Tags for "Parenting"
10 Reasons Not to Hit Your Kids
I hate to even think of my four-year-old daughter as a consumer. The word just sounds... dirty.
But she already is one, isn't she? She is provided with a very small allowance, which she spends on the trinkets that she likes (usually an animal of some sort). My husband and I like that she's learning to count, to save up for things she likes, and to learn about shopping,... Celebrating Alice Miller: Pioneering Psychologist
Miller showed how the “poisonous pedagogy” of repression and fear will lead to severe psychological problems, even if parents and other adults think they are acting in the child's best interest. Here is a powerful quote from Miller's For Your Own... Support in Unexpected Places
Fortunately, where there is despair, there is always hope. People who support our decision have been coming out of the woodwork--friends, acquaintances, people at the library... I can't believe how many people say they'd like to homeschool, too, if only they didn't have to work, and especially how many people there are... In Defense of Unschooling
My family and I are not technically unschoolers. I'm very attracted to the word and what it means, and we do "unschool" in some ways, but we still prefer to use some Waldorf curriculum in our life. That works for us. Different methods work for different... 10 Reasons to Unschool
If made aware of all of the different options available to them, I believe that many parents would not choose to send their children into public schools as they are currently... “Don’t Drop It!”
She was making me pretend stew in her cooking bowl and when she handed it to me to "eat," she said, "Now don't drop it! It will make a mess!" Her voice was so serious and stern, and yet so familiar. I quickly realized that was because she was echoing the same thing I tell her every time I hand her a bowl or plate.
What mistrust I must be conveying to her! At four--nearly five--of course she knows not to drop a bowl or plate. So why do I keep telling her not to, which surely only reinforces the idea that I find her incapable, clumsy, or unable to be trusted--none of which are true.
The... Confronting Parents Who Bully
It's a very light, introductory course into water that includes blowing bubbles and getting comfortable kicking, floating, etc. This mother, however, seemed to think her daughter was training for the Olympics, and proceeded to say some things that were so biting and hurtful that I actually cried. She also told the little girl, "You're here to learn, not to play!" To me, of course, this sentence is an oxymoron.
What do you do when such things occur?
The... Autumn Adventures
September has provided us with learning opportunities beyond measure. From cooking to measuring, dabbling in the dirt to playing homemade instruments, dance to taekwondo, new playmates, lots of play dates, and a new home school group to join, we've been super busy--which, I'm afraid, has caused me to post less than I normally do. We are learning so much... A Parent’s Take on Alternative Education
But people generally are interested in other forms of education that are possible, which is fantastic. I think a lot of people simply don't know... 10 Essentials for Democratic Homeschooling
Though this list is of intangible items, I felt that another list of intangible things that we've found helpful in homeschooling would also be helpful to share. Here are 10 additional essentials in the intangible realm.
10. Flexibility
While many homeschoolers do adhere to a strict schedule, many democratic homeschoolers create a fluid, daily agenda that changes in accordance with the whole family's input. Many... Sometimes You Have to Just Sit Back…
If we want our kids to be autonomous, we can't expect them to want everything we want, or be the same as we are. This means that their goals may be different from ours--from the smallest things to the larger ones. I'm thankful that I'm learning this early on as my five-year-old expresses herself and often has different ideas about things than I do.
One thing that she's been surprising me with lately is her arts and crafts projects. She comes up with some pretty amazing uses for our projects, and while sometimes I am just astounded by how cool they are, sometimes I am... less than enthused. Still, I have to maintain my neutrality and let her use her creativity... Coming Out of the Unschooling Closet
When I answered today's prompt, which was to discuss a defining moment in your life this year, I found myself recalling some ugliness directed at unschoolers earlier in the year and my own reaction to it:
Until the reaction that people had over that piece made the hair on me bristle, I didn't really want to claim that word. I'm still not a huge fan of it, as I don't think it truly describes what we do, and I hate labels anyway; I like... Parents Are People, Too
Posted on Apr 19, 2010 - 02:12 AM by Sara Schmidt in News Feed
In 24 countries around the world, it is illegal for a parent, teacher, or anyone else to spank a child, and 113 countries prohibit corporal punishment in schools.1 Yet in all of North America, physical punishment by a parent, as long as it is not severe, is still seen by many as necessary discipline, and condoned, or sadly, even encouraged.
