How to Foster Independent Learning:
Introduction to Child-Led Learning

Episode 4 – How to Raise Independent Learners

This episode is all about independent learning, free time, and child-led learning. These are gain-more-while-doing-less homeschooling secret weapons! We’ll talk about how they each differ, and the benefits, so that you can add more value and peace to your homeschool right away.

Release Date: 10/20/2020

Duration: 31:28

How & Why to Encourage Child-Led Learning

John Holt said:

“Since we can’t know what knowledge will be most needed in the future, it is senseless to try to teach it in advance. Instead, we should try to turn out people who love learning so much and learn so well that they will be able to learn whatever needs to be learned.”

Yes!

It doesn’t matter if you’re an unschooler, Charlotte Mason, Classical…

You could be homeschooling a preschooler or a senior in highschool…

We all strive to create LEARNERS.

Here are just a few benefits of creating self-learners:

They identify passions in life; and interests that they claim as their own.
On a logistical note, self-learning reduces the workload on the parent-educator, so that they don’t have to be it ALL for the student.
Self-learning prepares students to be self-sufficient and competent in a future life filled with questions that will range from when do I have to catch the train? to why is that new supplement so popular? or, what is the history behind ISIS?
Self-learners are less likely to see boundaries in what they “should,” or “should not” be doing. Children instinctively believe that they can do anything if they can just learn about it (and work hard). Being well-versed in self-learning is more likely to perpetuate that belief into adulthood.
Self-learning creates well-rounded humans. Instead of learning only what is placed before them, and suffering the teacher’s (or department of education) biases, self-learners have pursued whatever knowledge caught their eye.

In this episode, we’re talking all about how and why to bring more independent learning into your home – even if you’re not ready to be an unschooler. There are steps that we can all take to help our children take more and more responsibility for their own educations.

LISTEN NOW.

Resources to Learn More

The Self-Driven Child by William Stixrud, PhD and Ned Johnson is a scientific look at how we raise children with a sense of personal responsibility, self-discipline, and initiative. While much of it is written for the parent of a child attending a traditional school, plenty can be gleaned for parents of homeschooled children, too.

How Children Learn by John Holt is one of the founding books of unschooling by the man who is often referred to as the founder of unschooling, himself. Holt has a few books that will all make the case for far more, if not exclusively, child-led learning.

The Art of Self-Directed Learning by Blake Boles is a quick, easy read designed for parents, or teens who are ready to be inspired and encouraged to learn more of what they love. He offers several ways to increase self-directed and independent learning.

Can I Ask a Favor?

Help us keep the Simple is the New Smart Podcast visible to those who need it most! If you like what you hear, would you please consider leaving a 5-star rating, telling a friend about the podcast, or writing a review? Thank you so much for listening, and supporting the show!

Also, sometimes, I post links to resources I love. When you use a link, I may, or may not get a small commission for purchases you make, at no extra charge to you. This is one way I offset the time and investment that goes into offering free content. You can see my full privacy policy here.

Where to Next?

Here are some other ways I can help you cut the clutter and overwhelm:

Listen to the Simple is the New Smart Podcast for bite-sized pieces of keeping you rhomeschool – and life – simple and intentional.
Grab your Free Resources so that you can get started adding focus and value now, right where you are.
Join me inside the Simple is the New Smart Membership to learn how to simplify, add focus and create the meaningful homeschool that you imagine, right now.