The Unschooling Life Tue, 09 Dec 2025 03:38:59 +0000 Tue, 09 Dec 2025 03:38:59 +0000 Libsyn RSSgen 1.0 http://www.patreon.com/amychilds en http://www.patreon.com/amychilds https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/e/6/2/7e6267dd781eb402/TUL_podcast_square.jpg The Unschooling Life false Amy Childs episodic no Extras with Sandra Dodd Extras with Sandra Dodd Fri, 03 Apr 2015 17:22:38 +0000 Clips from interviews with Sandra Dodd that didn't get put elsewhere.

]]> Clips from interviews with Sandra Dodd that didn't get put elsewhere.

]]> 19:16 false bonus Extra Bits Extra Bits Thu, 02 Apr 2015 17:44:42 +0000 Extra bits and pieces that didn't get included anywhere else.

]]> Extra bits and pieces that didn't get included anywhere else.

]]> 14:59 false full Healing Healing Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:16:40 +0000 Unschooling can repair damage done by traditional parenting and schooling approaches.

]]> Unschooling can repair damage done by traditional parenting and schooling approaches.

]]> 19:21 false full Laughter Laughter Sat, 21 Mar 2015 01:22:15 +0000 While my kids were in school, we could easily go several days without laughing together. When we were unschooling, hardly an hour would go by without at least a giggle.

]]> While my kids were in school, we could easily go several days without laughing together. When we were unschooling, hardly an hour would go by without at least a giggle.

]]> 16:53 false full Siblings Siblings Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:49:06 +0000 How does unschooling affect sibling dynamics? 

]]> How does unschooling affect sibling dynamics?

]]> 17:16 false full The Word Unschooling The Word Unschooling Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:02:29 +0000 Where did it come from? And where is it going?

]]> Where did it come from? And where is it going?

]]> 17:33 false full Gaps and Being "Behind" Gaps and Being "Behind" Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:04:00 +0000 Sometimes people worry that, if children don’t follow a set curriculum, they will have gaps in their education, or that they will be behind.

 

Is this a valid concern?

]]> Sometimes people worry that, if children don’t follow a set curriculum, they will have gaps in their education, or that they will be behind.

Is this a valid concern?

]]> 16:37 false full Hard Times Hard Times Fri, 13 Feb 2015 18:18:08 +0000 What do unschoolers do when they encounter hard times?

]]> What do unschoolers do when they encounter hard times?

]]> 15:53 false full Single Parents Single Parents Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:15:33 +0000 For many people, unschooling as a single parent would be way too hard.

But today we hear from some “solo mums” who are unschooling successfully, with joy, learning, abundance and partnership.

Katie O’Connor is the director of the Talking Stick Learning Center.

Danielle Owens is on the board of DrMomma.org and Saving our Sons.

Brie Jontry teaches online classes for West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Tanya Marinelli runs Wellness and Empowerment Camps for Kids. 

 

Lainie Liberti facilitates World School Retreats for unschooling teens.

]]> For many people, unschooling as a single parent would be way too hard.

But today we hear from some “solo mums” who are unschooling successfully, with joy, learning, abundance and partnership.

Katie O’Connor is the director of the Talking Stick Learning Center.

Danielle Owens is on the board of DrMomma.org and Saving our Sons.

Brie Jontry teaches online classes for West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Tanya Marinelli runs Wellness and Empowerment Camps for Kids.

Lainie Liberti facilitates World School Retreats for unschooling teens.

]]> 15:59 false full Relatives Relatives Tue, 03 Feb 2015 14:54:19 +0000 When relatives don’t support unschooling… what then?

]]> When relatives don’t support unschooling… what then?

]]> 16:26 false full Dads Dads Mon, 02 Feb 2015 18:55:38 +0000 What about dads?

]]> What about dads?

]]> 16:27 false full Quitting Quitting Mon, 26 Jan 2015 19:55:13 +0000 Quitting and learning; learning and quitting.

]]> Quitting and learning; learning and quitting.

]]> 17:19 false full Sex Ed Sex Ed Wed, 21 Jan 2015 23:27:23 +0000 How do unschoolers handle sex education? 

]]> How do unschoolers handle sex education?

]]> 17:16 false full Travel Travel Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:13:21 +0000 The flexibility of an unschooling lifestyle makes it possible for some families to travel and learn all over the world. It's hard not to be jealous of them, but maybe they can inspire us to realize the world is an amazing place and wherever we go we can have a learning adventure. And maybe we can discover traveling is more within our reach that it may seem.

