Stories of an Unschooling Family

196: Unschooling, Video Games, and Freedom

Are kids more likely to suffer mental health problems if they experience excessive control?
Could video games provide safe spaces for kids to retreat to when life becomes too difficult?
If we insist kids leave their games and they get upset, could it be the real world that we’re forcing them to return to that’s the problem and not the video games?
And if kids do have genuine trouble handling games and protest loudly when we take them away, how will they learn to deal with their feelings if they’re not allowed to play?
I discuss these questions and more in episode 196.
Show Notes
Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Video Games, Control, Mental Health and Freedom. It contains today’s show notes.
 
My Unschooling Books
The Unschool Challenge: Kindle
The Unschool Challenge: paperback
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page

195: What is Unschooling?

This week, I’m going back to basics: I’m discussing the question, What is Unschooling? I’m also sharing several stories to illustrate my definition:
What Is Unschooling?
Why Unschooling Isn’t a Method of Homeschooling
What Is Unschooling? A Transcript
I also share some links to other unschoolers’ definitions of unschooling.
 
Show Notes
Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Unschool Basics: What Is Unschooling? It contains today’s show notes.
 
My Unschooling Books
The Unschool Challenge: Kindle
The Unschool Challenge: paperback
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page

194: Unschoolers, Chores and Rosters

This week, I'm discussing chores. How do we encourage our kids to be generous and willing workers?
I’m sharing two stories:
How to Get Kids to Do the Chores
The Radical Chore Roster
Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post, Can Radical Unschoolers Use Chore Rosters? It contains today’s show notes.
 
My Unschooling Books
The Unschool Challenge: Kindle
The Unschool Challenge: paperback
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page

193: Should We Push Kids to Use Their Talents, Aim High and Impress?

This week, I’m sharing a blog post, Should We Push Kids to Use Their Talents, Aim High and Impress?
This post includes stories about people who have followed the pathway desired by their parents and ended up unhappy. And there’s one story about a man who, despite achieving the necessary grades to study medicine or law, chose to become a high school teacher.
I’ve included lots of links to books, videos and other resources. Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family, to read my post and look at these links.
And I’d love you to check out my unschooling books, Curious Unschoolers, Radical Unschool Love, and The Unschool Challenge, which you can find on Amazon!

192: The Stories of Our Lives

In episode 192 of my Stories of an Unschooling Family podcast, I talked about:
Homework for Life
Generating writing ideas
Creating second brains
Homeschool records, including strewing and planning notebooks and family journals
Social media and other online distractions
Also:
I shared Matthew Dicks’ book, Storyworthy and Tiago Forte’s book,  Building a Second Brain.
I told two stories of my life, one about a kangaroo and the other about trees topped with a bright green fuzz of new leaves.
I read my blog post, The Writing Game: No Shortage of Writing Ideas.
And I discussed the note-taking apps, Apple Notes, Evernote and Notion.
Please visit my blog, Stories of an Unschooling Family to read the associated post that includes a list of resources.

191: Be Brave and The Unschool Challenge

This week, I'm sharing some big news: I've published a new unschooling book! In this episode, I tell you about The Unschool Challenge, share some family news and a couple of resources, and ponder lots of unschooling thoughts and ideas along the way.
 
Show Notes
 
My Unschooling Books
The Unschool Challenge: Kindle
The Unschool Challenge: paperback
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Where You Can Find Me
Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family
Instagram: stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
Youtube: Sue Elvis
 
Things I Mention in This Episode
 
John Holt's Growing Without Schooling magazine
 
The Virtual Kitchen Table podcast
Episode 5, Part 1: Kindness and Unconditional Love: What Do They Have to Do with Unschooling?
Episode 5, Part 2: Kindness and Unconditional Love: What Do They Have to Do with Unschooling?
Watch out for the Virtual Kitchen Table podcast about deschooling and The Unschool Challenge. It’ll be available some time in the next few weeks. Why not subscribe to the podcast so you hear all about the latest episodes?
 
Art of Manliness podcast
Jane Austen for Dudes
 
The Word on Fire Institute YouTube channel
God and Gaming video series 

190: Clock Watching, Short Lessons and Curious Questions

After a long break, I’m back!
 
In this episode,
I read one of my stories called Clock Watching and comment on it.
I share some news, including some about the future of my blog and podcast. 
I mention a couple of resources that I hope you’ll find interesting.
And, along the way, I share loads of unschooling thoughts!
 
