Comments for the parenting pit http://theparentingpit.com alternative parenting | conscious living | unschooling Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:12:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Conversations From the Future by any http://theparentingpit.com/unschooling/conversations-from-the-future/#comment-275817 any Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:12:21 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/unschooling/conversations-from-the-future/#comment-275817 The first time I read this was in Teach Your Own by John Holt and Pat Farenga. If they didn't write it I'm sure they've credited the source. Love your blog..found you by way of the thinkingmother, she posted a link to the unofficial dad's guide to homeschool. My favorite of your blogs so far is the Homer Moments. I have one child whom I never struck until I smacked him on the head in an effort to explain long division.....I will always remember my husband commenting "that doesn't sound like learning." Thanks for your honesty, it is nice to know that my imperfections are not the only ones! The first time I read this was in Teach Your Own by John Holt and Pat Farenga. If they didn’t write it I’m sure they’ve credited the source.
Love your blog..found you by way of the thinkingmother, she posted a link to the unofficial dad’s guide to homeschool. My favorite of your blogs so far is the Homer Moments. I have one child whom I never struck until I smacked him on the head in an effort to explain long division…..I will always remember my husband commenting “that doesn’t sound like learning.”
Thanks for your honesty, it is nice to know that my imperfections are not the only ones!

]]> Comment on Pam Leo – Connection Parenting by Patricia Torngren http://theparentingpit.com/reviews/pamleo_connectionparenting/#comment-275727 Patricia Torngren Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:51:23 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/reviews/pamleo_connectionparenting/#comment-275727 This is one of my favourite books on raising toddlers and young children. Pam has a unique way of helping parents understand how their children thinks and feel, and what their needs are. The book is simply written, but profound in content. If you are going to buy one one book on toddlers and young children, make this the one you get. This is one of my favourite books on raising toddlers and young children. Pam has a unique way of helping parents understand how their children thinks and feel, and what their needs are. The book is simply written, but profound in content. If you are going to buy one one book on toddlers and young children, make this the one you get.

]]> Comment on To School or Not to School? by Andrea http://theparentingpit.com/2011/09/17/to-school-or-not-to-school/#comment-275554 Andrea Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:42:02 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/?p=372#comment-275554 Hi Arun, Appreciate your constant re-assessment of your situation. We do that too in my family. We go from, "Let's have more home days so we can sink our teeth into current projects and also invite friends over" to "Let's just get out of the house so we do something different from washing up or watching DVD's." I also occasionally check in and ask if they would be interested in going to school, particularly when they are complaining about the lack of friends or activites etc. So far my children think school would be even more boring than what they are currently enduring. Lovely to read your blog and feel like I am in conversation with you. Love to you all Hi Arun, Appreciate your constant re-assessment of your situation. We do that too in my family. We go from, “Let’s have more home days so we can sink our teeth into current projects and also invite friends over” to “Let’s just get out of the house so we do something different from washing up or watching DVD’s.” I also occasionally check in and ask if they would be interested in going to school, particularly when they are complaining about the lack of friends or activites etc. So far my children think school would be even more boring than what they are currently enduring. Lovely to read your blog and feel like I am in conversation with you. Love to you all

]]> Comment on To School or Not to School? by Elizabeth http://theparentingpit.com/2011/09/17/to-school-or-not-to-school/#comment-275480 Elizabeth Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:36:40 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/?p=372#comment-275480 Just realised in my attempts to cut the length of my comment, I made it sound like kids in school-free places just get to play all day. Most of those children do, of course, spend much of their time working alongside their parents and sadly their time is hardly unmediated by the pressures of the adult world. :( Just realised in my attempts to cut the length of my comment, I made it sound like kids in school-free places just get to play all day. Most of those children do, of course, spend much of their time working alongside their parents and sadly their time is hardly unmediated by the pressures of the adult world. :(

