The Basic Concepts of Christian Unschooling

Unschooling is a type of homeschooling. However, unlike traditional homeschooling, unschoolers do not use standard curriculum or conventional grading methods. This is because they feel as though these things are counterproductive. Instead, children learn through daily living, playing games, social interaction and taking part in the household’s activities. As such, unschooling is generally considered a process of learning by living. Sometimes unschooling is even referred to as life schooling or interest led schooling because children are allowed to pursue their own interests, wherever these may lead them.

Christian unschooling really is no different. It is simply based on Proverbs 22:6, which tells us to look to God for help training children and to allow them to also, live in the freedom of Christ. This means that it is the parent’s job to help their child learn about God and develop His character. Parents must also trust God to show them what His will is for their child’s life. This can be seen in a child’s interests and passions. By doing this, we are allowing our children to be able to grow into what God has called them to be. For this reason, a lot of Christians refer to this as God led learning.

While some unschoolers will tell you that there should not be any limits imposed upon children, this is not what Christian unschoolers believe in. In fact, they find that to be contradictory to what the Bible teaches in regards to parental responsibility. Most Christian parents also believe that the philosophy behind traditional schooling (in which all children learn the same things at a set time regardless of their interest or readiness) also is not Biblical since we are all different. Instead, they believe that it is important to free children to be led by the Holy Spirit whenever it comes to their pursuit of learning. This requires that Christian unschool parents trust that God has given their children special passions and abilities to use in the future. However, these talents must be strengthened and affirmed today.

As was already mentioned, unschoolers don’t use set schedules or curriculum. Instead this is more of a lifestyle choice in which it is believed that learning and life go hand-in-hand. For instance, an unschooler will learn language arts, science, history and math by cooking. Lots of books, good television (i.e. the History channel, Nova, etc.) and the observation of nature are used. While many people can see how lots of things can be learned in this manner, most of them worry about how a child will learn math. What many of them do not understand is that math is used on a daily basis as well in such things as cooking (fractions and measurement), sewing (algebra), home repair (geometry), shopping (using money) and telling time.

Each state has its own guidelines about homeschooling and unschoolers must live within them. Some states make it more difficult to unschool but there are still unschooled children in every one of the 50 states. Parents can easily work within these rules, even if they live in a very strict state. They simply need to keep records that show what their child is learning. This can be done really easily and even include “education speak” in order to satisfy the law in their state. So, yes, Christian unschooling is legal.