# Stark Raving Dad > Your go-to voice for navigating life without school. Focused, research-backed posts and episodes helping you build a version of home education that works for your family. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. Use `/llms-full.txt` for consolidated page and post context. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages - [šŸŽ§ Exclusive Episode: What REALLY prepares your child for adulthood (because academics wonā€™t)](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/2025-raised-good-summit-gift.md) - Hi there, I'm Issy, and this is my gift to you from the Raised Good Summit šŸ‘‹ Itā€™s one of the most listened-to episodes from my private Collection - normally only available to paying members - and I think youā€™ll quickly hear why. For a lot of my parenting life, I assumed that if I focused on my kidā€¦ - [About Issy](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/about.md) - Hey! I'm Issy, aka Stark Raving Dad šŸ‘‹ Eight years ago, my family stepped away from the traditional path and embraced the freedom of living a life without school. At the time, I wrote down my thoughts and feelings as we went through the process of removing our children from a public school system tā€¦ - [Account](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/account.md) - [Author](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/author.md) - [Contact Me](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/contact-me.md) - Hi! I like keeping things simple. If you ever need to get in touch, just send an email to issy@starkravingdadblog.com :-) - [If you're new here, welcome](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/if-youre-new-here-welcome.md) - Iā€™m Issy (aka Stark Raving Dad) - a home educating dad of four from New Zealand, and the voice behind The Life Without School Podcast šŸ‘‹ Over the past few years, this project has grown into a lifeline for thousands of parents around the world, supporting families whoā€™ve stepped away from school (orā€¦ - [Membership](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/membership.md) - [Sign-in](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/signin.md) - [Sign-up](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/signup.md) ## Posts - [Why school is failing more children than ever](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/why-school-is-failing-more-children-than-ever.md) - A lot of parents are sensing that the gap between school and the real world has become huge. But many are having a hard time pulling the threads together to work out why that gap feels so vast, and what the impact on their children might actually be. In this episode, Iā€™m putting words to it. - [An open letter to New Zealand MPs to oppose the proposed home education changes](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/an-open-letter-to-new-zealand-mps-oppose-the-proposed-home-education-changes.md) - Dear Members of Parliament, I am writing as a constituent, a home educating parent, and as someone who works closely with a large community of home educating families, to express serious concern about the proposed changes to home education contained in Amendment Paper 583 to the Education and Trainā€¦ - [When our unschooler tried school](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/when-our-unschooler-tried-school.md) - What happens when a child whoā€™s never been to school decides they want to try it? This is the story of our 9 year old walking into a classroom for the very first time. - [Why home educating is the most important work there is](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/why-home-educating-is-the-most-important-work-there-is.md) - As a home educator, thereā€™s a good chance youā€™re not valuing yourself, or your role, nearly as much as you should. Today I want to show you why I believe youā€™ve taken on a level of professional responsibility and weight that most people never will. - [What every parent MUST know about the AI Generation](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/what-every-parent-must-know-about-the-ai-generation.md) - AI is replacing the very jobs weā€™ve always raised our children to aim for. In this urgent episode, I unpack where AI is at right now, what the next decade might look like, and how we can prepare our children for a future more different than we can imagine. - [What if your child IS falling behind?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/what-if-your-child-is-falling-behind.md) - I want to talk a bit more about that phrase we all know and - *cough* - love: falling behind. About a year ago, I went into detail (in episode 22 of the podcast) about how unhelpful that concept really is, and how we can think differently about where our children are at. But even after that episodeā€¦ - [Think youā€™ve deschooled? Here's why most parents actually havenā€™t.](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/think-youve-deschooled-heres-why-most-parents-actually-havent.md) - Most parents whoā€™ve stepped into a life without school will tell you they understand deschooling. Theyā€™ve read about it. Thought about it. Reflected on their own childhood, and the kinds of beliefs they want to let go of. Theyā€™ve started questioning their ideas about learning, productivity, successā€¦ - [Episode 27:How do I KNOW home education is working?