Unschooling is a form of homeschooling. It is an educational philosophy. Homeschoolers are diverse as are their educational methods, not unlike schools. Unschooling is not about letting your children do “whatever” in a careless, neglectful manner. It is about non-coercion. Obviously, Ms. Kasparian at age 10 preferred television over reading a book — she wasn’t unschooled. And yes, Ms. Kasparian if an unschooled teen decides she truly wants to go to college, she will acquire the knowledge she needs to do it.

Watch the video and judge for yourself, “Unschooling vs. Homeschooling vs. Formal Education”.

Sometimes a reward is sufficient for my child to find self-motivation to complete required tasks. Sometimes a reward has no bearing on my child’s internal motivation and we reach a stalemate. My child simply will not do what is expected no matter what the consequences: first removal of rewards, then punitive measures. Coercion doesn’t work. I have learned this the hard way.

Since I’m the adult, I have to go back and examine why my child won’t do the work. I question what it is I am asking my child to do. I examine what exactly it my child won’t do. Is the work boring? Is the work too difficult? Is the work that I am asking my child to complete absolutely necessary for my child to tackle at this time? Why? Is there another way I can present the skills I feel necessary for my child to learn?

Often, I find that if I back off for a while or reintroduce the subject matter in a different, more creative manner we get past the hump. I don’t usually withhold rewards for extended periods of time anymore if that action is ineffectual. Instead, I allow my child to go ahead and follow the other interests because they, in themselves, are also providing learning.

My child may not be learning exactly what it is I had in mind at that time, but my child is learning what is of interest to him. There are skills my child must have in order to function in our world, but how they are learned and acquired can be adapted to my individual child’s needs. Although, I was schooled, I try to remember that children want to learn, want to please teachers and parents. And like anyone else, enjoy praise. Knowing all of this and putting it into action is a challenge of homeschooling.

There are many different ways to homeschool. Homeschoolers seek out resources to meet the learning needs and styles of a child. They may be … structured (conducting a traditional school program at home using formal education) or eclectic (mixing of traditional and unschooling methods for education) or unschoolers (following child-led interests without the use of formal curriculum or coercion).

Start by thinking about what defines an education. Educate yourself by reading about homeschooling, talking to homeschoolers, seeking out support groups, finding what is already available in your community, understanding your state’s home education laws.

Decide how to implement a home education program and then you tailor it to your child. If you can’t teach your child about a particular subject, find someone who can or use the Internet or a cyberschool or buy curriculum or enroll in classes at area museums or institutes, or homeschool co-ops, or go to the library, watch videos and dvds, read books, utilize opportunities at area parks, community colleges, and so on.

You must be committed to finding a way to educate your child. Homeschoolers use any venue possible deemed appropriate to further a child’s education. Creativity, imagination and perserverance are homeschooling characteristics. It’s your choice.

That’s what homeschooling is – a choice to raise and educate your child in the way that you as a parent believe is best.