I used to think the idea of unschooling was downright crazy. Learning without a structured curriculum or a teacher? Really? My skepticism changed when I met a successful adult who had been unschooled. He shared that he secured a stable job as a marine biologist and, at the age of ten, he and his siblings taught themselves to read using the works of Charles Dickens. “We were tired of our mom always reading to us,” he recounted. His mother had spent countless hours reading to them, but they chose their learning paths. He turned out just fine.
The stress of COVID-19 has disrupted our usual homeschooling routine, leading us to discover that we’ve been unschooling our children instead. They have been learning a lot, but not within the confines of a predetermined curriculum filled with textbooks and lesson plans.
What Is Unschooling?
Unschooling is a homeschooling approach that emphasizes a child’s interests over a formal academic structure. It promotes child-led learning rather than adult-directed instruction, based on the premise that children learn best when engaging with topics that excite them.
Given the freedom, my kids immerse themselves in educational activities. My sons are avid readers across subjects like history and science. They engage in complex board games that incorporate math, and they pose insightful questions that often lead to in-depth discussions. For instance, a simple query about why clouds float turned into an extensive meteorology lesson, with us using Google for answers when necessary.
In essence, unschooling allows children to pursue their innate curiosities. My middle son is fascinated by amphibians, leading us to provide him with books on toads, including advanced college-level texts. He can identify various toad species with ease. Meanwhile, my oldest son has a passion for cryptids, particularly Bigfoot. He studies adult-level materials and shares his findings with us, including where Bigfoot might be located on maps. When interested in Ancient Greece, he built battle scenes and temples to Athena using LEGOs.
Recently, he became engrossed in Moby Dick. After I read him excerpts from the adult version, he watched the movie and constructed a LEGO model of Captain Ahab, complete with his wooden leg.
Despite this freedom, we still guide their learning. We encourage them to watch documentaries, participate in live chats with scientists and zoos—opportunities that have become more accessible during the pandemic—and enjoy storytime together. Unschooling empowers them to choose their learning experiences, with our support.
Benefits of Unschooling
Currently, unschooling has alleviated a lot of pressure from our children. They no longer feel the weight of “formal” schooling, which is especially important during these stressful times. This approach allows them to pursue their passions, making them more enthusiastic about learning and deepening their understanding of subjects they choose. They remain engaged with their education—what I prefer to call “learning”—and are less likely to ask for screen time. When one of them does, the others quickly suggest alternative activities.
As noted by ThoughtCo, children are more likely to retain knowledge they pursue on their own. They also develop their natural talents and exhibit stronger self-motivation. For example, my eldest son, who has dysgraphia, has benefited from using the Facebook Messenger Kids app, which offers predictive text to help him write more accurately.
Will We Continue Unschooling?
I’m uncertain how much of this will carry over once the pandemic subsides and we return to our regular routines. I foresee us maintaining some aspects of structured learning in subjects like reading, science, and social studies. I’ll likely implement the Messenger app for them to communicate with friends and encourage them to write about their reading experiences or exchange letters with pen pals to introduce a bit more structure. I do hope to reintroduce formal work in math and grammar, as I feel a lack of both can be concerning.
However, I recognize that if we want to adopt this approach long-term, my children might need more structure than what we currently have. Unschooling families often integrate inherent structure, which we lack at the moment. For their comfort during these challenging times, we’ll maintain a relaxed environment.
Overall, unschooling is currently working well for us. I document our activities in my planning books, honestly relating them to the subjects we’re meant to cover, and they generally align. Unschooling is not only feasible but also effective. Children are naturally inclined to learn, and given the opportunity, they will.
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Summary
The pandemic has shifted our homeschooling style to unschooling, allowing our children to pursue their interests freely. This approach has decreased their stress levels and made learning more enjoyable and engaging. While I’m unsure how much of this will continue post-pandemic, I recognize the benefits of letting kids learn at their own pace and the importance of providing guidance and resources when needed.