family

139: Unschool Socialisation: Making Friends, Being Different

This week, I'm talking about unschooling and friends.
Is it sometimes difficult for unschoolers to find kindred spirit friends because we're different?
What if our kids don't have many friends?
If someone doesn't want to be our friend, is there something wrong with us?
How do you become a cool kid?
Should we pretend to be someone we're not so that we'll be accepted and have friends?
Or is it better to be ourselves?
Do we need lots of friends in order to learn good communication skills and how to get on with other people? 
Or maybe some 'socialised' people who have no trouble talking don't actually have many communication skills?
Of course, some unschoolers may be part of big unschooling groups and have no trouble finding like-minded friends!
I'm also talking about
NaNoWriMo and friends
My unschooling book
How I stepped outside my comfort zone and had an exciting adventure!
 
Show Notes
 
Podcast
Episode 48: Do Unschoolers Mind Being Different
 
Novel Writing
NaNoWriMo
 
Video
Gemma-Rose (9) Talks about Novel Writing
 
Pam Laricchia's Podcast
Exploring Unschooling
 
Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello. And join me on Instagram!

138: Is Unschooling More Than a Method of Homeschooling?

This week, I'm discussing the question: Is unschooling a method of homeschooling? Or is there more to unschooling than that? Could it be a way of life?
I'm sharing and discussing a story, Why Unschooling Isn't Just Another Method of Homeschooling
I'm also talking about
the issue of unlimited screen time again
criticism and the power of love
how can we encourage kids to become the people they are meant to be?
 
Show Notes
 
Blog Post
Why Unschooling Isn't Just Another Method of Homeschooling
 
Podcast
Episode 70: Trust, Respect and Love Unconditionally
 
Article
 Unschooling 101 by Bridget Bentz Sider:
 
Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!

137: Guiding Our Kids by Radically Unschooling

This week, I'm returning to the topic of radical unschooling.
I'm sharing a story about junk food and poor hygiene and then discussing the following questions:
Is it okay if our kids make choices that are detrimental to their health and happiness?
Should we stand back and let kids make their own minds up about everything?
Or is it okay to guide them?
Do all parents influence their children in some way?
How do we guide our kids without forcing our values, beliefs and practices on them?
What's the difference between unschooling and unparenting?
Why do I think everyone should radically unschool?
 
I also share 
My bad haircut story
My Instagram news
An update about the unschooling book I'm writing
 
Show Notes
 
Blog post
Junk Food and Poor Hygiene: Is Radical Unschooling Wrong?
 
Podcast
Episode 109: Why You Should Consider Radical Unschooling
 
Books
The Crystal Tree by Imogen Elvis
Finish: Give Myself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff
 
Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!
 

136: The Complicated Issue of Unlimited Screen Time

This week, I'm chatting about unlimited screen time. Is this a simple issue? If we let our unschooled kids have unlimited access to screens and trust them, will they learn to self-regulate their usage without any problems? Or is there more to discuss than that?
I'm sharing my story, Is It Really Okay to Let Unschooling Kids Have Unlimited Access to Screens and the Internet?
And I'm discussing the questions:
Will kids learn to self-regulate their screen usage?
Do adults have trouble self-regulating?
Should we respect our kids’ choices?
Why do we fear letting go of control?
What is sensible screen behaviour?
Is the Internet really addictive?
Is making screen rules a responsible thing to do?
Or is there a better way to help kids self-regulate their usage?
Do we have to do more than just step back and give our kids complete freedom to do what they want?
 
Show Notes
Blog Posts
Is It Really Okay to Let Unschooling Kids Have Unlimited Access to Screens and the Internet?
My Unschool Unplanning Strewing Notebook
 
Podcast
Episode 105, Social Media, Internet Addiction, and Screen Time
 
Youtube
Sue Elvis
 
Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!

135: A Gradual Approach to Unschooling and More

This week, I'm talking about how unschooling can be approached in a gradual way.
I'm sharing a story: A Gradual Approach to Unschooling.
And discussing the following questions:
Is a gradual approach the best way for many families to begin unschooling?
Is mutual trust between parent and child essential?
Is it really okay if our kids spend all day in front of screens?
Why do some kids have trouble self-regulating their screen time?
Is it wrong if parents want their kids to exercise and go outside?
How can we encourage kids to leave their screens?
 
