Last year. Christmastime. My oldest son, nearly 11, was wavering in his beliefs about Santa. Dear Santa, he wrote, It’s getting harder to believe, but I’m trying to have faith. I was pretty sure this was the last Christmas he’d be able to hang on to the magic of Santa. But what then? How would […]
Unschooling
The Santa Question
Is Santa real? It’s a question we’ve all asked at some point, and as parents, it’s one we’re very likely to face again. Our culture is full of stories that aim to strengthen our belief. From Miracle on 34th Street to The Polar Express and The Santa Clause, the theme is the same: one-time doubter […]
What About Screen Time?
Kids and television. There are a myriad of beliefs about how the two should go together – if at all. There are strong opinions on all sides. In my discussions with parents, most often their main concern is finding an approach that helps their kids the most, and harms them the least. There is so […]
Rethinking Food
Let them eat whatever they want? Are you crazy! Start talking about letting kids make their own food choices, and this is pretty much a universal reaction. People go right to the extreme: “If my kid could eat whatever he wanted, his diet would consist entirely of cake, candy, soda pop, and potato chips.” “She […]
Bedtimes
What!? No bed times! Are you nuts!? That’s usually the reaction we get when people find out our unschooled children don’t have a “bedtime”. Most of us grew up with imposed bedtimes, and adopted the belief that good parents make sure their children get enough sleep by setting and sticking to bedtimes. Dig underneath a […]