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/how-do-i-know-home-education-is-working.md) - In this episode, Iā€™m unpacking one of the biggest questions home educating families face: how do I know this whole thing is actually working? - [A curriculum isnā€™t what you think it is](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/a-curriculum-isnt-what-you-think-it-is.md) - Iā€™ve had a few conversations lately that all come back to the same kind of question: "How can I be sure I'm covering everything I should ā€“ do I maybe need a curriculum to help guide us? And if so...which one?" Itā€™s a totally understandable place to land. When you choose a life without school, you'rā€¦ - [The hidden gift (but uncomfortable truth) of raising free children](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/the-hidden-gift-but-uncomfortable-truth-of-raising-free-children.md) - Iā€™ve been sitting with that disconnect between how we view adult freedom and childhood autonomy. I think there's something more primal happening beneath the surface, so today I want to get a little bit philosophical. Bear with me, because while this might feel slightly confrontational I think itā€™sā€¦ - [Why your child never goes deep on anything (and what to do about it)](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/why-your-child-never-goes-deep-on-anything-and-what-to-do-about-it.md) - A common theme has been coming through your questions, recently - and itā€™s around struggling to get your kids to engage with things at depth. To get them...interested in anything. I know exactly what this feels like. Youā€™ve tried exposing them to new things. Youā€™ve given them space, freedom, opportā€¦ - [Struggling with gaming limits? Read this šŸ‘€](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/struggling-with-gaming-limits-read-this.md) - I hear this concern from parents all the time: "My child used to love drawing, playing outside, reading books. Now, all they want to do is play video games. I try to set limits, but the pull of gaming is justā€¦ stronger. I feel like Iā€™m losing them to a world I donā€™t understand." If that resonates,ā€¦ - [Will my child grow up to resent being home educated?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/will-my-child-grow-up-to-resent-being-home-educated.md) - I was asked a question recently that I think rings true for many of us, so I want to share it - and then break it down - here today: "How can I reassure myself that I won't regret this lifestyle, that my young kids won't resent it when they're older?" This is one of those questions that sits in theā€¦ - [We were SO wrong about how children develop resilience](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/we-were-so-wrong-about-how-children-develop-resilience.md) - I was sent an email recently that I want to talk about here. It was based around the kinds of questions this parent gets from her mother: "How will your child cope in life if they aren't made to do things they don't want? If they haven't been made to knuckle down and do things that don't suit them?ā€¦ - [But...what about socialisation?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/but-what-about-socialisation.md) - It's the question almost every home educating parent has faced (and probably will, again and again). From well-meaning family members, from total strangers, and - often - from our own voice inside our heads. It hits right where our schooling experiences have conditioned us to be most vulnerable - tā€¦ - [What if I'm not good enough to teach my child?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/what-if-im-not-good-enough-to-teach-my-child.md) - I want to talk about that quiet, nagging voice that so often shows up in the quiet moments. When you're lying in bed at night thinking. When you see posts about other families doing seemingly amazing educational things. When someone asks how you'll handle high school math, or writing, or...pick anyā€¦ - [Episode 26: The Only Home Ed Resolutions You Need This Year](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-26-the-only-home-ed-resolutions-you-need-this-year.md) - In this episode, I'm digging deep into what could be the most important commitments we make as home educators this year. I explore: * How to confidently reject any and all expectations that don't serve your family * Building genuine confidence as your child's primary educator * Breaking free from tā€¦ - [How can I be SURE I'm doing enough this year?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/how-can-i-be-sure-im-doing-enough-this-year.md) - "How will I know if I'm doing enough this year? I find it hard to shake the nagging feeling that I'm not, and I don't want to carry that again." - [What to do when your child avoids hard things](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/what-to-do-when-your-child-avoids-hard-things.md) - "I'm having a hard time striking the right balance between following my child's lead, and making sure they're also doing hard things and putting in effort." - [The hidden cost of being a "good student"](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/the-hidden-cost-of-being-a-good-student.md) - I've been thinking a lot about this line in my post from the other day: "We've created a world where a child's greatest achievement is being low maintenance." - [In 2038, the world will ask your child who they are. Will they know?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/in-2038-the-world-will-ask-your-child-who-they-are-will-they-know.md) - If you saw my social post a couple of days ago, you'll know I spoke about the two thousand, three hundred and forty days a child spends in a classroom during their schooling life. Itā€™s a staggering number when you stop and think about it. For more than a century, school has been like a machine. A sā€¦ - [Will my child ever learn to push themselves?