]]> The flexibility of an unschooling lifestyle makes it possible for some families to travel and learn all over the world. It's hard not to be jealous of them, but maybe they can inspire us to realize the world is an amazing place and wherever we go we can have a learning adventure. And maybe we can discover traveling is more within our reach that it may seem.

]]> 16:54 false full Gever Tulley Gever Tulley Tue, 13 Jan 2015 22:30:59 +0000 Gever Tulley is the founder of Tinkering School and author of the book 50 Fangerous Things You Should Let Your Kid do.  This is an extended recording of Gever talking about Tinkering, his original TED talk, his book, and the value of parents and children doing dangerous things together.

]]> Gever Tulley is the founder of Tinkering School and author of the book 50 Fangerous Things You Should Let Your Kid do. This is an extended recording of Gever talking about Tinkering, his original TED talk, his book, and the value of parents and children doing dangerous things together.

]]> 15:01 false full Safety Safety Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:59:19 +0000 Today we hear about danger and safety from Ben Hewitt, Sandra Dodd, Renee Cabatic, Gever Tulley and Lenore Skenazy.

]]> Today we hear about danger and safety from Ben Hewitt, Sandra Dodd, Renee Cabatic, Gever Tulley and Lenore Skenazy.

]]> 15:46 false full Global Change Global Change Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:57:41 +0000 Can unschooling make the world a better place?

]]> Can unschooling make the world a better place?

]]> 15:59 false full Personal Growth Personal Growth Sat, 03 Jan 2015 17:36:26 +0000 One of the hidden benefits to unschooling is that it can help parents learn, heal and grow.

]]> One of the hidden benefits to unschooling is that it can help parents learn, heal and grow.

]]> 16:44 false full When Unschooling Fails When Unschooling Fails Sun, 28 Dec 2014 21:39:55 +0000 Sometimes people say “Unschooling isn’t working for my child” or they say, "We tried unschooling but it didn’t work."

 

This is the topic for today: When, why or how does unschooling fail?

 

]]> Sometimes people say “Unschooling isn’t working for my child” or they say, "We tried unschooling but it didn’t work."

This is the topic for today: When, why or how does unschooling fail?

]]> 15:35 false full Community Community Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:29:20 +0000 How do unschoolers find community?

]]> How do unschoolers find community?

]]> 14:03 false full African Americans & Homeschooling African Americans & Homeschooling Tue, 16 Dec 2014 13:52:33 +0000 Ama Mazama is a professor of African American studies at Temple University, a homeschooling mom, and author of the recently published a book African Americans and Homeschooling: Motivations, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Today we will hear why she believes homeschooling is the best educational option for African American children. 

I asked Ama about her decision to educate her own children at home, and why she felt the local public schools were not a viable option for her family. 

We also talked about Ms Mazama's survey of African American homeschoolers, and about how schools perpetuate the oppressive status quo.

Finally, Ama offers words of encouragement to families considering this option.

Welcome to The Unschooling Life Podcast.

 

.

]]> Ama Mazama is a professor of African American studies at Temple University, a homeschooling mom, and author of the recently published a book African Americans and Homeschooling: Motivations, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Today we will hear why she believes homeschooling is the best educational option for African American children.

I asked Ama about her decision to educate her own children at home, and why she felt the local public schools were not a viable option for her family.

We also talked about Ms Mazama's survey of African American homeschoolers, and about how schools perpetuate the oppressive status quo.

Finally, Ama offers words of encouragement to families considering this option.

Welcome to The Unschooling Life Podcast.

.

]]> 18:29 false full Strewing Strewing Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:03:27 +0000 "I strew their path with interesting things."

]]> "I strew their path with interesting things."

]]> 14:46 false full Longer interviews with Liberated Learners Longer interviews with Liberated Learners Tue, 09 Dec 2014 17:44:30 +0000 Nothstar Teens

Princeton Learning Cooperative

Bucks Learning Cooperative

 

 

]]> Nothstar Teens

Princeton Learning Cooperative

Bucks Learning Cooperative

]]> 10:38 false full Not Back to School Camp Not Back to School Camp Tue, 09 Dec 2014 17:33:48 +0000 07:14 false full Teens Teens Tue, 09 Dec 2014 17:03:59 +0000 What's it like to be an unschooling teen?

]]> What's it like to be an unschooling teen?

]]> 16:29 false full Saying Yes Saying Yes Sun, 07 Dec 2014 23:42:22 +0000 Saying Yes to your child can foster a rich and joyful environment for learning.

 

]]> Saying Yes to your child can foster a rich and joyful environment for learning.

