parenting

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!

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!

127: Thankful and Facing Facts

This week, Venisa McAllister is my guest podcaster. 
 
Thankful
Venisa is talking about:
 
Her own educational and childhood experiences
How her family moved from homeschooling to unschooling
Her children and how they have their individual learning styles
The reasons she is thankful her family is unschooling
 
Facing Facts
I'm talking about:
 
How perfectionists like me don't always face facts
What I discovered when I was brave enough to look at my blog, podcast and video stats
How data can help us do better work
A survey I'm hoping you'll fill in so that I can find out if what I'm doing is helpful.
Changes I could make
 
Show Notes
 
Website
Cal Newport
 
Book 
Finish by Jon Acuff
 
Survey
Stories of an Unschooling Family Survey
 
Patreon
My Stories of an Unschooling Family Patreon page
 
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. Maybe you'd also like to support my work and receive some exclusive content by becoming a patron.
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 to say hello.
A big thank you to Venisa. If you'd like to be a guest podcaster, please let me know!
 
 

126: My Number One Unschooling Fan

This week, I'm chatting with my teenage daughter Sophie.
 
We're discussing lots of questions including:
What extra content am I producing for my Patreon patrons?
What has Imogen been doing instead of making music videos?
Why have I asked my daughters Imogen and Sophie to be regular contributors to my blog?
Why should we take an interest in our kids' passions?
Do I present my children in an honest and truthful way?
How do we encourage our kids to be themselves and not follow the crowd when they go out into the world?
Why would Sophie become a patron of my blog and podcast (if she were an unschooling parent)?
 
Show Notes
 
Podcasts
Episode 110: An Interview with a Teenage Radical Unschooler
Episode 34: Learning from My Daughter and Other Unschool Stories
 
Video 
How I Got My Mother to Do a 100 Squat Challenge
 
Blog Post
Confident to Be Me
 
Youtube
Sophie Elvis
Imogen Elvis
Sue Elvis
 
Patreon
My Stories of an Unschooling Family Patreon page
 
Instagram
stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
sophie_elvis
write.rewrite.read
 
Fitness
Fitness Blender
 
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. Maybe you'd also like to support my work and receive some exclusive content by becoming a patron.
.
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 to say hello.
 

125: Connecting Unschooling and Ageing

This week, I'm talking about ageing and unschooling. 
I share the reasons why I'm finding my ageing appearance difficult to accept. Maybe you are a lot younger than me. You could think this conversation isn't relevant to you. However, this episode, despite first impressions, is about unschooling. If everyone lived an unschooling way of life, would the problems associated with ageing disappear? Does the world need unschooling?
 
Show Notes
 
Blog posts
Ashamed of Being Ashamed of Looking Older
Playing for Ian
 
Patreon
My Stories of an Unschooling Family Patreon page
 
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. Maybe you'd also like to support my work and receive some exclusive content by becoming a patron. I hope you will!
.
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 to say hello.
 

124: Does Unschooling Work?

This week, I'm discussing the question Does Unschooling Work? The answer, of course, depends on what we mean by the word 'work'.
I'm also talking about:
 
My fabulous Patreon patrons and the work I hope to do with their help
Camp NaNoWriMo
How kids learn new things when they have a need
How younger siblings think they are just as capable as their older siblings
How sorting out a problem isn't always as difficult as it seems
A new podcast idea which involves collaborating with other unschoolers
 
Show Notes
 
Patreon
My Patreon page
 
My Instagram Account
stories_ofan_unschooling family
 
My Unschooling Newsletter
 
Blog posts
Does the World Needs Unschooling?
Are We Incomplete Without Our Passions and Interests?
 
Youtube channels
Sue Elvis
Imogen Elvis
Sophie Elvis
 
Videos
What is Unschooling?
Mission: Surviving Holy Week
 
Music
Podington Bear's Sound of Picture
 
Writing
'NaNoWriMo
Camp NaNoWriMo
4theWords
 
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. Maybe you'd also like to support my work by becoming a patron!
.
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 to say hello.
 
 

121: Kids, Needs, and Church

This week, I'm talking about:
 
The importance of trying to see the world through our kids' eyes
How we're not giving in to kids when we respond to their needs
How we should respond to the needs of our kids even if it's inconvenient or difficult
How making kids feel welcome at church isn't a matter of tolerating their crying during the service
Should we force unschooled kids to go to church? Why this might be the wrong question
The trials of aspiring authors
How we have to be brave and do things without worrying about the opinions of others
 
I'm also sharing some stories about:
 
Kangaroos and dogs and the late rising sun
A child who cried in a restaurant because he couldn't cope
 
A Note
When it comes to sharing our faith with our kids, I am talking from my own experience which may be different from yours. My husband Andy and I share a faith. We both go to church. When it comes to passing on our beliefs, I'm sure we have it easy compared to families where spouses have differing religious beliefs or levels of commitment.
 
Show Notes
 
Game-Making Website
Stencyl: Create Amazing Games Without Code
 
Blog Posts
The Wobbly Moments of Life
When A Child Can't Cope
 
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 on this episode. Or just stop by to say hello.
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)
 

119: When Unschooling Kids Reach the Teenage Years

This week, I'm talking about:
The progress of my unschooling book
How unschooling transforms families
Duty and love
Supporting young adults
How it's hard to admit mistakes and change what we're doing
How it's never too late to unschool
Possible reasons why there's a shortage of older unschooling bloggers
Why we don't need to make rules for our teenagers in order to keep them safe from the dangers of the world
 
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 on today's episode. Or just stop by to say hello!
 
Podcast music: Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)

118: Dragon Mothers and Parenting Mistakes

 
This week, I'm talking about the times when we don't like who we are and the way we're parenting our kids. I answer the following questions:
How did I get the nickname The Dragon Mother?
How did I get on top of my quick-temper and become a more calm and patient mother?
Am I now a perfect mother or do I still make mistakes?
How did my first child cope with her inexperienced dragon mother? Was she irreversibly affected by my far-from-perfect parenting?
Do we actually need to be perfect parents?
Is the unschooling life perfect?
 
I also tell a lot of stories during this episode.
 
Show Notes
 
Blog posts
Confessions of a Former Quick-Tempered Mother
Memories of an Inexperienced Mother
An Unschooling Imposter
 
Imogen
Youtube channel, Imogen Elvis.
Facebook: Imogen Elvis
Instagram: Imogen Elvis
Imogen's Mad World music video
The Mad World behind-the-scenes video
 
Podcast music 
Twombly by Podington Bear, (CC BY-NC 3.0)
 
Thank you for listening to this episode. If you enjoy my podcast, please consider writing a review or rating this episode and 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 on today's episode. Or just stop by to say hello!