What is Deschooling and Why You Need it As Much as Your Kids

What is the world is Deschooling?

Deschooling is a transitional period for families after their kids leave a standard school setting to homeschool.

Why is deschooling important?

Deschooling is essential because the transition is going to be a major adjustment for parents and kids. This particular time is a fantastic period to discover how your children learn and what works best for them. This time is critical for parents, too, as they often need to deschool, especially if they were sent to a regular school growing up.

Often, parents will waste a lot of time, money, and energy attempting to replicate the classroom, only to find out that their children thrive reading under a tree in a hammock.

When we first started homeschooling three years ago, we started from the very beginning, with our oldest in 3K. With no teaching experience, I questioned whether or not I was qualified. I wondered and worried about the curriculum. I knew that I did not want to replicate the classroom from the very beginning, but I wasn't sure what the educational experience would look like.

It's been a long-time dream of mine to travel on the open road, homeschooling my kids, so I assumed we'd do some road schooling at some point, too.

Traveling in an RV limits how much stuff you can pack, and that had me questioning: how minimalist can I make the experience altogether? I am constantly finding fun things on the Internet and trying them. Being in an RV won't allow us to hoard supplies for that random science project I saw in my shorts feed.

I had so many unanswered questions, and I needed to deschool myself and let go of everything I learned from public school to find the answers. My biggest shock was that for young kids, you only need to dedicate 1-2 hours a day to bookwork. It took me a while to adjust to that concept, but it freed our family to do much more once we let go of stale ideas.

All this to say, permit yourself to keep things as simple as possible when you first begin homeschooling and remember, your school is meant to be custom fit to your family's needs. That's probably one of the reasons you started homeschooling, right?

Consider Unschooling

What is unschooling? Unschooling is a teaching method that allows children's inquisitive nature and interests to blaze the academic path. When kids are inspired by the world around them, learning comes naturally, and the information tends to stick.

Unschooling typically allows for more life skills, spending time in nature, and doing everyday things together (like cooking and shopping) as a way to learn. There is usually no set curriculum as it organically creates itself.

By unschooling your kids for a season (or indefinitely), you'll learn a lot about what makes your child tick. If your son's favorite animal is a buffalo, take them to the library and find a few books on these massive beasts. If they want to read about buffalo for a month, who cares? They will be learning more than you might think, and you'll demonstrate how fun education can be.

In a typical school setting, kids don't always get to explore deeply into their interests, which can make school feel boring and pointless. If your kid has been interested in a topic, the deschooling period might be a prime time for them to freely nerd out on it.

What are some examples of activities to try during the deschooling process?

Go to the library and let your child choose exciting books or educational videos.

Watch history documentaries.

Go on field trips to the park, zoo, local museum, etc.

Take a painting class or other enrichment class at a community college.

Read books out loud as a family.

Play educational games.

Complete nature journals or activity books

From state or national parks (earn patches too!)

Learn how to cook different meals together as a family (diabetic, low-sodium, dairy-free, or just tasty meals)

Watch National Geographic.

Give your child a budget and have them plan a vacation that doesn't exceed the allotted dollar amount.

Watch The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, and then paint a majestic mountain vista.

Teach your child anything you wish you had been taught in school.

Take your kids with you when you file your taxes. Show them how to save records and store them until tax time.

Take your younger kids to a Home Depot workshop where they can build herb planters, birdhouses, and even a treasure chest free of charge.

Plant a garden. Whether it's an herb garden in the kitchen window or a full-fledged backyard garden, teaching kids about where food comes from is a great skill.

Ask your kids what sounds fun and watch the curriculum build itself.

How long does the deschooling process take?

Some experts recommend one month for every year your child was in school, but it's up to you! Just make sure that you're keeping up with your state requirements. Summer, shortly after school gets out, is a perfect time to begin the deschooling process. You'll have the entire season to ease into a new routine and make a few mistakes without feeling pressured. Summertime is a great time to work on making connections with other homeschool families and groups. Community is imperative for homeschooling families.

Conclusion

The descchooling process should never be stressful. This time is special as it's meant to be a time of discovery where your family is free to make decisions about how your new school is going to work. Deschooling needs no curriculum or rules and should focus on fun and the topics that make each child light up with pure joy.