Wondering why students need to deschool? We can help!
The pandemic has led many parents to consider homeschooling, as a lot of children struggled with remote learning. According to the US Census Bureau, the rate of households homeschooling their kids rose to 11% in September 2020. Even with schools scheduled to reopen, many families are rethinking conventional education. And, besides, homeschooling may be better for some children to reach their full potential.
However, the switch from traditional schools to homeschooling may prove to be a shock for some children. One crucial way to help them prepare is by giving them space and time to recalibrate and prepare for a homeschool experience. This can be done through deschooling, a temporary process that aims to help students adjust to a completely different learning environment.
Why Students Need to Deschool
The term “deschooling” was coined by Austrian philosopher Ivan Illich in his book Deschooling Society, and it’s now widely used as an educational method. Deschooling refers to the adjustment period children undergo after leaving a traditional school and before beginning to homeschool. The idea of deschooling is to promote freedom for children so they can learn what they want to learn. It enables students to accept that learning can take place in different ways, under different situations.
Under the philosophy, children are thought to have been born with a sense of creativity and a desire to learn, so it’s important to recover these desires. The problem with families beginning to homeschool their children is that they often try to replicate traditional schools at home and follow lesson plans according to a daily school routine. However, this practice goes against the ethos of homeschooling, which hopes to free kids from any unnecessary pressure while learning.
For example, traditional schools teach students not to speak without permission and rely on memorization. Compared to the interactive, self-pacing homeschool environment that rewards self-expression, it’s necessary to deschool so a child can appropriately adjust to their new educational framework. After all, it may not be much of a problem for younger children, but more advanced learners should have some time to forget old rules and embrace home learning.
Deschooling is a productive time that lets kids study how to learn things differently and outside a school classroom. Parents can spend this time finding which subjects they want to learn more about.
The Process of Deschooling
A rule of thumb for deschooling is to spend one month for every year a child has been in school. Of course, this still depends on the child, their previous experiences, and the stage of their life they’re in. Begin by letting your child purge any negative feelings they associate with studying. After the first few weeks, you can plan various activities to help your child find what they’re passionate about. Some popular deschooling activities include:
Beginning an art project
There’s nothing better for stimulating creativity and curiosity than dabbling in arts and crafts. Encourage your kids to draw, paint, sew, print leaves, take photos, and create paper crafts to their hearts’ content. Crayola has an Inspiration Art Case that is a great supply to have for kids of all ages. Its 140 pieces include markers, crayons, and colored pencils that are a must-have tool for thinking up inventions, designing clothes, or dreaming up new masterpieces.
Spending time outdoors
Fresh air and sunshine may just be the key to freeing your kids from the stifling nature of online or homeschool classes. Visit the park or other natural attractions for a fun bonding experience. If you have trouble traveling with young children, the double pushchairs on iCandy will make it easier to maneuver through doorways and use public transport as they are the same width as single pushchairs. This will help you spend more time outdoors with your little ones with less fuss. Aside from taking in the scenery, you can share exciting nature facts with your children as they continue to learn about their surroundings.
Going on fun, educational trips together
COVID-19 may limit options but it would be fun to take your kids on a learning adventure once it’s safer. Museums usually offer kid-friendly interactive events and exhibits. Libraries can help you instill a love of reading in your children. You may even want to plan picnics or stargazing activities with other homeschoolers. This will improve your kids’ social and emotional development.
Are you too busy to plan your deschooling system? Our Redesign Your Day workbook is the tool for you. With over 40 pages, the modules can help you breeze through meal-planning, streamline daily tasks, and manage your finances — so you get to spend more time with the people and things you love.