Show Notes
Blog Posts
A Gradual Approach to Unschooling
Is It Really Okay to Give Unschooling Kids Unlimited Access to Screens and the Internet
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. A quick review or rating would help too!
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Perhaps you'd like to tell me what you think of my new look blog. Or just stop by and say hello!

134: Do Unschoolers Need Holidays?

This week, I'm sharing my story Funny How Things Change. It's about school term time and holidays. It's also a typical day story.
I'm also discussing the questions:
How did our attitude towards holidays change when we became unschoolers?
Do unschoolers need holidays?
If we want our kids to respond to our strewing invitations, do we need to respond to theirs?
Do we have to be prepared to give our time and full attention to our kids?
Also:
I talk about homeschool record keeping
I have some resources to share
I reveal what happened to my Catholic Radical Unschool Cheese blog
And I tell you about some changes to my unschooling blog
 
Show Notes
 
Blog post
Funny How Things Change
 
Resources
Novels
To Love a Sunburnt Country by Jackie French
The Billabong Books by Mary Grant Bruce
The Far Side of the Loch by Melissa Wiley
 
Poem
Clancy of the Overflow by Banjo Paterson
 
Videos
Secrets of the Castle
The Hollow Crown
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. 
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Perhaps you'd like to tell me what you think of my new look blog. Or just stop by and say hello!

133: A Balanced and Productive Unschool Life

This week, I'm chatting with my teenage daughter Sophie. 
We start with these conversation prompts:
Something we've been thinking about
Something we've found difficult
Something we've enjoyed
Something we've read or listened to
Something we've watched
And we end up talking about:
Why making rules can be dangerous
Balancing work, passions, and taking care of ourselves
How unschooling isn’t about drifting aimlessly through the day
An easy way to keep a journal
Intentionally seeking joy in our lives
Becoming happier and more positive people
How we can all make a difference to other people’s days
Resisting the temptation to check apps and waste time
Creativity
Growing and developing as people
Show Notes
 
Podcasts
episode 10: Should a Child Be Given the Freedom to Choose
 The Accidental Creative
 
Blog post
Unschoolers Talk About Freedom to Choose
 
Books
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Louder Than Words by Todd Henry
 
TV Series
Agents of SHIELD
Call the Midwife
 
Sophie's Blog
Tough Turtle
 
My Youtube Channel
Sue Elvis
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. 
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!

132: When an Unschooler Isn't Interested in Maths

This week, I'm sharing and discussing the post When an Unschooler Isn't Interested in Maths. It's the promised update to my daughter Gemma-Rose's unschooling maths story. 
Also, I have a maths resource to share.
And I tell a couple of stories. One involves a huge kangaroo and the other ponders the questions: What is success? How do we measure it?
 
Show Notes
Blog Post
When an Unschooler Isn't Interested in Maths
 
Maths Youtube Channel
Eddie Woo
 
My Youtube Channel
Sue Elvis
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. 
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!
 

131: Making Unschooled Kids Learn Maths Just in Case

This week, I'm sharing a story called Making Unschooled Kids Learn Maths Just in Case. And I'm discussing the main points in it.
Is it sensible to make all kids learn maths just in case they might need it?
What if kids need maths to go to university?
What if they decide they want to go to school?
 
Show Notes
 
Blog post
Making Unschooled Kids Learn Maths Just in Case
 
Videos
Are You a Curious Unschooler?
What Will You Strew Today?
 
Youtube channel
Sue Elvis
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. 
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!

130: Are You a Curious Unschooler?

This week, I'm sharing a story called Are You a Curious Unschooler?
I'm also discussing the following questions:
Is everyone curious?
Or can we lose our curiosity?
Can we strew verbally?
Do we have to be good examples of learning for our kids?
Does our curiosity make homeschool recordkeeping easier?
How can we unschool and also be registered homeschoolers?
 
Show Notes
 
Podcast
Episode 58: Responding to Unschooling and Other Critics
 
Blog posts
Are You a Curious Unschooler?
Saying Yes: Unschool Bits and Pieces
 
A Resource
The House with Annabel Crabb
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider sharing the link so we can spread the word about unschooling. 
Please feel welcome to visit my blog Stories of an Unschooling Family to leave a comment about anything I talked about in this episode. Or just stop by and say hello!