Isn’t relaxed homeschooling a contradiction? It’s difficult to unwind when you’re in charge of your child’s schooling.
The concept of relaxed homeschooling centers around prioritizing unschooling and natural approaches to education. Its main objective is to create a calm and supportive atmosphere where children can learn without the anxieties and demands commonly associated with conventional schooling.
If you want to know more about this homeschooling style or want some tips to relax and enjoy the homeschooling journey, continue reading.
Relaxed Homeschooling
Relaxed homeschooling is a method and lifestyle of education, distinguished by a less formal and relaxed approach to learning in comparison to traditional homeschooling or mainstream schools.
Relaxed homeschoolers hold the belief that the optimal way for children to learn is by letting them explore their interests and progress at their own speed. They frequently adopt an “unschooling” method to education, wherein emphasis is placed less on formal educational activities and more on everyday life experiences.
Relaxed homeschooling families aim to achieve a harmonious blend of structure and freedom in their educational approaches, as well as a satisfactory balance between social interaction and time spent at home.
The Benefits of Relaxed Homeschooling
Relaxed homeschooling, also known as natural learning or unschooling, is a less structured and more flexible approach to education. Adherents of this style believe that children learn most effectively when they are given the freedom to pursue their own interests and progress at their own individual pace.
Relaxed homeschooling may not be suitable for everyone, but it can be an ideal choice for families seeking to provide their children with increased autonomy and flexibility in their education. Many relaxed homeschoolers observe that their children become more enthusiastic about learning and continue to pursue knowledge even after transitioning from traditional schools.
Relaxed homeschooling offers numerous advantages, which include the following:
- Relaxed homeschooling allows children to follow their natural interests and learn at their own pace. This can lead to a more well-rounded education as children are allowed to explore the subjects that they are most interested in.
- Relaxed homeschooling can be less stressful for both parents and children. There is no need to worry about meeting strict educational standards or keeping up with the Joneses. Homeschooling should be enjoyable for both parents and children, and a relaxed approach can help make this happen.
- Relaxed homeschooling allows parents and children to bond with each other and build strong relationships. This is one of the most important benefits of homeschooling, as it can lead to a lifetime of happy memories and shared experiences.
The Drawbacks of Relaxed Homeschooling
Before deciding to take this approach, parents should be aware of a few potential drawbacks to relaxed homeschooling.
- First, relaxed homeschooling can sometimes be less structured than other types of homeschooling, which can make it difficult to ensure that children are getting the education they need.
- Second, because relaxed homeschooling often relies heavily on parental involvement, it can be more time-consuming and demanding for parents than other types of homeschooling.
- Finally, homeschooling may not be appropriate for all children; some children may benefit from a more traditional school setting.
How to Create a Relaxed Homeschool Environment
Relaxed Homeschooling, which is also recognized as natural learning or unschooling, is a philosophy of parenting and education that places faith in a child’s innate capability to acquire knowledge.
Relaxed homeschoolers believe that children learn best when they are allowed to follow their interests and learn at their own pace in a safe and supportive environment. This belief is grounded in the idea that children are inherently curious and will naturally explore their surroundings if given the chance.
Relaxed homeschoolers tend to follow certain general principles in engaging with the world around them and allowing their children to pursue their interests. Homeschooling is not solely focused on keeping kids restricted to a desk or forcing them to do undesirable tasks. It entails seeking imaginative methods to assist children in exploring their surroundings and following their passions. It is crucial to note that there is no singular approach that suits every family, as each family’s circumstances vary.
- Follow your child’s lead: Relaxed homeschoolers believe that it’s more important to focus on what interests their children than it is to stick to a strict curriculum. If your child is passionate about a certain subject, allow them to explore it in depth. Likewise, don’t force them to spend hours on something they dislike – there’s no point in making homeschooling another chore!
- Let kids learn at their own pace: There is no rush in relaxed homeschooling. Children are allowed to progress at their own speed and go back and review concepts as needed. This approach can be especially helpful for kids who have struggled in a traditional school setting where they felt pressure to keep up with their peers.
- Value experience over textbooks: Relaxed homeschoolers believe that life experiences are just as important as textbooks when it comes to learning. Field trips, community service, hobbies, and even everyday activities like cooking and grocery shopping can all be used as opportunities for learning.
