Focus on learning

Some newbie unschoolers want to be part of the in-crowd, but they haven't figured out that it takes time and reflection and maybe being with their kids in a different way. When the focus is on learning, everything can be understood through that lens.

—Robin Bentley

SandraDodd.com/understanding
photo by Sandra Dodd

Choose a point, any point.

Parents new to unschooling tend to worry that some activities are good preparation for life, but others are frivolous and should be forbidden or discouraged. Life and thought and learning, though, depend on connections being made. And the more points of information about anything at all being made inside an individual, the more points there will be to connect.


SandraDodd.com/connections/jokes
photo by Sandra Dodd

Wonderful!

I was being interviewed and said that living with joy and wonder made life more joyful and... wonderful!

Living with wonder makes life wonderful.

SandraDodd.com/wonder
photo by Sandra Dodd

Empower them.

"I want my kids to feel empowered, so I empower them." —Jenny Cyphers

http://sandradodd.com/jennycyphers/
photo by Sandra Dodd

Why?

Every time you feel the urge to control a choice, you can ask yourself "why?" and begin to question the assumptions (or fears) about children, parenting, learning and living joyfully that you are holding on to.

—Robyn Coburn

SandraDodd.com/option
photo by Sandra Dodd

Parents should be...

Unschooling works well when parents are interesting, positive, thoughtful, considerate, generous, passionate, honest, respectful individuals.

—Deb Lewis

SandraDodd.com/nest
photo by Sandra Dodd
___

One interaction at a time

One interaction at a time. Just make the next interaction a relationship-building one. Don't worry about the one AFTER that, until IT becomes "the next one."

the wise words of Pam Sorooshian
at SandraDodd.com/parentingpeacefully
photo by Sandra Dodd, of a flower growing in the rock below Edinburgh Castle