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.
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 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...
In 2038, the world will ask your child who they are. Will they know?
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. It’s a staggering number when you stop and think about it. For more...
Will my child ever learn to push themselves?
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?
Will my child learn what they need if they only follow their interests? 🎙️
Have you ever watched your child completely absorbed in something they love, and felt that familiar tension rise up? That voice inside you that says 'yes, but... when are we going to do some real work, and some real learning?'
Why one-on-ones are my secret home ed tool 🎙️
You know what one of the most powerful tools in my home educating toolkit is? It's something I actually learned from my professional life, and it's transformed how I connect with my kids. It's called a one-on-one, or 1:1, and today I want to tell you why it matters so much.
How to get the joy back when you feel burnt out 🎙️
It might sound strange, but I'm actually grateful when someone asks me about burnout in home education. Not because I enjoy hearing about their struggles, but because it means they're being honest about something we all face at times.
Life Without School mini-episodes, available right now 🎙️
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.