- Allow for plenty of unstructured time: In addition to following their interests, relaxed homeschoolers also need time for free play. This allows kids the space they need to use their imaginations, solve problems on their own, and develop social skills by interacting with other kids (even if those interactions are just verbal jousting over who gets the last turn on the swing!).
Relaxed Homeschooling Is Guided By The Parents’ Beliefs About Education
The strong beliefs of relaxed homeschoolers about the meaning of education drive their decisions.
Relaxed homeschoolers have their own perspective on education and they do not just blindly embrace the ideas or methodologies of experts, regardless of their importance or reputation. Instead, they develop their own vision of education and apply it in their own unique manner.
When it comes to relaxed homeschooling, the emphasis is placed on the quality of education rather than the quantity. It is crucial to exhibit proficiency in relevant areas.
There is no priority in completing all items on a checklist or schedule created by someone who has never met their child. If the checklist does not serve a valuable purpose in their homeschool, it is useless. The same applies to schedules, teacher’s manuals, and other guides authored by unknown individuals.
Parents who opt for a laid-back homeschooling method hold the belief that children have an innate inclination to seek knowledge, and thus, they highly prioritize establishing a learning environment within their homes. To accomplish this, they ensure that the learning opportunities and resources offered are suitable for their child’s developmental stage and align with their individual interests.
Relaxed homeschoolers place importance on interest-based learning, yet they do not completely delegate all responsibility to the child. Instead, the parents gently and intentionally assist her in determining the approach to follow in pursuing her interests.
Relaxed Homeschooling Is Child-Focused But Not Child-Centered
Despite the child’s significant involvement in the family’s decision-making process, the homeschooling experience does not prioritize the child’s needs and preferences. The parents continue to exert control and have the ultimate authority over the educational journey.
If a parent considers a particular subject to be crucial for their child’s education, it will be included in the educational approach. The parents will ask the child for their input on how to approach the learning experience, but it will definitely occur. However, the child does not have the authority to veto such decisions. This distinction is arguably the main contrast between relaxed homeschooling and unschooling.
In relaxed homeschooling, the parents hold the responsibility for making decisions and setting the overall agenda, rather than it being child-centered where the child has complete control.
Relaxed Homeschoolers Focus on Family Relationships
As a general rule, if the relationships in a relaxed homeschool family are healthy then the academics will easily flow from that. If there is trust between the parents and the child, it is much easier to work together to accomplish great things.
On the other hand, even if the parents make the academics well organized and in order, if the relationships are not in order, everything will still be wrong. The reason relaxed homeschooling is considered relaxed is that the family prioritizes building strong relationships.
Parents may actually spend more time on relationships rather than “academic” subjects during the younger years, and this is completely acceptable and even desirable. Developing a strong family bond in the early years will bring significant benefits in the following years.
If parents are causing harm to their relationship with their child by pressuring them too much in academic areas, relaxed homeschoolers believe it is crucial to take a step back and evaluate the situation.
No matter what curriculum sequence or state requirement is in place, the relationship between a parent and their child will always be more important. Sacrificing a loving and harmonious family in order to adhere to the pace of other homeschoolers is never worth it.
The Curriculum Choices of Relaxed Homeschoolers
When people ask homeschoolers about the curriculum they use, it is one of the first questions usually asked. Answering this question can be difficult for relaxed homeschoolers as the response is rarely straightforward.
Relaxed homeschoolers are not restricted to a specific philosophy or individual, and as a result, they are not restricted to a specific curriculum either. Their approach is centered around selecting a curriculum that meets the child’s current needs, rather than adhering to a predetermined curriculum. In a relaxed homeschooling environment, the curriculum works to serve the individual rather than the other way around.
The majority of relaxed homeschoolers typically create their own curriculum on a yearly basis. Although one can opt to be a relaxed homeschooler and buy a formal curriculum or curriculum-in-a-box, it is unlikely that it will be utilized as intended.
Relaxed homeschool families have various options to support their children’s learning. For instance, they might choose to incorporate workbooks, videos, or online classes based on their child’s preferences and the effectiveness of each tool. Additionally, living books may also be present in their homes as an educational resource.
When children are young, employing a thematic approach in relaxed homeschooling proves effective. Utilizing a topic of interest presents a captivating method for young children to acquire knowledge in diverse subjects such as history, reading, science, and so on.
The curriculum for homeschool families is intentionally and meticulously selected to address a particular and identified need, regardless of the choice made.
