make you feel unmotivated?
January 3, 2024 from School Survival
Hey there, fellow school survivors! Ever find yourself staring at a textbook, daydreaming of a world beyond the classroom? Or maybe you've experienced the sinking feeling that comes with a stack of assignments piling up. You're not alone, and there's nothing wrong with you.
[Podcast #218] Reupping Your Homeschool Commitment
January 3, 2024 from Brave Writer
The new year brings a perfect opportunity to refresh and re-energize our homeschooling practices. It’s not just about sticking to what has worked in the past; it’s about bringing in new ideas and approaches. On today’s Brave Writer podcast, we encourage parents to experiment with different educational styles and activities.
13 Fun Challenges To Start The New Year Strong
January 2, 2024 from Taking a Kinder Path
13 new year challenges to bring joy, peace and strength in 2024, for your body and mind, your home and family 🙂 The perfect time to take on a challenge and build momentum in areas of your life that might benefit from some loving care and attention. And so, to celebrate the new year, a quick rundown of some of my favourite new year challenges.
Great Books to Read with Your Kids in January
January 1, 2023 from Raising Lifelong Learners
January is the perfect time to snuggle up with your kiddos and a few warm and cozy books. I’ve gathered a list of great books to read with your kids in January so you can find the perfect one! Tell folktales about Chinese New Year or tell a silly story of antlers growing on your head!
What Works Can Also Hurt
January 1, 2024 from Think Again
I’m reading another article about how successful high control schooling is at improving exam results. It turns out that if you strictly control children’s behaviour and spend their education focusing relentlessly on what will get them high test scores, they get higher test scores.
Collective Parenting and Hyper Individualism
December 30, 2023 from Swimming Upstream
I grew up in the magical decade of the 1980s, part of a generation between generations. They call us Xennials - that handful of years between Gen X and Millenials that often gets left out of the conversation. We were the last generation to have an analog childhood, and the first to have home computers and cellphones in our teens.
The Unschool Challenge: Writing an End-of-the-Year Review
December 29, 2023 from Stories of an Unschooling Family
On this sunny second last day of 2023, I’m thinking about the year that’s almost over. I ask myself: “Was it a good year?” and immediately a voice in my head shouts, “No! It was a very difficult year. It’s one I want to forget.”
The 10 Worst Free-Range Parenting Stories of 2023 — And One That Will Give You Great Hope!
December 29, 2023 from Free Range Kids
Roll your eyes, shake your head, scream “That stinks!” and go to bed. Or, if you prefer, read on: NON-EXISTENT DANGER IN AISLE 3. A University of Michigan survey of parents of children age 9-11 found that half will not let their kids go to another aisle at the store to get a few items. Too dangerous!
Cultivating Commitment and Follow Through
December 28, 2023 from Raising Lifelong Learners
Commitment is a virtue that invariably separates the successful from the rest. As parents, educators, and caretakers, our foremost job is to embed the value of commitment within our children, transforming them into resilient and passionate lifelong learners.
2.7 Youth Rights Take Flight with Seattle Flying Squad
December 28 , 2023 from The Unschool Files
in the 7th episode of the second season, Meghan is speaking with two people from the Seattle Flying Squad. A teen named Everest and facilitator Susan. Everest + Susan explain what flying squads are, how they communicate as a squad, what it’s like out in public during school hours and the ways adults always think they know better! it’s a good one, and you won’t want to miss it 🤌🏼
A Mom Reads Her Kids the Children’s Book She Loved…And They Go “Meh”
December 27, 2023 from Free Range Kids
This seasonal post comes from Kobi Nelson, a high school teacher in Denver with a Ph.D. in Education. Kobi enjoys life with her husband, two kids, and cat named Bear. The first time I encountered The Story of Holly and Ivy was when my Great-Aunt gave me the book in the 1980s. Six-year-old-me was enamored with the story. My dad read it to me every Christmas.
[Podcast #217] Raising Kind Humans with Katie Doughty
December 27, 2023 from Brave Writer
In the journey of nurturing the next generation, the importance of instilling kindness and empathy in children cannot be overstated. The concept of teaching kindness extends far beyond mere politeness; it’s about shaping compassionate, empathetic individuals who can positively impact their communities.
When Is It Time To Quit Homeschooling?
December 26, 2023 from Different by Design Learning
When is it time to admit that life circumstances or homeschooling in general isn’t working? When is it time to quit homeschooling? Over the years, I have faced several difficulties that caused me to question if it was time to throw in the towel and quit homeschooling. Every single diagnosis created a dread in me. What if I am doing the wrong thing? What if I am failing my child?
Brave Writer Precept #12: All of Life is an Opportunity for Education
December 26, 2023 from Brave Writer
The twelfth Brave Writer precept is: We affirm that a good enough homeschool is one where our family chooses to see all of life as an opportunity for an education—whether we homeschool to the end, or include traditional schooling in that journey. It’s time to bring our precept journey to a close! We have twelve in all, and this one is the key to the whole experience of parent-invested education.