I quite agree. And of course, the main thing she is teaching them is not to be little group of mobile-phone addicted sheep. However these kids grow up, the one thing I guarantee is that they won't be boring! Good luck to them, I say. I wish I had grown up like that - complete with the mud!

Well said Peter.

You've said it nicely "how do you think children were educated prior to the industrial age". Well, I'm sorry, this is post-industrial age. The question is - are her children going to be well equipped to survive and succeed in today's world?

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I agree, but what do you think would happen if they get dropped off into the real world? They won't have the slightest idea what is going on

You don't need an academic record to get into college or any testing scores. However, the same sort of testing is available to any home schooling family if they so choose to use it later on. So either way her kids will be successful whoever and whatever they choose to do.

I am 18 and have been unschooled my whole life until I started going to college a few months ago, and I would just like to say that while her type of unschooling is totally awesome, it isn't the only type. While I have done volunteer work on a farm, I have had a very technologically immersed unschooling education. I learned math and coding on Khan Academy, history and astronomy watching Crash Course videos on Youtube and read probably at least 2h a day with Ebooks on my iPad. Not that there is anything wrong with her method of unschooling, just giving an example of another way. Like Perter has said, unschooling is all about having a life-long love of learning, and if her kids decide they want to do something, then they will do it.

Technically, they can't be unhappy with how they're living, because they haven't lived any other way. I agree with you though.

So she /he will go on to find the 'right' employer or the 'right' kind of work - unlikely to become a Trump-style billionaire , but quite possibly rather fulfilled and 'happy' ... we do - in the end - all live our own individual lifes , and have to sort out what & how we get on with it . My guess is they will fare not too badly ; i certainly wish all of them well , and thank their mother / parents for giving them such unique chance(s) towards a 'good' life !

Unschooling doesn't mean they're not getting an education. It means they're not getting a typical structured education that you are obviously referring to. I know many unschoolers that still get diplomas and go to college.

She is educating her children, using books. No one needs the Internet to get an education.

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Children who get these kinds of educations don't just learn as much and more as children in traditional school systems, they learn why things are important to understand and how they are integrated into our daily lives. You can teach math, science and history all through cooking, growing food and many other outdoor activities. I grew up in traditional school and I learned things only to be able to pass a test, not because I genuinely cared or was interested. I know that is the same for many others. It wasn't until I began living this lifestyle that these wonderful children are getting to experience from childhood that I see why what we learn is important and actually want to educate myself. Open your mind, these are the kids that will grow up to truly make a difference in the world. I guarantee they will have just as good of a chance, if not better at being successful as "normal" children. Plus, they will be much happier!

Yeah, keeping depriving kids of braindead standardized testing is horrific.

I don't know, letting your kids eat glass and drink bleach is pretty irresponsible. Buying them alcohol for their sixth birthday, or a katana, or a blowtorch, or letting your kids just sit in front of a computer or TV all day is pretty f*****g irresponsible too. Spending as much time with your flesh and blood, making bonds--actually living life--seems pretty pale by comparison.

You might need more schooling because it seems you didn't understand what she is doing...

She is giving them a very rich education. She doesn't say how old her children are, but you have to remember that she is in New Zealand. Every country (even every state in the U.S.) has different requirements for schooling. Most children who do not begin formal schooling until later (some studies say as late as 11) do not show any academic deficits in standardized testing even after one year of school. Like others have mentioned they must learn to read to do many unschooling tasks (research, follow a recipe, etc). Most children can learn things at a much faster rate when they start later AND research shows that learning should be 100% play based and child lead through age 8 anyway.

KEEPING EDUCATION? You dont understand what means education.

Albino Squirrel - I chose to "unschool" my child for her preschool years. (I live in a city in which where a child goes to preschool can have a huge influence on the rest of his/her life.) The children I cared for and her chose what they wanted to learn about from 18-months-old for my DD and 2/3 for the other children. DD was a very inquisitive child and one day came to me and identified all the letters on a book cover (at 1.5 years old). I had never formerly instructed her on letter identification, and took that as she was interested in letters and started from there. By the time she was 3 they could follow a picture card grocery shopping list and recipes and they were already playing rhyming games (a kindergarten skill). We learned about the solar system, dinosaurs, bugs, animals etc. We went on outings and played all day. I chose Montessori elementary school for her (also child-lead) and at 8 she does school work on a 5th grade level.

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

But it does mean that they learn house chores and things like that. No real education.

Riki for the win!!!:)

How are they not being taught what do you find *ignorant about them?

I think all the ignorant adults have been passing judgement on this post.

There is a HUGE difference between being "uneducated" and being "ignorant". For example, one can choose to be uneducated about the unschooling movement. Or, one can be ignorant, meaning the choose not to learn, about the unschooling movement.

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

That would be an amazing childhood, and I love that idea. But these kids don't go to a real school. That's the difference

Should read "out of the box style of learning"

I mean, we need skills to live and that is all, not everyone should be a modern person or a global person, local person are beautiful with their culture.