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/will-my-child-ever-learn-to-push-themselves-2.md) - If we step back and let our children lead their own learning, will they ever push themselves? Will they build that muscle of perseverance, of working through challenges? Will they reach their full potential? - [Life Without School mini-episodes, available right now šŸŽ™ļø](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/life-without-school-mini-episodes-available-right-now.md) - The deeper I go into home education, the more I find myself spending time in my own experiences and reflections. I've started recording these as mini episodes. Short, raw takes on things I think matter. - [Episode 25: Finding Balance With Screens](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-25-finding-balance-with-screens.md) - In this episode, Iā€™m digging deep into one of the biggest challenges facing homeschooling families today: finding balance with tech and screen time. I explore: * What the latest research really says about the impact of screens on our kids (it's not as simple as 'good or bad'). * How to create screeā€¦ - [Is homeschooling setting my child up to fail?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/is-homeschooling-setting-my-child-up-to-fail.md) - "Am I doing the right thing? Is what Iā€™m doing good enough? Is homeschooling setting my children up to fail?" I hear this worry a lot. Every time I open the Q&A box on Instagram or Facebook, it comes through stronglyā€”bubbling up from that deep pool of doubt we all find ourselves wading through fromā€¦ - [How do I tune out criticism of homeschooling?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/how-do-i-tune-out-criticism-of-homeschooling.md) - As a homeschooling parent, how do I ignore the constant criticism? I begin to believe it and worry about our choice. - [THIS is what parents should be worried about (hint: it's not maths)](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/this-is-what-parents-should-be-worries-about-hint-its-not-maths.md) - A lot of people seem to worry about the academic progress of homeschoolers. This is why they shouldn't. - [Everything I Wish I Knew Before Roadschooling](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/everything-i-wish-i-knew-before-roadschooling.md) - It's easy to find posts glamourising vanlife. But what's it *really* like to head off and roadschool with your kids? - [How do I not lose myself when homeschooling?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/how-do-i-not-lose-myself-when-homeschooling.md) - How do I make sure I don't forget about myself on our homeschooling journey, when everything feels so kid-focused? - [Will Homeschooling Mess Up My Child's Life?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/will-homeschooling-mess-up-my-childs-life.md) - I'm strongly considering homeschooling, but I'm worried I'm going to mess up my child's life. Will I?! - [Are Homeschooled Children Too Dependent? (Q&A)](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/are-homeschooled-children-too-dependent.md) - "Iā€™ve been told homeschooled children donā€™t learn to be as independent of their parents ā€“ does this even matter? If it does a bit, are there ways to help with this when homeschooling?" - [Does Unschooling Create Lazy Children?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/unschooled-children-are-lazy.md) - Itā€™s a common perception: unschooling is a lazy form of parenting that results in lazy children. That they'll use the autonomy theyā€™re given to opt out of much of life. - [How Do I Get My Husband More Involved In Home Education?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/how-do-i-get-my-husband-more-involved-in-home-education.md) - As a dad myself, I think I know why. And it boils down to two important things. - [Is Your Child Ahead Or Behind?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/is-your-child-ahead-or-behind.md) - A lot of emphasis goes on a child's progress, and as parents it's made clear to us very early. - [Episode 24: Don't Believe These Unschooling Myths](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-24-dont-believe-these-unschooling-myths.md) - In this episode, I spend some time examining three common perceptions that are unique to unschooling. - [How Do You Make Time To Plan Lessons? (Q&A)](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/how-do-you-make-time-to-plan-lessons.md) - I'm a High School teacher thinking of homeschooling my four and six year olds. My question is - how do you make time to plan lessons?! - [The Complete Life Without School Collection šŸŽ§](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/support-my-work-while-i-support-you.md) - A growing library of weekly, research-backed conversations for parents who are living outside the school system - or seriously questioning it - and want help and encouragement without ideology or fear-based advice. - [How Do You Know You're Teaching Your Child To A High Enough Standard?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/teaching-your-child-to-a-high-standard.md) - Homeschoolers and unschoolers are often asked how they can be sure of this, and today I'm going to give you a path to answering it. - [Are Parents Qualified To Teach Their Children?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/are-parents-qualified-to-teach-their-children.md) - Being a trained teacher involves a lot of things. But itā€™s important to understand that a good deal of that training relates to skills that apply specifically to a school setting... - [The Word 'Educate' Doesn't Mean What You Think It Does](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/educate-doesnt-mean-what-we-think-it-does.md) - I have a short but incredibly empowering tidbit for you today: If you look at most current definitions of the word ā€˜educateā€™, they will talk about the act or process of imparting knowledge or skill. They will focus on systematic instruction, teaching, and schooling. But the Latin word it came fromā€¦ - [Opening Our Roadschool](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/travel-life-begins.md) - Sunday, 10am, a week before Christmas 2022. Iā€™ve just pulled our car and caravan onto a narrow strip of gravel near the highest point of Arthurā€™s Pass. Arguably the most stunning of three alpine passes that traverse the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand, and - at over 3,000 feet abovā€¦ - [Why Are You Still Sweating Over Academics?