]]> Comment on To School or Not to School? by Elizabeth http://theparentingpit.com/2011/09/17/to-school-or-not-to-school/#comment-275479 Elizabeth Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:29:21 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/?p=372#comment-275479 Hi Arun Thanks for your update. We have heaps of Melb friends in common (Liz & Rob, Flis & Sarah) and a shared past in activism, but I don't think we've ever really met (though I do remember your face from around uni). I read your blog up to your momentous returning to school post, and now that we're getting closer to making school decisions, returned tonight to see how you were all getting on. I'm interested in your comments about M's friendships, as that is probably what's bothering me most about unschooling. Our other option is part-schooling (maybe 3 days p/wk) Reggio at Collingwood College, where lots of my son's friends will be. Most unschooling discussions miss the point for me, because I actually feel relatively confident that many (though not all) of the things that people rightly criticise about mainstream schooling seem not to be issues in the early years stream at Collingwood. One of the things that attracts me to partschooling at CC is that E's friendships won't need to be entirely mediated through adults (except insofar as I make the bigger decision to place him in that environment). In a well-functioning, nurturing kind of school, friendships can ebb and flow over a course of days rather than in discrete single play dates. We play regularly with various children ... at our place, at theirs, at events, just hanging out, and on 'excursions', plus various fun 'classes' ... but that doesn't feel quite the same as what happens when a larger group of children regularly spend time in their own company, with minimal adult involvement and not necessarily with parents. When I think on kids in school-free parts of the world, my impression is that they largely spend daytime in multi-age groups, evolving deeper friendships with some children but also playing with different people in different ways as they feel so inclined. Today I am leaning towards partschooling now, with a view to unschooling when E is of an age when he can free-range and go see whoever he likes, when he likes. Tomorrow I might be back to fully unschooling again. Anyway, apologies for this long ramble. Basically, I'd love to hear your thoughts on friendships and more importantly, friend-making in the context of unschooling. Thanks e. Hi Arun

Thanks for your update. We have heaps of Melb friends in common (Liz & Rob, Flis & Sarah) and a shared past in activism, but I don’t think we’ve ever really met (though I do remember your face from around uni). I read your blog up to your momentous returning to school post, and now that we’re getting closer to making school decisions, returned tonight to see how you were all getting on.

I’m interested in your comments about M’s friendships, as that is probably what’s bothering me most about unschooling.

Our other option is part-schooling (maybe 3 days p/wk) Reggio at Collingwood College, where lots of my son’s friends will be. Most unschooling discussions miss the point for me, because I actually feel relatively confident that many (though not all) of the things that people rightly criticise about mainstream schooling seem not to be issues in the early years stream at Collingwood.

One of the things that attracts me to partschooling at CC is that E’s friendships won’t need to be entirely mediated through adults (except insofar as I make the bigger decision to place him in that environment).

In a well-functioning, nurturing kind of school, friendships can ebb and flow over a course of days rather than in discrete single play dates. We play regularly with various children … at our place, at theirs, at events, just hanging out, and on ‘excursions’, plus various fun ‘classes’ … but that doesn’t feel quite the same as what happens when a larger group of children regularly spend time in their own company, with minimal adult involvement and not necessarily with parents.

When I think on kids in school-free parts of the world, my impression is that they largely spend daytime in multi-age groups, evolving deeper friendships with some children but also playing with different people in different ways as they feel so inclined.

Today I am leaning towards partschooling now, with a view to unschooling when E is of an age when he can free-range and go see whoever he likes, when he likes. Tomorrow I might be back to fully unschooling again.

Anyway, apologies for this long ramble. Basically, I’d love to hear your thoughts on friendships and more importantly, friend-making in the context of unschooling.

Thanks

e.

]]> Comment on To School or Not to School? by majikfaerie http://theparentingpit.com/2011/09/17/to-school-or-not-to-school/#comment-275468 majikfaerie Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:20:09 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/?p=372#comment-275468 Hiya! So lovely to hear from you and get an update - you are muchly missed around these parts. love and blessings Hiya!
So lovely to hear from you and get an update – you are muchly missed around these parts.
love and blessings

