Before You Start Homeschooling - Try Deschooling First!
If you've recently decided to homeschool your child, congratulations on taking this exciting step!
Transitioning from traditional school to homeschooling can be both thrilling and overwhelming. But don’t worry, there’s a fantastic concept called "deschooling" that can make this transition smoother for you and your child. This special transition is so beneficial for the whole family. Read on to find out the what, why and how of deschooling.
What is Deschooling?
Deschooling is the period of adjustment when children (and often parents) shift from a traditional school environment to a homeschooling setup. It’s a time to relax, reset, and rethink what learning can look like outside the classroom. This process is crucial for helping children decompress from the structured, often stressful school routine and rediscover their natural love for learning.
What are the benefits of deschooling before homeschooling?
Breaking Free from Routine: Traditional schools follow a strict schedule. Deschooling allows your child to break free from that routine and adjust to a more flexible, personalized learning pace.
Rediscovering the Joy of Learning: Schools sometimes stifle creativity and curiosity with rigid curriculums. Deschooling helps reignite your child's passion for learning by letting them explore topics that truly interest them.
Strengthening Family Bonds: This period is an excellent opportunity for family bonding. It sets a positive foundation for your homeschooling journey by allowing you to reconnect and learn together.
How to Start Deschooling
Take It Slow: Don’t rush into a structured homeschooling curriculum right away. Spend time exploring, playing, and enjoying each other’s company. Visit parks, museums, or just relax at home.
Follow Your Child’s Lead: Pay attention to what your child is naturally curious about. If they’re fascinated by space, spend time reading about planets, watching space documentaries, or visiting a planetarium.
Engage in Everyday Learning: Use this time to read together, explore nature, and do creative activities like drawing, building, or cooking. This fosters a love for learning in a relaxed environment.
Keep a Journal: Encourage your child (and yourself) to keep a journal. It’s a fun way to document thoughts, feelings, and activities during this transition. Plus, it makes a great keepsake!
Take Note of What Excites and Ignites Learning in Your Child: This will help to work out what is going to be the best way to teach them. Do they gravitate to books? Documentaries? Making and creating things?
Common Concerns About Deschooling
Am I Doing Enough?: It’s normal to worry if you're providing enough educational content. Remember, learning happens in many forms, not just through textbooks. Life skills, social interactions, and personal interests are equally important.
Socialization: Concerns about socialization are common, but there are plenty of opportunities for your child to interact with peers—homeschool groups. There is no need to stop there after school activities. Join Facebook homeschooling groups, in there you will find many casual meet-ups at parks and local areas. Community activities are also great options.
Transitioning Back to Traditional School: If you’re concerned about your child returning to traditional school later, remember that deschooling is just a phase. When the time comes, you can adapt your approach to prepare them for that transition.
Tips for a Successful Deschooling Period
Be Patient: Deschooling takes time. Each child adjusts at their own pace, so be patient and give them the time they need to decompress.
Stay Flexible: Be open to changing plans based on what works best for your family. Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of homeschooling.
Connect with Other Homeschoolers: Join local or online homeschool groups. Sharing experiences and getting advice from seasoned homeschoolers can be incredibly helpful.
Frequently asked Questions
How Long Should You Deschool For?
It is recommended that you deschool for at least one month per year at school. The longer a child has been at school, the longer it will take for them to adjust to homeschooling life.
What Would a Typical Day Look Like?
Every day would have an organic flow. It is going to look more like school holidays. During the day though, let the child choose what activities they are interested in. Let them explore them as long as they like. Don't force it, let it come naturally.
What if my Child is Bored?
Let them be bored! Being bored is an important part of their development. Children these days are not being given enough time to be bored. Boredom fosters creativities and critical thinking. When we don't over-plan their days it gives them more time to explore these vital skills.
“Guarding kids from ever feeling bored is misguided in the same way that guarding kids from ever feeling sad, or ever feeling frustrated, or ever feeling angry is misguided,” says clinical psychologist Stephanie Lee, PsyD.
How Can I Engage My Child in Activities Without Forcing Them?
Sit down with your child and have a chat about all the things they would like to learn about. Let them dream. Don't say no to anything they say, write it all down. Even if it is overwhelming for you (one of my children wanted to start his own YouTube channel and my first thought was "No!"). Talk to them about how they can do some of their ideas. What materials might they need to buy? Do you have things on hand or need to take them to the shops? Let them guide you through what they need. Only help where necessary.
Tell them about different museums and art galleries. Make a list of all the places you want to go together. Go and enjoy those places. No worksheets, pens or paper - just observe and enjoy.
Also, put things out around the house where they might see them and pick them up. This is called strewing. Interesting fact books, some paints, a child's cooking book, a puzzle, a magnifying glass. They might pick them up and learn some wonderful things from them. Or you pick up something interesting and start using it. Get the binoculars and use them. Just tell them what interesting bird you saw and how beautiful it was. That might be enough to get them interested as well.
There are many ways to get children interested in learning without forcing textbooks, worksheets and timetables on them. This deschooling time will give them a chance to realise things about themselves that they never knew.
Final Thoughts
Deschooling is a unique and valuable part of the homeschooling journey. It’s about giving yourself and your child the grace and space to adjust and to find joy in learning together. There’s no one right way to do it, so feel free to tailor this period to what feels best for your family. There are countless benefits for you and your child if you take this time to decompress, destress and deschool.
Take a deep breath, trust the process, and enjoy this special time.
Feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments below. Let's support each other on this amazing journey!