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/why-are-you-still-sweating-over-academics.md) - What you think you need to teach your homeschooled children: math, science, history, language. What you really need to teach them: How to question How to explore How to communicate How to fail How to listen How to believe in themselves How to understand others How to respect differences in people=[ā€¦ - [Does Homeschooling Develop Resilience?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/does-homeschooling-develop-resilience.md) - Yes, life can be hard. Yes, it will throw challenges at you. But many of the things we talk about as being hard when it comes to school don't transfer to navigating true, rewarding life challenges. - [Is School Just The Childhood Rat Race?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/school-is-the-childhood-rat-race.md) - ā€˜Escaping the rat raceā€™ is held up as the pinnacle of freedom for adults. No more strict daily schedules to set an alarm for, no more time spent on work that has no meaning to us, no more grinding ourselves into the dirt for hours on end every day, week, month and year serving someone elseā€™s intereā€¦ - [I Went To School And I Turned Out Fine](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/i-went-to-school-and-i-turned-out-fine.md) - People tell us weā€™re overthinking life by choosing to home educate. That they have fond memories of their school years, and so do all their friends. Theyā€™ve turned out fine, and so will our children. Weā€™re just complicating things. Of all the arguments against home education I find this the most jaā€¦ - [Does Homeschooling Shelter Children?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/does-homeschooling-shelter-children.md) - They say that homeschooling shelters children. That it creates a view of the world that is narrow and insular. They say that homeschooling isolates children. That it takes away their opportunity to interact with other people and places. They say that a homeschooled child isnā€™t living in the real woā€¦ - [Feeling The Need To Prove Your Homeschool Success](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/proving-your-homeschool-success.md) - Real talk: as a parent of home educated children, I still find myself hoping theyā€™ll outperform their schooled peers academically. - [Can We Really Trust Children?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/can-we-really-trust-children.md) - Educationally, we seem to have decided that children are almost entirely incompetent. Are they? - [No School Today, Kids?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/no-school-today-kids.md) - Somehow the four walls of a room within a school building have become our gold standard learning space. Really think about that for a second. - [Stop Being So Busy](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/stop-being-so-busy.md) - Being busy has become a badge of honour, but itā€™s nothing short of an epidemic. We need to slow down now while itā€™s not too late. - [You Cannot Standardise Children](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/you-cannot-standardise-children.md) - Children not becoming good students has never been the problem. Itā€™s the fact we decided such a concept even exists. - [Episode 23: You Are Enough](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-23-you-are-enough.md) - In this episode, Iā€™m sharing six ways you can overcome feelings of not being ā€˜enoughā€™ as a home educating parent. - [Why I'm here](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/why-im-here-read-first.md) - Hey! I'm Issy, aka Stark Raving Dad šŸ‘‹ Six years ago, I started writing down my thoughts and feelings as we went through the process of removing our children from a public school system that was (and there's no other way to say it) failing them. Since that time, I've written over 150,000 words acroā€¦ - [On Fitting In](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/on-fitting-in.md) - Weā€™re taught very early on in life that ā€˜fitting inā€™ is a key strategy for making our way in the world. - [Beating The Sunday Blues](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/beating-the-sunday-blues.md) - On Sunday, almost three-quarters of the worldā€™s working population will fall asleep dreading Monday. The solution starts in childhood. - [How To Write Your Own Homeschooling Story](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/write-your-own-homeschooling-story.md) - There will be times, as a homeschooling parent, when you feel youā€™re not enough. If this is you, I want to remind you of something. - [Episode 22: Your Child is Falling Behind](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/your-child-is-falling-behind.md) - In this episode Iā€™m talking more about something this podcast was literally born from: the idea of children falling behind where they should be. - [William Plays His Favourite Christmas Song šŸŽ¹](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/12-year-old-plays-home-alone-theme-song.md) - Unschooled 12 year old pianist plays the Home Alone theme. - [Episode 21: Turning Around the ā€œOhhhh, You Homeschool?