When it comes to teens’ use of technology, I feel strongly that we should listen to what the experts have to say. Recently I’ve waded into several threads on social media about youth and digital media. One was sparked by
Unschooled adolescents
Fiona’s primary enrolment this year is with SelfDesign, an independent umbrella program that supports home-based learners from Kindergarten through Grade 9 and their families, including loads of unschoolers. The support is primarily moral support, though there’s a little money available
Building Rat Park
At a recent unschooling workshop, the issue of technology use came up. Some parents expressed concern over the potential addictive nature of technology. With unschoolers having far more autonomy over their lives, the risk of excess use seems much higher,
Soap and teenagers
The soap has cured! We’ve wrapped it up in salvaged tissue paper and ribbon, to keep it protected until use by us or others. While the lavender buds turned a less-than-fetching brown in the alkaline environment, the basic marbled green
Mix-and-match schooling logistics
Okay, I know it’s not going to continue to be this challenging, but can I just complain for a moment about the organizational challenges of having all these kids doing all these extremely different but fairly rigorously scheduled things? My
Tantrums and meltdowns
“How can you tell the difference between an emotional meltdown due to neurological over-excitabilities and a bratty tantrum the child is using to get what they want?” I don’t believe it’s as simple as saying “either the child is subjected
Stranded stringless
Erin is possessed of the type of independence her mother has — the ability to tough things out on her own. The type her mother lacks, the ability to approach people and ask for help, she also lacks. Especially on
Techniques
Dear parent who is asking about the latest and greatest disciplinary techniques: Discpline (which really means “teaching”) isn’t about techniques, IMO. Techniques tend to be about finding ways to make your child do what you want and not do what
The race that is childhood
Message board copy & paste: “One of the bragging points is ‘My little Johnny doesn’t watch those shows anymore. He’s much too mature for Barney and Dora. He much prefers watching Arthur and Spiderman.’ “ My, everything has got so
Naughty Stool Memory
I was about eight years old. I had done something deemed wrong or inappropriate. I have absolutely no recollection what it was. That part of the memory faded very fast, and it was really beside the point. There had been
Adolescent responsibility
Somewhere I read that the shift to night-owl-dom in adolescence once had a biological imperative. Young teens in tribal times were the ones who were given spears and left to guard the encampment from enemies and predators by the fire
Adolescence rant
Copied & pasted from a discussion board where it was being argued that young adults from 18-25 ought to be cut a little slack by the justice system when they do stupid things like engage in credit card fraud —
Small but significant conversation
Fiona: Mommy, I wish I had an organization to my day. You know, like, ‘practicing: 10:30, math: 2 o’clock.’ Me [chuckling]: Oh my, Fiona, that’s a really good idea. Unfortunately I think you have the wrong mom. I’ll try, I
Anger
In Buddhism anger is held to be one of the three roots of evil. Dr. Suzuki felt that anger was unnecessary and for a long time practiced not being angry. Our own family is a little shy on anger. The
Contracting out parenting
Dear parent who asking for help finding bike-riding lessons for your 7-year-old: There’s a tendency these days to think that by contracting out what used to be basic childhood learning to ‘professionals’ who specialize in it we’re giving our kids