]]> 15:41 false full Principles Principles Thu, 04 Dec 2014 14:22:45 +0000 Principles and priorities (rather than rules) create the framework by which unschooling can work

]]> Principles and priorities (rather than rules) create the framework by which unschooling can work

]]> 14:23 false full Money Money Tue, 02 Dec 2014 20:05:13 +0000 Unschooling and money... money and unschooling.

]]> Unschooling and money... money and unschooling.

]]> 17:11 false full History History Mon, 01 Dec 2014 22:20:25 +0000 History is stories.

]]> History is stories.

]]> 17:08 false full Geography Geography Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:33:43 +0000 Learning geography can be an adventure!

]]> Learning geography can be an adventure!

]]> 15:39 false full Science Science Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:10:00 +0000 Science is EVERYWHERE!

]]> Science is EVERYWHERE!

]]> 16:52 false full Writing Writing Sun, 02 Nov 2014 19:47:50 +0000 Learning to write without pain and suffering.

]]> Learning to write without pain and suffering.

]]> 17:16 false full Reading Reading Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:46:14 +0000 Learning to read without school and without coercion.

]]> Learning to read without school and without coercion.

]]> 15:28 false full Math Math Mon, 27 Oct 2014 20:57:12 +0000 Learning math without school and without coercion.

]]> Learning math without school and without coercion.

]]> 16:42 false full Special Needs Special Needs Fri, 24 Oct 2014 16:56:21 +0000 Can unschooling work for a child with learning problems? What about gifted children? Or children with health issues?

 

Today we hear from....

 

Ami Fountain - an Awesomism Ambassador, an austism advocate, and an unschooling mother of two boys.

 

Nina Haley - a yoga teacher, paddleboarder and mother of three.

 

Sandra Dodd - "teacher" and "minister" of unschooling.

 

Brie Jontry - unschooling wise woman in the middle of a move from Alaska to Pennsylvania.

]]> Can unschooling work for a child with learning problems? What about gifted children? Or children with health issues?

Today we hear from....

Ami Fountain - an Awesomism Ambassador, an austism advocate, and an unschooling mother of two boys.

Nina Haley - a yoga teacher, paddleboarder and mother of three.

Sandra Dodd - "teacher" and "minister" of unschooling.

Brie Jontry - unschooling wise woman in the middle of a move from Alaska to Pennsylvania.

]]> 15:37 false full Socialization Socialization Fri, 17 Oct 2014 21:02:25 +0000 If a child doesn’t go to school, won’t she or he miss out on this thing called socialization? 

]]> If a child doesn’t go to school, won’t she or he miss out on this thing called socialization?

]]> 15:48 false full A Typical Day A Typical Day Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:06:37 +0000 A typically atypical unschooling day.

]]> A typically atypical unschooling day.

]]> 17:00 false full Bedtimes Bedtimes Sun, 28 Sep 2014 14:13:34 +0000 Everyone knows that kids HAVE to have bedtimes, right?

I mean … come on.

Right?

 

 

Welcome to the unschooling life podcast… and to a world where the things that "everyone knows" are often under suspicion.

]]> Everyone knows that kids HAVE to have bedtimes, right?

I mean … come on.

Right?

Welcome to the unschooling life podcast… and to a world where the things that "everyone knows" are often under suspicion.

]]> 16:23 false full "Spoiling" "Spoiling" Mon, 22 Sep 2014 21:53:14 +0000 How to help your child have The Best Day Ever, over and over and over again.

]]> How to help your child have The Best Day Ever, over and over and over again.

]]> 14:25 false full Mess Mess Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:09:27 +0000 Welcome to mess!

 

 

For as long as I can remember – maybe since I was four years old, I liked things to be tidy.

So I had a lot of personal growth to do, to get to a point where I could be okay with mess...

 

and to where I saw my kids preferences as at least equal to my own...

and I could put my relationship with them above my compulsion to have things be tidy all the time.

I wish I learned sooner but at least I learned it before it was too late.

]]> Welcome to mess!

For as long as I can remember – maybe since I was four years old, I liked things to be tidy.

So I had a lot of personal growth to do, to get to a point where I could be okay with mess...

and to where I saw my kids preferences as at least equal to my own...

and I could put my relationship with them above my compulsion to have things be tidy all the time.

I wish I learned sooner but at least I learned it before it was too late.

]]> 13:54 false full Food Food Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:12:42 +0000 Can even meal times be time of joy and harmony - and learning?

 

Unschoolers say, absolutely YES!

]]> Can even meal times be time of joy and harmony - and learning?

Unschoolers say, absolutely YES!

]]> 15:39 false full Peace Peace Wed, 10 Sep 2014 15:57:30 +0000 How do unschooling parents create a peaceful environment that is conducive to learning?

]]> How do unschooling parents create a peaceful environment that is conducive to learning?

