Educational Issues

» jesdenm - Question about Games

I use a charter school, but don't require extensive studying or worksheets. We are close to unschooling, just not perfect. My question is this: When we don't do school work, all he wants to do is play video games all day and watch TV all day, if unschooling is based on children leading themselves in their own education with help from me if they need it, should I force him to put the game down or turn off the TV and do something more along the lines of learning? I am so confused. Our schooling takes about 30 min - 1 hour out of the whole day. To add to this dilemma, I am on disability and cannot get out as often as we used to. When I flare up, we don't go anywhere. Please help.

I forgot to mention, he is 9 1/2 yrs old.

-- posted by jesdenm

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» Barbara Pytel - Question about Games

In response to Question about Games posted by jesdenm:

I am very familiar with homeschooling but not unschooling. With homeschooling, I hear that 4 hours of schooling a day is about par. And, actually, probably equal to a full-day at a traditional school but you have eliminated waiting in line for recess/lunch, waiting for other children to finish, walking down the hall for an activity, waiting for the teacher to answer a question, and waiting for others to catch up. The homeschool parents I know have a room set up for a mock school. Students work in there and there are no video games or TVs. They assure me that their children work 4 or more hours on school work. Children need exercise. Watching TV is probably not the intent of an unschooling program. I would guess that leading themselves would mean within the boundaries you have set and materials presented before them. Leading themselves may refer more to proceeding at a mastery pace rather than choosing between TV, video games or math/reading. Learning could include doing laundry, cooking, and becoming a responsible member of the household. Is there a workchart posted with daily work that needs to be done? I would take a second look at why schooling is such a small part of the day.

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