While we were making cookies tonight, my daughter shared with me that a friend told her she will get nowhere in life if she continues to watch Anime (Japanese animation) all the time. I told my daughter to ask her friend where does she (the friend) wants to get to in life. My daughter thought it was a funny … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Unschooling
Kaizen (Continuous Improvement)
From the Book: Kaizen (改善?), Japanese for “improvement”, or “change for the better” refers to philosophy or practices that focus upon continuous improvement of processes in manufacturing, engineering, and business management… Kaizen was first implemented in several Japanese businesses after the Second World War, influenced in part by American business and quality management teachers who visited the country. (Wikipedia) ”The Kaizen approach to … Continue reading
Doing Nothing
(Translated from an article I wrote many, many years ago which was inspired by reading to my boys A. A. Milne’s Pooh books and by watching them in their own world…) Doing nothing (October 1995) “I like that too,” said Christopher Robin, “but what I like doing best is Nothing.” “How do you do Nothing?” asked Pooh, after … Continue reading
The big “S” (“but what about socialization?”)
From the book: “I was telling a friend about the book I’m writing about unschooling. She knew I home-schooled my children but we met in a business seminar, and clearly the idea was new to her. I mentioned that my daughter was somewhat of “a social animal”, especially in comparison to me, and the challenges it presented to me. “Oh, yes” she said “did you write … Continue reading
At their own pace
I recently took my daughter to her friend’s birthday party at a skating rink. I had some errands to run so we agreed that I’ll help her put her skates on and then stay only until she feels comfortable skating again. While she went into the rink, I stood there watching her and another friend … Continue reading
Critique
I recently G-chatted with my younger son who is now in his senior year in college. I know many of you – parents to younger children – would love to know what grown unschoolers have to say about their experiences. I thought I will just copy/paste our chat with minor editing so that you can get a taste … Continue reading
Being the audience
From the book: “My daughter loves to dance, which naturally leads to some beautifully choreographed dances she will often share with me. She seems to create dances out of thin air. I have seen her dance to songs she likes giving her interpretation to the words and music of the song through her dance moves. But the other day … Continue reading
Teen years: the conversation continues…
When it comes to living with teens, the first thing a parent needs to do is reflect upon his or hers own teen years. That is a great advice regarding any age your kids are, but it is essential when they are teens. You are going to need all the compassion and understanding you posses … Continue reading
Children’s time
From the book: “When my younger son was eight we lived in a one bedroom apartment in a co-op building in Brooklyn, NY. Our apartment was a small and bright place situated by a big and friendly lobby. There my son befriended a girl his age who also lived in the building, and I became friends with her mother. … Continue reading
Unschooling to College
(This is an excerpt from the introduction to the book I am now in the process of writing: “Unschooling to College; Adventures in homeschooling”) “The name of this book is intentionally misleading. After all, in this day and age who will pick up a book about an educational system that does not lead to college? So far, in … Continue reading
Unschooling to College 