For the past several years, many psychiatrists, sociological researchers, and parents have recommended that we seriously consider banning the physical punishment of children. The most important reason, according to Dr. Peter Newell, coordinator of the organization End Punishment of Children (EPOCH)2, is that “all people have the right to protection of their physical integrity, and children are people too.“3
The Gimme CulturePosted on Apr 19, 2010 - 02:15 AM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
In a world full of freebies, giveaways, cheap plastic favors provided during everything from a dental exam to a book fair, advertisements on everything from cereal boxes to cartoon shows, and handouts from well-meaning relatives to neighbors to store clerks, how exactly is one to raise a conscious, kind consumer?I hate to even think of my four-year-old daughter as a consumer. The word just sounds... dirty.
But she already is one, isn't she? She is provided with a very small allowance, which she spends on the trinkets that she likes (usually an animal of some sort). My husband and I like that she's learning to count, to save up for things she likes, and to learn about shopping,... Celebrating Alice Miller: Pioneering Psychologist
Posted on Apr 26, 2010 - 11:59 AM by Dana Bennis in The Landscape
Alice Miller, a leading psychologist whose work and books revealed the dangerous effects on children of corporal punishment and more subtle forms of physical and emotional coercion, passed away this past month in France at the age of 87. Her books are essential reading for parents and anyone who works with young people, including the The Drama of the Gifted Child, and For Your Own Good: Hidden Cruelty in Child-Rearing and the Roots of Violence.Miller showed how the “poisonous pedagogy” of repression and fear will lead to severe psychological problems, even if parents and other adults think they are acting in the child's best interest. Here is a powerful quote from Miller's For Your Own... Support in Unexpected Places
Posted on Jun 04, 2010 - 12:53 AM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
Last week, I wrote about how bummed I was because so many people--especially one or two people that we are very close to--do not support our decision to homeschool. It is very distressing, especially when you provide explanations and clear reasoning--that we really shouldn't have to provide in the first place, to most of these people--and you're still met with disapproval.Fortunately, where there is despair, there is always hope. People who support our decision have been coming out of the woodwork--friends, acquaintances, people at the library... I can't believe how many people say they'd like to homeschool, too, if only they didn't have to work, and especially how many people there are... In Defense of Unschooling
Posted on Jun 10, 2010 - 01:12 AM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
Lately, there has been a surge of questions, comments, and in many cases, diatribes against unschooling. Most of these have been spawned from two very brief, very biased (in many peoples' opinions), news-oriented television programs--not from actual research completed on unschooling itself. In response to so much misunderstanding and heated--even hateful, in many cases--commentary, I decided to write out my own defense of unschooling.My family and I are not technically unschoolers. I'm very attracted to the word and what it means, and we do "unschool" in some ways, but we still prefer to use some Waldorf curriculum in our life. That works for us. Different methods work for different... 10 Reasons to Unschool
Posted on Jun 14, 2010 - 12:17 AM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
There are so many different philosophies of education in the world to choose from. It's a rich, diverse world, so it's only natural that there are so many different ways to learn and grow. It's a shame, however, that most of these paths toward learning are concealed from the majority of people. If asked what education means, most people cite the public school method; and though others might also toss in private or homeschooling, there are still so many variations out there that go unnoticed, or even unheard of.If made aware of all of the different options available to them, I believe that many parents would not choose to send their children into public schools as they are currently... “Don’t Drop It!”
Posted on Aug 02, 2010 - 04:10 PM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
This morning, my mouth dropped in horror as I realized how I must sound when I speak to my child.She was making me pretend stew in her cooking bowl and when she handed it to me to "eat," she said, "Now don't drop it! It will make a mess!" Her voice was so serious and stern, and yet so familiar. I quickly realized that was because she was echoing the same thing I tell her every time I hand her a bowl or plate.
What mistrust I must be conveying to her! At four--nearly five--of course she knows not to drop a bowl or plate. So why do I keep telling her not to, which surely only reinforces the idea that I find her incapable, clumsy, or unable to be trusted--none of which are true.
