If I was starting home ed all over again, here’s what I’d do (part one) 🎙️
Everything we'd do differently if we could take ourselves right back to the start of this journey again.
Hey, I'm Stark Raving Dad. Welcome to the Life Without School Collection.
Get the email newsletter and unlock access to members-only content and updates
Processing your application
Please check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription.
There was an error sending the email
Get started with our best stories
The truth about “school readiness” (what developmental science actually says) 🎙️
What really happens in a child’s brain before and after they turn five? And what are the hidden costs of deciding that formal learning should “start” at that age? Let's look at the neuroscience, the developmental timelines, and four key reasons why the idea of “school readiness” is so deeply flawed.
The 11 things children need to reach their full potential (part two) 🎙️
Part One explored five conditions that built a foundation. This second half moves into the deeper developmental drivers that shape capability and confidence from the inside out.
The 11 things children need to reach their full potential (part one) 🎙️
In this two-part series, I walk through 11 essential conditions that help children reach their full potential - backed by science, and shaped by real life. Part One covers the five foundational pieces every child needs to grow well.
What every parent MUST know about the AI Generation
AI is replacing the very jobs we’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 my child never learns maths? (and what the research actually says) 🎙️
We’ll look at what most people actually need maths for, how numeracy develops without school, how quickly kids can catch up later, and why the data shows the school system isn’t delivering the results we think it is.
The 7 skills that make home educating WORK 🎙️
How do I actually guide my child’s learning and growth? I know I don’t want to be a teacher, I know I want to be more like a mentor, or coach, or guide, but...how do I do that? What does it look like in practice?
We were SO wrong about how children develop resilience
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...
What if your child IS falling behind?
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...
Why deschooling still feels hard (and how to finally shift what’s underneath it) 🎙️
You’ve stepped back, slowed down, let go of structure, but deschooling still feels hard. Why? In this episode, I explore the nervous system layer most parents miss…and how to shift from understanding deschooling to actually rewiring for it.
Think you’ve deschooled? Here's why most parents actually haven’t.
Most parents who’ve stepped into a life without school will tell you they understand deschooling. They’ve read about it. Thought about it. Reflected on their own childhood, and the kinds of beliefs they want to let go of. They’ve started questioning their ideas about learning, productivity, success,...
Why your child resists everything that feels like learning (and what to do about it) 🎙️
Why does your child resist anything that feels like learning, even when it’s something they’d probably enjoy? This episode unpacks what’s really going on beneath that resistance, and how to respond in a way that protects connection *and* builds capability.
Episode 27:How do I KNOW home education is working?
In this episode, I’m unpacking one of the biggest questions home educating families face: how do I know this whole thing is actually working?
How to design the best curriculum for YOUR child 🎙️
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking "Do I need a different curriculum? Is the one I’m using the right one for us? Is there maybe something better out there? Am I covering everything I should? Can I really get away with not using one at all?" this episode is for you.
Recommended