]]> Comment on To School or Not to School? by Kim H http://theparentingpit.com/2011/09/17/to-school-or-not-to-school/#comment-275462 Kim H Sat, 17 Sep 2011 21:23:34 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/?p=372#comment-275462 Hey Aaron, Lovely to hear your 'voice' again. Melbourne is definitely unschooling country, from all that I've heard. Selfishly, of course, I'd love you guys to venture back to the land of unschooling/homeschooling as your voice is one that's great to hear;) But I also know that the most important thing is that everyone's needs are met - and at this moment in time, perhaps homeschooling isn't what would be great for all of you. Again, so lovely to read here again. I hope you come back here really soon:) Kim Hey Aaron,
Lovely to hear your ‘voice’ again. Melbourne is definitely unschooling country, from all that I’ve heard. Selfishly, of course, I’d love you guys to venture back to the land of unschooling/homeschooling as your voice is one that’s great to hear;) But I also know that the most important thing is that everyone’s needs are met – and at this moment in time, perhaps homeschooling isn’t what would be great for all of you.

Again, so lovely to read here again. I hope you come back here really soon:)

Kim

]]> Comment on To School or Not to School? by Frank http://theparentingpit.com/2011/09/17/to-school-or-not-to-school/#comment-275461 Frank Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:54:57 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/?p=372#comment-275461 Whoo-hoo! Good to hear your voice again. Glad y'all are doing ok and I hope for better times for you in the future. Whoo-hoo! Good to hear your voice again. Glad y’all are doing ok and I hope for better times for you in the future.

]]> Comment on 5 Reasons to Stop Saying “Good Job!” by Kasey http://theparentingpit.com/alternative-parenting/five-reasons-to-stop-saying-good-job/#comment-275128 Kasey Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:11:35 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/alternative-parenting/five-reasons-to-stop-saying-good-job/#comment-275128 I began this article with a distinct skepticism, and ended with agreement, thanks to a profound flashback to my childhood. I was constantly reassured and praised at even the simplest of tasks. No where was this more prevelant than school. Upon hitting higher education, where praise is much more difficult to acheive, I promptly lost interest and drive. It took me years to regain the love of learning that had been praised out of me in my younger years. As I await the birth of my first child, I will certainly be further looking into the affects of praise. Thank you for opening my eyes a bit. I began this article with a distinct skepticism, and ended with agreement, thanks to a profound flashback to my childhood.
I was constantly reassured and praised at even the simplest of tasks. No where was this more prevelant than school. Upon hitting higher education, where praise is much more difficult to acheive, I promptly lost interest and drive.
It took me years to regain the love of learning that had been praised out of me in my younger years. As I await the birth of my first child, I will certainly be further looking into the affects of praise. Thank you for opening my eyes a bit.

]]> Comment on Why We Are Going to Try School by erika http://theparentingpit.com/2011/01/18/why-we-are-going-to-try-school/#comment-275058 erika Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:25:08 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/?p=353#comment-275058 I recently ended a blog post... "...failure is not possible. Perhaps you won't always gain the results you want, but you will absolutely gain something, and I can almost guarantee it will be far more beautiful." Just wanted to share that with you. :) We don't always make the choices we *think* we should make or want to make, but sometimes, those are the best choices for our kids. We make informed choices about the environment we want for our children (even in unschooling, you think you are giving them absolute freedom to pursue their interests, but choosing that freedom is still a choice *we* are making *for them.*) Sometimes, those unexpected choices that we hadn't ever intended, those decisions that seem to turn our life inside-out from what we wanted, turn out to actually be the ones that bring the most peace and create the most fulfilling environment for our kids to thrive. I recently ended a blog post…

“…failure is not possible. Perhaps you won’t always gain the results you want, but you will absolutely gain something, and I can almost guarantee it will be far more beautiful.”

Just wanted to share that with you. :)

We don’t always make the choices we *think* we should make or want to make, but sometimes, those are the best choices for our kids. We make informed choices about the environment we want for our children (even in unschooling, you think you are giving them absolute freedom to pursue their interests, but choosing that freedom is still a choice *we* are making *for them.*) Sometimes, those unexpected choices that we hadn’t ever intended, those decisions that seem to turn our life inside-out from what we wanted, turn out to actually be the ones that bring the most peace and create the most fulfilling environment for our kids to thrive.

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