The... Confronting Parents Who Bully
Posted on Sep 01, 2010 - 12:03 AM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
Recently I wrote about an incident that occurred during my daughter's swim lesson that had me in tears. A mother openly bullied her child--who was perhaps three or four years old, no more--about her lack of discipline in the class.It's a very light, introductory course into water that includes blowing bubbles and getting comfortable kicking, floating, etc. This mother, however, seemed to think her daughter was training for the Olympics, and proceeded to say some things that were so biting and hurtful that I actually cried. She also told the little girl, "You're here to learn, not to play!" To me, of course, this sentence is an oxymoron.
What do you do when such things occur?
The... Autumn Adventures
Posted on Sep 23, 2010 - 12:44 AM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
Fall is our favorite season in la casa de Schmidt, and there's certainly no short answer as to why. Between the cooler weather, the apple-picking, the sweaters, the soup and cider, the plethora of adventures at our fingertips, and the promise of Halloween and all of our birthdays in the next three months, it would be hard to not be excited!September has provided us with learning opportunities beyond measure. From cooking to measuring, dabbling in the dirt to playing homemade instruments, dance to taekwondo, new playmates, lots of play dates, and a new home school group to join, we've been super busy--which, I'm afraid, has caused me to post less than I normally do. We are learning so much... A Parent’s Take on Alternative Education
Posted on Oct 28, 2010 - 12:46 PM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
When I talk about my issues with the public school system, many people counter my comments with, "Well, what kind of education do you support?" The short answer is whole child education--education that supports the whole child. Of course, I could go on and on about how the education I want for my daughter is holistic and healthy, relevant and meaningful, play-based, nature-based, and real-life based, with goals and a definition of success that are meaningful to her and not randomly appointed (or elected) officials who deem it necessary for her.But people generally are interested in other forms of education that are possible, which is fantastic. I think a lot of people simply don't know... 10 Essentials for Democratic Homeschooling
Posted on Nov 04, 2010 - 06:34 AM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
I don't, of course, mean for this list to be some sort of authoritative guide for all unschooling or homeschooling parents; there is no such thing! But here are ten things that we've found to be vital and necessary in our daily learning. Hint: workbooks are not included!Though this list is of intangible items, I felt that another list of intangible things that we've found helpful in homeschooling would also be helpful to share. Here are 10 additional essentials in the intangible realm.
10. Flexibility
While many homeschoolers do adhere to a strict schedule, many democratic homeschoolers create a fluid, daily agenda that changes in accordance with the whole family's input. Many... Sometimes You Have to Just Sit Back…
Posted on Nov 09, 2010 - 04:28 PM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
...and watch the destruction.If we want our kids to be autonomous, we can't expect them to want everything we want, or be the same as we are. This means that their goals may be different from ours--from the smallest things to the larger ones. I'm thankful that I'm learning this early on as my five-year-old expresses herself and often has different ideas about things than I do.
One thing that she's been surprising me with lately is her arts and crafts projects. She comes up with some pretty amazing uses for our projects, and while sometimes I am just astounded by how cool they are, sometimes I am... less than enthused. Still, I have to maintain my neutrality and let her use her creativity... Coming Out of the Unschooling Closet
Posted on Dec 29, 2010 - 03:38 AM by Sara Schmidt in Uncharted Parenting
Throughout December, I've been participating in the Reverb 2010 challenge, which includes a daily prompt designed to help one reflect over 2010 and plan for 2011. It's been a fun, enlightening, and sometimes painful process that I'm truly grateful for.When I answered today's prompt, which was to discuss a defining moment in your life this year, I found myself recalling some ugliness directed at unschoolers earlier in the year and my own reaction to it:
Until the reaction that people had over that piece made the hair on me bristle, I didn't really want to claim that word. I'm still not a huge fan of it, as I don't think it truly describes what we do, and I hate labels anyway; I like... Parents Are People, Too
Posted on Feb 11, 2011 - 01:41 AM by admin in Resources
The Creativity CrisisPosted on Mar 21, 2011 - 09:28 AM by Dana Bennis in Resources
The Unschooler ExperimentPosted on May 17, 2011 - 03:14 PM by Melia Dicker in Resources
Oregon Social Learning CenterPosted on Jun 27, 2011 - 02:05 PM by Shawn Strader in Resources
Hand in HandPosted on Sep 08, 2011 - 07:28 PM by lmeier in Resources