My journey with home education or home schooling as some like to call it, began when I was a mother. I felt very strongly that I did not want my children to attend mainstream schools. I do not agree with the education system, how it is organized and how they segregate children according to age. Segregation begins at such a young age now and it is very damaging.

Our focus needs to be about bringing people together not introducing the idea that we should only be around certain people (in this instance those of a certain age). You plant a seed at a young age and watch it bloom, see how that seed of segregation branches out.

I have full faith in my children's ability to teach themselves and nothing is more exciting that witnessing their excitement when they figure things out for themselves. My girls have learned so much through play and their learning has always been fun. When you force children into a situation, when you force them to learn, then the fun stops and it is seen as more of a chore. Children are born with a strong urge to learn and explore and we need to start honour that, by giving them the freedom to self educate.

My two eldest girls learn in very different ways and because they have the freedom to choose how they spend most of their day, they got to discover what way in which they learn best. They have the opportunity to explore the world around them and find the best way in which they can teach themselves. Don't get me wrong I am available to them throughout the day and we do lots of activities together. But because of that freedom, they have developed really great problem solving skills and decision making skills. Skills that they will carry with them throughout their lives.

They are very confident in their abilities, and they get super excited to explore new things and new places, they are always up for an adventure. With the freedom they have, they are able to follow their own instincts when it comes to learning and creating and they learn so much quicker because of it. Some days can be spend building dens or tree houses, while other days can be all about art, music or planting seeds. I have been so inspired watching my girls build and use hand tools.

When we unschool ourselves as parents and let go of the fear we hold, especially when it comes to allowing our children to take the lead, we really get to see what they are capable of and it is very liberating for us parents to let go. Our relationship is then based on trust and mutual respect and we all end up learning together.

A few years ago, before my youngest was born, I went on a 2 month trek in the mountains with my daughters. We went with a friend and her son and we each had a horse to carry our belonging. We also used the opportunity to raise money for refugees and the local kids creative space, where kids who are homeschooled can go and get involved in building, music and art projects. ( My two eldest go there twice a week now, where they will be building the space they want as it has no infrastructure on the land now, it is in the wilderness up in the mountains.)

On that trek my girls got involved in the cooking, gathering wood, caring for the horses and putting up and taking down the tents each day. They learnt such valuable skills, as did I and most of all they got to be out in nature, in the wilderness for 2 months. Deepening their bond with nature.

Having experiences like that, in my eyes are so important. Children are born with a deep connection with the earth, but through education and segregation that connection becomes weaken. The world as we know it, is the way it is because of all of the destruction done by humankind, our focus needs to be on nurturing the relationship that children have with the natural world. Giving them the freedom to be in nature and to educate them on the many ways that we can be of service to the earth.

I know that I can not control what my children consume all the time, what they witness and see, but I can help to guide them as they build a strong foundation in self learning, self care and a deep respect for mother nature. Home education allows us to do that, allows my girls to deepen their roots to the land and deepen their respect for the earth and all living things on her. In following their lead, they are becoming the person that they want to be.

This post is in response to the wonderful contest put on by @homeedders, you can find all the details here.

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