At the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown, I had friends and family who were thrown into full time teaching for their kids. Schools sent home packets, and passwords, and scheduled zoom meetings.
Even if a parent wanted to homeschool, they were probably too dizzy from the ever-changing pandemic news and the constant adjustments to give homeschooling a real try.
What is Deschooling?
Deschooling is the process of transitioning away from the traditional school mindset. It's a period of decompression - for both parents and children - where you let go of the expectations, schedules, and pressures of conventional education.
This summer, my wish for every family is to take the time to deschool.
What does deschooling look like?
- No worksheets or formal lessons
- Following your child's lead and interests
- Lots of free play and unstructured time
- Reconnecting as a family
- Letting go of "productivity" guilt
- Trusting that learning happens naturally
The rule of thumb many homeschoolers use is one month of deschooling for every year of traditional schooling. But there's no rush. Take the time your family needs.
When you emerge from deschooling, you'll have a clearer sense of what learning can look like for your unique family - free from the constraints of what you think education "should" be.