This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a commission if you make a purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. This helps offset the costs of running this blog & I appreciate your support. Please see my privacy & disclosure policy for more.
Table of Contents
I knew by the time Aiden was five years old that I not only wanted to homeschool but also unschool. As I researched the best kindergarten homeschool curriculum, I decided that a more relaxed approach would work best for Aiden and our family. He really thrived in a learning environment that was more laid back, which is why I knew unschooling, or “self-directed learning” would be the way to go.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, unschooling is essentially learning based on the child’s experiences. It’s more “natural” and encourages more independence than traditional schooling. That said, there is no “one size fits all” with unschooling. It’s about what works for your child(ren).
Our experience with unschooling has been nothing short of wonderful. It has allowed us to ensure that Aiden gets the education he needs, in a way that keeps feeding his natural curiosity. He’s actually excited to learn and does so in such a wide range of environments. Not to mention how close it allows our family to be. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do as a family if it weren’t for unschooling.
So many of you have been asking me about unschooling and are curious to learn more about how Aiden goes to school when we’re on the road. I’ve done extensive research on homeschooling in California, world schooling, and unschooling. So, I’ve written this post to answer your questions and give you a little insight into how you can start unschooling your own kids. If your experience is anything like ours, it won’t take long for you to see the benefits for yourself.
How To Start Unschooling
Whether you’re simply curious or are seriously considering whether the unschooling philosophy is right for your family, you probably have a lot of questions. Fortunately, I have the answers you’re looking for, including how to smoothly transition to unschooling. So let’s get into it.
What Is Unschooling?
Unschooling is a type, or branch, of homeschooling. The term unschooling was first used in the 1970s by educator John Holt. The term is used to describe an educational philosophy that promotes unstructured, child-led learning. Unlike a traditional education or public school, unschooling doesn’t have a set curriculum, schedule, or lesson plan.
In fact, unschooling is pretty much the total opposite of traditional schooling because unschooling parents don’t create an at-home education environment. Unschooling families trust that their children learn what they need to, by giving them more control over their own education.
How To Unschool Your Child Legally
Step 1: Know your state’s homeschool laws.
One of the most common questions I get is “Is being unschooled legal?”
The short answer is yes. However, it’s important to know the homeschool laws for your state, so that you can see how unschooling works with your state’s regulations.
Step 2: Research different unschooling techniques.
Once you have a better idea of the homeschool laws for your state, you should research the different techniques used by unschooling families. Getting an idea of how other people integrate unschooling into their daily lives can help you narrow down your own approach.
Step 3: Discuss and define your goals.
Talk to your children, especially if they are at the high school level, about their goals for the school year. Discuss unschooling with them, so they know what to expect, then come up with short-term and long-term goals. Encourage your child to come up with some of their own goals and suggest a few yourself, based on what you would like them to accomplish.
Step 4: Decide on your curriculum.
Unschooling gives you the ability to choose whichever kind of curriculum you want. You can decide on a formal or informal curriculum. You can also do as much planning as you want, whether that means planning the entire year ahead of time or taking it one month at a time. Research the different curricula used by other unschooling families to get an idea of what will work for you.
Step 5: Enjoy freedom and growth without schooling!
This step is a fun one! Simply enjoy the freedom that unschooling gives your family and be amazed by how much your child grows and learns through being able to take the lead when it comes to their education.
How To Register For Unschooling
It’s important to check every state’s homeschool requirements when registering for unschooling because the laws vary from one state to the next. For many states, you have to register for homeschooling in order to unschool, but there’s no specific registration for unschooling. In some states, registration is optional, rather than required.
The best way to determine whether you need to register for homeschooling and/or unschooling is to check the Department of Education website for the state in which you are a legal resident. Each state has its own DOE website that offers in-depth information about homeschooling and the various branches of homeschooling, including unschooling.
Best Unschooling Resources
These are some of the best unschooling resources available:
- Family Unschoolers Network
- Unschoolers.org
- Unschooling Mom2Mom
- Unschooled by Kerry McDonald
- The Unschooling Unmanual
- A2zHomeschooling
- iUnschool.com
- Living Joyfully
Unschooling fosters familial relationships and empowers children to control their education.
I will always be grateful for the chances that unschooling has given our family. Aiden is truly growing up without traditional school, and our family is closer than ever. Not to mention, we have been able to travel the world without worrying about Aiden falling behind with his education.
With that being said, I strongly encourage you to look into whether unschooling is right for your family.
To read more about our experiences with unschooling, homeschooling, world schooling, and our life as full-time RVers traveling the world, check out the blog. More specifically, be sure to check out my homeschooling archives. There, you will find TONS of information about unschooling and how we create Aiden’s schedule. You’ll also find the websites and resources that benefit Aiden the most, what curriculum we focus on more than others, and so much more.
