Archive for February, 2007

New Article – ”Parenting is Making My Brain Hurt”…

I have added a new article entitled “Parenting is Making My Brain Hurt”. This is a rewrite of an older entry which reflected my shift from providing answers and “covering up” problems towards other parenting approaches.
The article covers some major influences in this shift from Thomas Gorden (PET), Solter (Aware Parenting), Naomi Aldolt and […]

Alternatives to Punishment… and “natural consequences”

Aletha Solter is controversial amongst some attachment parenting circles for her radical (in the AP community) perspectives on crying and the idea that we should hold children and let them express their emotion rather than for example constantly breast feeding them in such situations (assuming needs like hunger, sleep etc are met). Obviously much more […]

NVC bits

NVC or Non Violent Communication is a method pioneered by Marshal Rosenburg. We will be writing more about it in months to come but for now you can see three new additions relating to it including:

A definition on our quick definition page

10 steps for peace recommended by the Centre for NVC

An indepth comparison […]

Embracing Barbie to embrace self esteem…

As a child I was taught that fashion and all it entails was “wordly” and that Barbie stuff promoted low self esteem. Baloney! What promoted low self esteem was being told my interests weren’t worthy.
– Ren Allen, unschooling mum.
It feels bizarre now. Just several months ago before we started on our radical unschooling journey […]

Unschooling & Alternative Parenting for Dummies :)

Sick of the jargon? Here are some quick definitions of unschooling, radical unschooling, aware parenting, NVC, PET and more…
I wont vouch for their accuracy but they are my spin on these terms and a decent starting point.

The Problem with Praise

Just posted the article “Five Reasons not to say ‘Good Job’”. It might be familiar to those of you on egroups as it has done the rounds. In it Alfie Kohn summarises some of his basic arguments against praise and his case for unconditional love. His book Unconditional Parenting is great and is on my […]

Is Controlling Food in Children Healthy? Studies say No…

Part of me does not need academic studies to support our radical unschooling path. Another part of me is glad I can find them if i need to… and its that part that is typing this post now
Firstly an old study that has been cited by Alfie Kohn… The 1994 paper entitled […]

Calling Byron Bay, NSW Homeschoolers!

We have recently moved near Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. Perhaps a region where alternative minds & lifestyles are more common than anywhere else in Australia yet apparently with few homeschoolers. Maybe due to the countless alternative/ community schools? If you have found this post and are homeschooling or interested in it and in northern NSW […]

Will you be like this until you die or I die?

That was the question from our now 5 year old daughter yesterday. She had just heard children talking about school. She asked, “will I ever have to go to school? Even when I am eleven?” (it’s always eleven… its her favourite number).
We explained that she never would. She has been asking more questions about how […]

Protected: photos from BUS – Brisbane UnSchoolers

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.