ā€ Questions](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/turning-around-the-ohhhh-you-homeschool-questions.md) - In this episode Iā€™m going to do something that might feel a bit uncomfortable. But if we want to move education forward in any real meaningful way, the kind of thinking Iā€™m about to take you through is incredibly important. Iā€™m going to take some of the main questions that home educators are traditā€¦ - [This Is Her Classroom](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/this-is-her-classroom.md) - This is her classroom. And the local farmersā€™ market. The library. The museum. Skate parks. Forest trails. The swimming pool. Her dance class, karate dojo, gymnastics hall. Her friendā€™s house. Her own house.It changes and grows, organically, as she does. Her classmates are anyone she meets and spenā€¦ - [Episode 20: Dear Grandparents](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-20-dear-grandparents.md) - With so many families making the decision to leave the formal education system, and take their own path through life, it also means there are a whole lot of grandparents out there goingā€¦ Hold on, whatā€™s happening here?! We have a comprehensive, effective school system designed specifically to educaā€¦ - [Are Homeschoolers Weird?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/are-homeschoolers-weird.md) - ā€œI met a homeschooling family once, the kids were so weird!ā€ Ever heard someone say that? Ever said it yourself? I get it - knowing that someone has taken a contrasting path through life can feel confronting, like their choices are directly questioning ours. Itā€™s much more comfortable to have our dā€¦ - [Episode 19: Weā€™re Looking at Education All Wrong](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-19-were-looking-at-education-all-wrong.md) - The globally accepted definition of education is children being taught, and learning, in a classroom setting. But is that interesting, and inspiring? Will it help our children become independent, life-long learners, and the best version of themselves? Today, together, weā€™re going to give educationā€¦ - [Why Being In The Moment Matters](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/being-in-the-moment.md) - Children are very good at being in the moment. Adults, usually, are not. Not because we donā€™t want to be, but because we donā€™t really know how to anymore. From a young age weā€™re continually asked to move on from moments weā€™d rather stay present in because thereā€™s always something else to do. To worā€¦ - [Episode 18: The Big Home Education Questions Everyone Asks](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-18-the-big-home-education-questions-everyone-asks.md) - Will your children be sheltered? How will you educate them properly if youā€™re not a qualified teacher? How will they get a good job when they grow up? Everyone who chooses a life without school will hear these kinds of questions at some point. Theyā€™ll come from friends, family, and complete strangeā€¦ - [Did Your Child Have A Say In Being Homeschooled?](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/did-your-child-have-a-say-in-being-homeschooled.md) - ā€œDid your children have a say in being homeschooled? If they decide they want to go to school at some stage, will you let them?ā€. Iā€™ve been told that by home educating weā€™re depriving our children of choice. That as parents weā€™ve just walked down a path we like the look of without stopping to consiā€¦ - [Episode 17 (Q&A): Comparing Your Children To Others | Slow Life Seasons | Explaining Home Ed to Your Kids](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-17-q-a-comparing-your-children-to-others-slow-life-seasons-explaining-home-ed-to-your-kids.md) - Welcome back to another question and answer episode, where we take questions from the home education community and chat our way though them. I really love working through this episode each month, because your questions always reflect the struggles, the worries, and the hopes and dreams, of so manyā€¦ - [Episode 16: On Being Their Coach, Not Their Teacher](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-16-on-being-their-coach-not-their-teacher.md) - Today, I want to talk about why I believe itā€™s so important that we ā€“ as home educating parents ā€“ play the role of coach, and mentor, and guide to our children. I want to take you through the simple, but powerful, framework Kate and I have used to help our children discover, explore, and run with tā€¦ - [Episode 15: How To Make This Your Best Home Educating Year Yet](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-15-how-to-make-this-your-best-home-educating-year-yet.md) - In this episode, Iā€™m taking you through seven things that will help set your family up for the best possible home educating year. These are all things that, through years of experience and reflection, Iā€™ve found contribute the most to balance, personal growth, and fulfilment in our home. From the iā€¦ - [Episode 14: The Gratitude Episode](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-14-the-gratitude-episode.md) - The global home educating community has grown like crazy in 2021. More families are choosing a life without school than ever before, and itā€™s never been more important ā€“ as we go into the new year ā€“ to lift each other up, and encourage, and support, and inspire one another. Which is why, in this veā€¦ - [Episode 13: De-schooling Your Way To Educational Freedom](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-13-de-schooling-your-way-to-educational-freedom.md) - In this episode I want to help you build your de-schooling muscle. The process of taking everything you know about education, wiping your mental slate as clean as possible, and coming at the whole idea of how children learn as fresh as you can. To do that, I want to take you through five commonly hā€¦ - [Episode 12 (Q&A): On Motivating Our Children / On Their Adult Opinion Of Home Ed / On Sudden Life