Should Unschooled kids do chores?

[Louise Gibson]

I have read many many books on unschooling, and the chore issue.

Today I am feeling that YES, absolutely the kids should do chores around the house.

As an OT, I know the importance of teaching kids funtional skills, and having looked at the kids bedroom today, chores are in order!!!

I think they should know how to keep a place at least semi tidy and clean, specially when you can end up having an ant invasion, attract mice, and encourage nasty little spiders to move in.

I don't feel ok with having to constantly pick up after the kids, when they themselves feel much better in an uncluttered environment.  I do not think that it is ever too early for them to learn how to respect their belongings, and to relieve their own frustration by actually knowing where their things are.

The lesson is that there is so much more time left to do other things, if you don't have to organize and search for things first.

Having just watched the Hoarder programs the other night, and how at an early age 'things' start to become difficult to get rid of, I feel that I'd better make sure we do not end up there.

So, when I come home from work today, it will be interesting to see how much of a battle about tidying there was!!!

In the old days before compulsory schooling, people did tend to repect their belongings more, the small amount of belongings a person had in their household where treasured, and the kids took a part in looking after the household.

I do not think that shoud go by the way side just because we now live in a consumer society.

[Meredith]

The new-to-unschooling folder is described as a support folder. I think one of the "catches" though, is that this is a network for radical unschoolers, so replies are still going to support radical unschooling. That's going to be qualitatively different support than "you have to do what works for you". Maybe a "free hugs" group would be helpful? It would need some clear parameters, though, like "love the person hate the disease".

It helps enormously to be "up front" if you've had a bad day and/or need to vent about something - sometimes that seems really obvious at the time you're writing, but tends to be not so obvious to someone who's reading. It also helps enormously, when reading comments and replies, to do a little self-checking. If I get on the computer and wonder why all the comments sound so bitchy today, I'll get up and take a B vitamin - generally everyone sounds much warmer half an hour later!

[Louise Gibson]

***Maybe a "free hugs" group would be helpful? It would need some clear parameters, though, like "love the person hate the disease".***

I see what you mean, yes that sounds like a great plan.
As far as the B vitamins? I'd better stock up for THOSE types of days!!!!

Thanks for your consideration and thoughtfulness regarding all of this, you guys may have already saved me thousands in therapy costs!! LOL

Meredith said:

The new-to-unschooling folder is described as a support folder. I think one of the "catches" though, is that this is a network for radical unschoolers, so replies are still going to support radical unschooling. That's going to be qualitatively different support than "you have to do what works for you". Maybe a "free hugs" group would be helpful? It would need some clear parameters, though, like "love the person hate the disease".

It helps enormously to be "up front" if you've had a bad day and/or need to vent about something - sometimes that seems really obvious at the time you're writing, but tends to be not so obvious to someone who's reading. It also helps enormously, when reading comments and replies, to do a little self-checking. If I get on the computer and wonder why all the comments sound so bitchy today, I'll get up and take a B vitamin - generally everyone sounds much warmer half an hour later!

[JennyStar]

Yes, the "chew the fat" quote is mine

Oh okay! I looked back and didn't see it, but it was after 1 am, so I missed it!

Perhaps the wording makes it sound like a rule. But I was trying to say the atmosphere here is analytical because the regular posters are analytical. Once someone posts or throws out a statement anywhere in the world, not just here, they don't have control over how it's responded to.

I didn't think it sounded like a rule, but I'm used to the way you post and to *me* it came across as a simple explanation as to how these kinds of message boards often look to new people and how they could be seen differently, in a more positive light.

If someone only wants soothing responses, it makes sense to scope out the atmosphere of a place first before speaking up.

Exactly! There have been a few places that I never post at because I don't really like the atmosphere. I don't want to spend my time at places where the things I say won't be valued. (not that everything I say has value!)

Is there a need for a Support Only folder? Where the responses are only soothing and supportive? (I'm not being snarky. It's a serious question.)

I honestly thought there was a folder like that already! A long time ago when this site was newish, I posted something in one of those and was told rather firmly that I was being too harsh because it was specifically a newbie softy folder, not exactly those words, but ever since then, I'm very careful to see which folder I'm responding in and temper my words accordingly! This is in the general discussions folder, so all bets are off, so to speak. I feel like "general discussions" is within the limits of "discussing" unschooling, especially since it's already a given that people are here because they are interested in "radical unschooling". ;)