I am new here from Uk

[Free thinking mother]

I live with my husband our two children age 3 and 16 months, our dog and chickens in South of England, We are going to home educate our children although recently heard of radical un schooling and it seems to fit with how we do things. So yes it will be great to share stories hear of others experiences and journeys, I only know one other person with similar ideas and don't see her often,

Hope to hear from you soon

Abigail :-)

[Alexandra Burner]

Hi Abigail, 

I'm new to unschooling too. My husband and I are planning to unschool our daughter, Isabella (currently only 8 and a bit months). 

We live currently live in North London with our 2 dogs. 

I don't know anyone else who is interested in homeschooling their kids so it would be great to hear how you get on.

Good luck!

Alex x

[Free thinking mother]

Hello Alexandra , Its nice to hear back from you have you found anyone else in the uk yet?

I think it can sometimes feel like a lonely road we are trudging along but when you put out your feelers you find there are others doing the same thing..

 

At the moment my children love playing with the water and pots and things which is nice as I always can find things to do outside, we have been planting allsorts of seeds to and have a chicken who is feeling broody so we are going to get her some fertilised eggs to sit on and then hopefully we may have some new additions to the family!!!!   It has been great fun and sad at times keeping chickens for a year now.  

What do you like to do?

 

Abigail

 

p.s sorry it took me so long to reply i am still learning  to  compute!!!!

[Alexandra Burner]

Hi Abigail

 

Still feeling my way around the whole unschooling thing and not yet made contact with anyone else really other than the odd message through this network.

 

However, Bella is nearly 11 months old now and walking and babbling and getting into all kinds of mischief. It sounds like we've been doing similar things to those you've been doing with your tribe. We've a small garden but most of it is turned over to growing our food so we've been planting seeds (Bella mostly just playing in the soil) and splashing about with water (dog water bowls and then a small paddling pool).

 

Having chicken must be a lovely experience for the children - I know Bella is fasinated by all the various creatures she's encountered in her short life - she particularly loves our dogs!

 

We've also recently started going to a music group and we go swimming every week. As yet thats about the extent of our activitites as I don't want to overload Bella with too many new experiences all at once - think just being in the world is enough for her most of the time - amazing what babies find fascinating (pebbles and magazines seem to be her favourite things at the moment).

 

Hope you've had the same gorgeous weather we've been having in London as it makes getting out and about with children that much lovelier!

 

Will you be attending the Unschooling conference in London in June? I think we're going to go as it would be a great place to meet other unschoolers

 

Take care

 

Al

 

[caroline smith]

hi Abigail
I'm new here too.
My name's caroline, i live in herefordshire with my partner laurence & our almost 2yr old little girl 'Lilyboo'.
I am really interested in unschooling liyboo, although am trying to convice my other half!
This is the first mssg i've sent in this site, i just saw yr mssg & thoughti'd reply. I am interested in finding out so much more about unscooling and how to go about it i.e. How do u convince local authorties that this is appropriate education for yr child??
I am also really struggling to find any kindrid spirits who are practicing attachment parenting, co sleeping, breastfeeding etc. I probably haven't succeeded because i am a bit of a numpty when it comes to technology and communicating via i/net or any other way really!
Interested in any comment.
Kind thoughts
Caroline

[Free thinking mother]

Hello Alexandra,

Sorry have not rplied sooner i did not notice your reply. Sorry:(

Hope you and your family are well.

My daughters absolutely love playing out in the garden with water and flowers making tea!! There are alsorts of big small pots metal kettles and spades and spoons they like to bicker over:-)

It is great fun most of the time.

We had sawdust cake the other day ,

Have you been to the conference yet where is it in London ?? Hope it was interesting if its been already ??

 

What have you been doing?

 

We don't have tv but have nature films!  We brought a few box sets which are fantastic, we also brought  a series of books called eye view which have like the day in the life of a frog/squirrel /butterfly etc       Great fun to explore too.

I think more for my older child my little one is not as interested more interested in live animals in real time..

 

I hope you are well

Hope to hear from you soon

Abigail 

 

 

 

[Free thinking mother]

Hello Caroline

Thanks for getting in touch.

You need to do what you feel is right for your child alot of people just do what every one else does and puts their child/ren in school .

I was speaking once with a lady in the supermarket once and I remember when I said how I had 2 small children she automatically thought I was putting them into school and she said with a reminiscent look in her eye 'when they go off to school its like they are not your own anymore' and It just helped re affirmed my beliefs that I am doing the right thing by unschooling them.

 

Every person is different I just don't understand how teachers can expect to teach everyone the same way , everyone learns in a personal individual way and in their own time..I know I do .

 

I don't think you have to convince anybody you are worthy of teaching your child i dont know alot about this .

Children are always learning in everything they do and the things you do together.

From going to buy groceries to housework to cooking playing the list is endless you will know what I mean.

 

What is your partner worried about?

 

Have you heard of the mother magazine? It is really interesting uplifting and reassuring(i find it to be anyway:-))

Blessings to you

Abigail

 

caroline smith said:

hi Abigail
I'm new here too.
My name's caroline, i live in herefordshire with my partner laurence & our almost 2yr old little girl 'Lilyboo'.
I am really interested in unschooling liyboo, although am trying to convice my other half!
This is the first mssg i've sent in this site, i just saw yr mssg & thoughti'd reply. I am interested in finding out so much more about unscooling and how to go about it i.e. How do u convince local authorties that this is appropriate education for yr child??
I am also really struggling to find any kindrid spirits who are practicing attachment parenting, co sleeping, breastfeeding etc. I probably haven't succeeded because i am a bit of a numpty when it comes to technology and communicating via i/net or any other way really!
Interested in any comment.
Kind thoughts
Caroline

[Jo Cauldrick]

Hi Abigail, I am from the UK too. I currently live on the Isle of Wight, and unschool my two daughters.

You can feel alone sometimes, especially practicing something so unconventional. I read a really encouraging article yesterday regarding unschooling and reading, it gave me the confidence to keep following my intuition.

 

Unschooling ( or whatever label you want to put on it) is an incredible gift to bestow on your child. I feel my girls are really very lucky.

 

[Free thinking mother]

Thank-you Jo and Hello I have been reading a book called Natural Childhood the last few days and it inspired me and reminded me that I am doing the right thing. I was thinking tonight how nice it is to be able to spend so much time with them .  I hope you are well and it would be nice to talk more. I must sleep now though Night night

Abigail