Changes](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-12-q-a-on-motivating-our-children-on-their-adult-opinion-of-home-ed-on-sudden-life-changes.md) - Welcome back to another question and answer episode ā€“ where I take some time to dig into things you all want to hear more about it. They might be things youā€™re personally struggling with, or worried about, or planning forā€¦and I really love having these conversations, because itā€™s always such a greaā€¦ - [Episode 11: You Are Not Your Childā€™s Teacher](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-11-you-are-not-your-childs-teacher.md) - Home educating parents often put a huge amount of pressure on themselves to perform the role of being a teacher, and in this episode I want to talk through why I believe the stress, tension, and feelings of failure that so often come from that are unnecessary. First, weā€™ll talk through four reasonsā€¦ - [Episode 10: Every Child Has A Story To Tell](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-10-every-child-has-a-story-to-tell.md) - Asking our children to all learn the same things, at the same times, in the same groups, in the same spaces, with only the same agesā€¦ ā€¦is effectively asking them to become the same as everyone else. Itā€™s asking them to think less about their true selves, and more about what the most accepted versioā€¦ - [Episode 9: Why Trusting Your Child Will Change Their Life](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-9-why-trusting-your-child-will-change-their-life.md) - In this episode weā€™re looking at a philosophy that underpins how Kate and I approach life with our kids, their education, and our relationships with them. Itā€™s very different to the way formal education is approached, and is based on the power of trust. Weā€™ll talk about the process of letting go ofā€¦ - [Episode 8 (Q&A): On Growing Resilience / On Finding Time For Yourself / On Reluctant Dads](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-8-q-a-on-growing-resilience-on-finding-time-for-yourself-on-reluctant-dads.md) - In this ā€“ the first of many episodes where Iā€™ll spend some time answering listener questions ā€“ I talk through: 1) How do you respond to people saying ā€˜life is hard ā€“ if you donā€™t force your child to do things they donā€™t want to do, how will they be prepared for lifeā€™? 2) How on earth do you ever fiā€¦ - [Episode 7: A Week In Our Life Without School](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-7-a-week-in-our-life-without-school.md) - A lot of you have asked for a day-in-the-life style episode, soā€¦here it is! I think thereā€™s a stack of important context that should always be shared as part of this kind of conversation, though, so this episode is made up of three parts (if you listen in, please make sure you go right through ā€“ taā€¦ - [Episode 6: Four Strategies For When Home Education Feels Hard](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-6-four-strategies-for-when-home-education-feels-hard.md) - This week I want to talk about what to do when this home education path starts feeling hard, because what weā€™re doing here isnā€™t easy. As parents, weā€™re taking on a huge responsibility by choosing to live a life without school, and thereā€™s not always the support we need, or would like. Either practā€¦ - [Episode 5: How To Talk To Family And Friends About Home Education](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-5-how-to-talk-to-family-and-friends-about-home-education.md) - One of the things we often underestimate when we decide to live a life without school ā€“ regardless of how excited about it we are ā€“ is how our family and friends will respond to it. How weā€™ll talk to them about it, and answer the questions that theyā€™ll probably have. Because despite the growth andā€¦ - [Episode 4: Designing Your Life Without School](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-4-designing-your-life-without-school.md) - In this weekā€™s episode I want to talk about how a good home education lifestyle doesnā€™t just happenā€¦it needs to be designed. Because itā€™s one thing to decide that a life without school is the right thing for your family, and the path youā€™re going to takeā€¦but itā€™s a whole other thing to work out, prā€¦ - [Episode 3: Busting The Two Biggest Homeschooling Myths](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-3-busting-the-two-biggest-homeschooling-myths.md) - For this episode I want to dig into two of the biggest misconceptions about home education that I, personally, have experienced over the years that Iā€™ve been an unschooling dad. Despite it being a rapidly growing form of education, especially over the past year or two, homeschooling (or unschoolingā€¦ - [Episode 2: How We Became A Home Educating Family](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-2.md) - The very, very squiggly story of how we became a home educating family, including: * How we ended up at financial rock-bottom as 30 year olds (with two young children). * How despite that weā€™ve made it possible to always have at least one of us not working and at home with the children. * How we foā€¦ - [Episode 1 (Prologue): Introducing Life Without School](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/episode-1-introducing-life-without-school.md) - In this very first episode of the Life Without School podcast, Iā€™m talking about why it even needs to exist. Why Iā€™m so passionate about shining a light on life paths for children that donā€™t involve the normal school thing. Why there are millions of children around the world who wake up each day feā€¦ ## Optional - [RSS Feed](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/rss/) - [Sitemap](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/sitemap.xml) - [Full content of pages and posts](https://www.starkravingdadblog.com/llms-full.txt)