]]> 16:02 false full Academics Academics Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:54:06 +0000 Unschoolers don’t segment life into categories, don’t follow a prescribed curriculum and don’t see quote “academic” learning as different or better than all kinds of learning.

 

People who still have a school mindset worry that this means unschooled children are not learning the important things.

]]> Unschoolers don’t segment life into categories, don’t follow a prescribed curriculum and don’t see quote “academic” learning as different or better than all kinds of learning.

People who still have a school mindset worry that this means unschooled children are not learning the important things.

]]> 17:05 false full "Bored" and "Lazy" "Bored" and "Lazy" Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:49:32 +0000 Parents worry a child might be too “bored” or “lazy” to unschool. Is this possible?

My conclusion is - not only are boredom and laziness not reasons or proof that unschooling doesn’t work  - they can be great opportunities to learn new things, to have more bonding experiences, giving a chance for parents to pay closer attention to their child and find out more that is going on deep inside.

 

]]> Parents worry a child might be too “bored” or “lazy” to unschool. Is this possible?

My conclusion is - not only are boredom and laziness not reasons or proof that unschooling doesn’t work - they can be great opportunities to learn new things, to have more bonding experiences, giving a chance for parents to pay closer attention to their child and find out more that is going on deep inside.

]]> 15:38 false full Is Unschooling Legal? Is Unschooling Legal? Mon, 25 Aug 2014 17:33:21 +0000 When they first hear about unschooling, many people ask “is that legal?” Every country is different, and in the US, every state is different.  But usually the answer is yes.

]]> When they first hear about unschooling, many people ask “is that legal?” Every country is different, and in the US, every state is different. But usually the answer is yes.

]]> 11:22 false full Learning from Screens Learning from Screens Sat, 23 Aug 2014 00:37:00 +0000 Many people worry that unlimited screens will harm their child.

But natural learning occurs best when children follow their interests and are trusted to direct their own play and learning... EVEN when they’re interested in something on a screen.

]]> Many people worry that unlimited screens will harm their child.

But natural learning occurs best when children follow their interests and are trusted to direct their own play and learning... EVEN when they’re interested in something on a screen.

]]> 16:46 false full Bonding Bonding Thu, 07 Aug 2014 02:25:04 +0000 What do families gain from an unschooling lifestyle that goes beyond providing a natural learning environment? I asked Sandra Dodd to talk about the differences between unschooling and other education alternatives. Today she touches on the parent-child bond, the parents’ learning, honoring human instincts, respecting the rhythm of a child’s whole life and making a relationship investment that lasts a lifetime.

In short: unschooling is more than an educational alternative. It is a lifestyle that promotes a child’s wellbeing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

]]> What do families gain from an unschooling lifestyle that goes beyond providing a natural learning environment? I asked Sandra Dodd to talk about the differences between unschooling and other education alternatives. Today she touches on the parent-child bond, the parents’ learning, honoring human instincts, respecting the rhythm of a child’s whole life and making a relationship investment that lasts a lifetime.

In short: unschooling is more than an educational alternative. It is a lifestyle that promotes a child’s wellbeing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

]]> 13:11 false full Peter Gray on Play Peter Gray on Play Thu, 07 Aug 2014 00:36:17 +0000 Children who are free to play learn to regulate emotions, overcome narcissism, be empathetic and creative, think abstractly, discover and develop their passions.

]]> Children who are free to play learn to regulate emotions, overcome narcissism, be empathetic and creative, think abstractly, discover and develop their passions.

]]> 17:00 false full Peter Gray on Learning Peter Gray on Learning Wed, 06 Aug 2014 23:21:33 +0000 Peter Gray is a developmental psychologist and research professor who has written many things including a blog for Psychology Today magazine called "Freedom to Learn." His latest book is also called Free to Learn, and in it Mr. Gray writes about how all people are born to be self-directed learners.

]]> Peter Gray is a developmental psychologist and research professor who has written many things including a blog for Psychology Today magazine called "Freedom to Learn." His latest book is also called Free to Learn, and in it Mr. Gray writes about how all people are born to be self-directed learners.

]]> 15:41 false full College Alternatives College Alternatives Fri, 25 Jul 2014 20:03:59 +0000 Lots of people- not just unschoolers - have been questioning more and more whether a college degree is really worth the skyrocketing costs.  I guess most would agree that sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t.

Unschoolers are well situated to do other interesting, educational, strategically savvy things, rather than going to college.  They have years of experience seeking out good opportunities, being self-motivated resourceful and creative, and finding alternative ways of learning the things they want to know.

 

In today’s podcast we hear a little more about some of these alternatives.

