Jan 15, 2018

The #1 Rule of Freeschoolin' Is There Are No Rules To Freeschoolin'!

In our home, we have no rules.

Our family lives by respect and safety based boundaries. No punishments necessary.

Why? Critical Thinking starts young. If we arbitrarily restrict children, it inhibits their self governing ability and their curious, scientific nature. Repetitious food and drink dumping in babies and toddlers isn't about cracking Parental sanity. Children are discovering the world around them and if we get out of the way and let them, kids can do so much more than current modern society generally believes. Punitive methods of control over people do not instill a sense of anything but submission or subversion. Neither of which is desirable in a free thinking society.

What DO We Do?

To put it simply, we parent how we friend. If I wouldn't think of doing something to my partner or a trusted friend, I'd never consider it with any child in my care. However, I do have boundaries and limitations and this is how we manage relationships our family. Hope (7) has been raised being respected so she responds easily to someone asking her to respect boundaries, most of the time.

If she needs help, Freeschoolin' Daddy and I come to her aid immediately to validate her experience and relieve emotional stress. 100% of the time she can then express her needs and we meet them within reasonable compromise to the best of our ability. We have found that acting out is directly related to unmet needs and a lack of ability or permission to communicate them.

Meet the needs and the conflicts dissolve.