Welcome to The Unschooling Collection:

This is a directory post that spotlights my most popular, favorite posts on unschooling & parenting. Unschooling takes time to fully grok - and we’ve been practicing since 2004.

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WHAT UNSCHOOLING IS - AND ISN’T

to reawaken the wild spirit: why we unschool

unschooling is...

what do unschoolers believe? unschooling, defined

GETTING STARTED…

advice for new, worried homeschoolers from a longtime unschooler

'mama, i'm bored.' (what's really going on when your kids say this)

"i'll be my child's ONLY teacher!" ...are you sure that's a good thing?

fireflies & freedom: the lives of unschooled kids

grover and the everything-in-the-whole-wide-world museum

LEARNING LOOKS LIKE...

success and the myth of grades

is curriculum incompatible with unschooling?

unschoolers don't care about 'good schools' or test scores

why 'A' students don't typically study

do you need 'proof' that unschooling works?

RELATIONSHIP-BASED PARENTING

parenting without fear

unschooling & parenting respectfully - without feeling like a martyr

on having a life and hobbies as an unschooling parent

unschooling burnout: when your children can't cope without you

unschooling when you're not okay

the one question kids are always asking

NAYSAYERS AND CONFIDENCE

misconceptions about unschooling + choosing connection over control

roller skates at the grocery store? unschooling and saying YES more often

grandparents & unschooling: a cosmic masterclass in emotional healing?

real talk: when unschooling isn't right for you

SEEING THE LEARNING

writing poetry before learning to read

how school turns learning into performance art

unschooling: writing your first paper EVER for graduation

high school records for unschoolers: a resource list

unschooling technology vs. waldorf (zero-tech) education

LETTING GO OF PUNISHMENT

why you should quit punishing your kids

the problem with “i was spanked and i’m fine”

the dark side of rewards and (arbitrary) consequences

WHAT IF THEY DO ‘BAD STUFF’?

food freedom? on allowing your kids to eat whatever they want

rethinking TV-free: why I don't censor television-watching

warriors in gardens: that one time my daughter punched a bully

AGES AND STAGES

can you unschool a toddler?

unschooling past the primary years (ages 5-10)

on feeling inadequate as a parent

why there aren't more lifelong unschoolers

unschooling evolves: moving out, curriculum, and our pagan worldview

PARENTING SOVEREIGN TEENS

how much freedom is normal for (unschooled) teens?

navigating online danger - unschooling and fear around tech safety

music culture and growing up 'too soon'

preteen parenting: why don't they talk to us?

MY UNSCHOOL ORIGIN STORY

that one time I thought I'd get to be homeschooled