Show Notes
 
Things mentioned in this episode:
Blog post: Clock Watching
Podcast episode 178: Strewing Unschooling and Charlotte Mason 
Blog post: Unschooling when Charlotte Mason Appeals to Our Hearts
Book: The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery 
Book: Fingers in the Sparkle Jar by Chris Packham
Documentary: Aspergers and Me by Chris Packham
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Where You Can Find Me
Youtube: Sue Elvis
Blog: Stories of an Unschooling Family
Instagram: stories_ofan_unschoolingfamily
 
Thank you for listening to this episode!
 
Error: I received enormous bills for my blog hosting and podcast hosting. I didn't receive two bills for my podcast!
 
 

189: The Important People in Our Lives

I'm back! Are you surprised? I am!
This week, I'm talking about:
How lack of control makes us feel helpless. Do controlled kids feel helpless? Does control lead to mental health issues?
If we want a society of responsible adults, do we need to listen to kids, give them freedom, and let them learn how to be responsible for themselves?
Difficult times, friends, and our unschooling community
How change can stretch us, and how we learn when we have an interest or a need
Video gaming and what I've learnt since I became a video gamer
My new children's novel, The Angels of Wallaby Way!
Perfectionism, and the fear of criticism, and Marco Polo video messages
The value of feedback, encouragement, and the most important people in our lives
Show Notes
Blog Post
What I discovered When I Became a Video Gamer
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
The Angels of Wallaby Way: available very soon!
My Amazon Author Page
 
Where You Can Find Me
Unschooling Community including Unschool Plus and Marco Polo
My Stories of an Unschooling Family community
Youtube
Sue Elvis
Blogs
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Where the Carol Birds Sing
 
Thank you for listening to this episode!
 

188: It's Not for Me!

This week, Imogen and I are discussing:
The value of casual work and lower profile jobs
How our kids can surprise us
Jobs and passions
Why we need to promote our work
How to answer critics and critique other people’s work
The importance of helping each other
Jane Austen, Sanditon and Bridgerton
Ageing
And other things!
 
Show Notes
 
Things we mention in this episode
This is Marketing: book by Seth Godin
The Illustrated Man: book by Ray Bradbury
Sanditon: miniseries adapted from Jane Austen's novel by Andrew Davies 
Sanditon: unfinished Jane Austen novel
Pride and Prejudice: 1995 miniseries adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen's novel
Bridgerton: miniseries
Bridgerton: book by Julia Quinn
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Where You Can Find Me
Unschooling Community
My Stories of an Unschooling Family community
Youtube
Sue Elvis
Blogs
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Where the Carol Birds Sing
Instagram
sue_elvis
 
Where You Can Find Imogen
Blog
Write.Rewrite.Read
Instagram
write.rewrite.read
Youtube
Imogen Elvis
Books
The Crystal Tree
The Shattering Song
Frost Hands
 
Thank you for listening to this episode!
 
 

187: The Problem With High Expectations and Control

This week, Imogen and I are talking about:
High expectations and control. Do they result in unhappy children? Do controlled kids look for distractions? Does limiting screen time result in an increased attraction for devices?
A novel that Imogen reviewed: Dear Hero
Inspiration and different ways of telling a story
How we can work together, share our skills, and help each other
The Catholic Homeschool Conference (I'm a speaker!)
News of two soon-to-be-produced unschooling podcasts
 
Show Notes
Things we mentioned in this episode:
 
Indistractible by Nir Eyal
Masterchef Australia 2021
Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
Dear Hero by Hope Bolinger and Alyssa Roat
Illuminae Files Book Series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
The Catholic Homeschool Conference
 
My Unschooling Books
Curious Unschoolers: Kindle
Curious Unschoolers: paperback
Radical Unschool Love: Kindle
Radical Unschool Love: paperback
My Amazon Author Page
 
Where You Can Find Me
Unschooling Community
My Stories of an Unschooling Family community
Youtube
Sue Elvis
Blogs
Stories of an Unschooling Family
Where the Carol Birds Sing
Instagram
sue_elvis
 
Where You Can Find Imogen
Blog
Write.Rewrite.Read
Instagram
write.rewrite.read
Youtube
Imogen Elvis
Books
The Crystal Tree
The Shattering Song
Frost Hands
 
Thank you for listening to this episode!