Anna Brown joins me again this week! This month in the Living Joyfully Network our theme is Nurturing Our Children’s Learning. We are getting back to the basics of unschooling by observing how children learn through following their interests. Exploring learning through the lenses of curiosity and creativity, we talk about what to do when doubts creep in about whether we’re doing enough, when our children want to quit an activity they started, and when it seems like our child is “doing nothing.”

I love diving into this rich topic, which is so relevant no matter where you are on your unschooling journey!

Discussion areas

• With unschooling, we replace curriculum with curiosity. Exploring the world by following their interests and passions creates a personally tailored web of learning connections and knowledge.
• As we navigate the shift from curriculum-based to interest-led learning, it can be challenging to shift to this new and very different way of supporting our kids’ learning. Sometimes we find ourselves asking, “Am I doing enough?”
• Another challenge that can bubble up as our children follow their curiosity is around the idea of quitting activities.
• Curiosity and creativity weave together so naturally in support of our children’s learning. An important paradigm shift is moving away from the idea of right and wrong.
• Another aspect of creativity is having the space and time to just be. It may look like they’re “doing nothing,” but it’s how seemingly disparate bits of information and understanding have a chance to connect in new and creative ways.

Links to things mentioned in the episode

Check out the Living Joyfully Network

Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk, Do Schools Kill Creativity?

WIRED Magazine’s interview with Steve Jobs

Transcript

Read the transcript

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