]]> Lots of people- not just unschoolers - have been questioning more and more whether a college degree is really worth the skyrocketing costs. I guess most would agree that sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t.

Unschoolers are well situated to do other interesting, educational, strategically savvy things, rather than going to college. They have years of experience seeking out good opportunities, being self-motivated resourceful and creative, and finding alternative ways of learning the things they want to know.

In today’s podcast we hear a little more about some of these alternatives.

]]> 15:23 false full Going to College Going to College Fri, 25 Jul 2014 04:38:12 +0000 Question: If children don’t go to school or follow a set curriculum for elementary or high school, how can they get into college or earn a college degree?

 

Answer: Lots of ways!

]]> Question: If children don’t go to school or follow a set curriculum for elementary or high school, how can they get into college or earn a college degree?

Answer: Lots of ways!

]]> 13:01 false full Deschooling Deschooling Sat, 19 Jul 2014 21:15:19 +0000 Before unschooling can flourish, parents and children need to undo old ideas about learning. This process is called Deschooling and it provides a vital foundation for the unschooling journey.

Most people who grow up going to school end up believing that learning is something that has to be forced,  and that learning isn’t fun. Children who are never forced to do schoolish things have no reason to believe this. 

But children – and parents – who DID go to school, and who do believe this,  before they can find the joy in natural learning, first have to un-learn this idea that they acquired from the forced-learning school model.

Sandra's tip for this process:

Read a little

Try a little

Wait a while

 

Watch

.... then, repeat.

]]> Before unschooling can flourish, parents and children need to undo old ideas about learning. This process is called Deschooling and it provides a vital foundation for the unschooling journey.

Most people who grow up going to school end up believing that learning is something that has to be forced, and that learning isn’t fun. Children who are never forced to do schoolish things have no reason to believe this.

But children – and parents – who DID go to school, and who do believe this, before they can find the joy in natural learning, first have to un-learn this idea that they acquired from the forced-learning school model.

Sandra's tip for this process:

Read a little

Try a little

Wait a while

Watch

.... then, repeat.

]]> 16:57 false full Who Can Unschool? Who Can Unschool? Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:10:15 +0000 Just about any child will learn and flourish in a truly loving and educationally-conducive environment. So every child has the potential to be a successful unschooler.

The question is, what qualities and skills must a parent have, in order to be able to provide this environment?

]]> Just about any child will learn and flourish in a truly loving and educationally-conducive environment. So every child has the potential to be a successful unschooler.

The question is, what qualities and skills must a parent have, in order to be able to provide this environment?

]]> 13:41 false full Why Unschool? Why Unschool? Sun, 13 Jul 2014 22:36:07 +0000 What is unschooling? How does it work? And why do families choose this path?

Today’s star-studded cast includes Jan Hunt, Kelly Lovejoy, Jerry Mintz, Idzie Desmarais. Carsie Blanton, Michelle Loucas, Sandra Dodd and Nikiah Childs.

]]> What is unschooling? How does it work? And why do families choose this path?

Today’s star-studded cast includes Jan Hunt, Kelly Lovejoy, Jerry Mintz, Idzie Desmarais. Carsie Blanton, Michelle Loucas, Sandra Dodd and Nikiah Childs.

]]> 13:45 false full 001 Learn Nothing Day 001 Learn Nothing Day Thu, 19 Jun 2014 17:01:56 +0000 Sandra Dodd always unschooled her kids.

Now they’re all grown up and independent, and Sandra spends her time writing and talking about unschooling and about how people learn.

 Several years ago Sandra started a “holiday for unschoolers” on her birthday - July 24. This special day is called Learn Nothing Day.

Since unschoolers create a world for their kids where learning can happen all day every day, there are no school vacations and no days off from learning.

Except on Learn Nothing Day.

 

The problem is, Learn Nothing Day is usually a complete flop.

]]> Sandra Dodd always unschooled her kids.

Now they’re all grown up and independent, and Sandra spends her time writing and talking about unschooling and about how people learn.

Several years ago Sandra started a “holiday for unschoolers” on her birthday - July 24. This special day is called Learn Nothing Day.

Since unschoolers create a world for their kids where learning can happen all day every day, there are no school vacations and no days off from learning.

Except on Learn Nothing Day.

The problem is, Learn Nothing Day is usually a complete flop.

]]> 15:29 false full Celebrating the Unschooling Life - Promo Celebrating the Unschooling Life - Promo Sat, 07 Jun 2014 19:33:22 +0000 For more information check out http://unschoolingsupport.com/

]]> For more information check out http://unschoolingsupport.com/

]]> 44 false full