What children want vs. what children need
There is a common misconception about what happens when you involve children in their own education: namely, that children will only learn what they want to learn.
“My child,” they say sourly, “would just [insert useless activity here] all day.”
Play with LEGO, play video games, watch TV, read comics — however their child chooses to spend their scant free time, they believe that child will fill whatever extra time they’re given with the same activity: usually something they deem mindless entertainment. And if not mindless entertainment, an obsession the adult would secretly like to purge: playing with plastic dinosaurs or wooden trains or cutting out paper fairy dresses. Haven’t they had enough of that yet?
Here is the key thing that is misunderstood: Project-based homeschooling isn’t only about what children want to learn — it is about creating a situation where children *need* to learn. It is about helping children explore their ideas in a deeper, more complex way. It is about helping them state goals and then work to achieve them. It is about awakening their inner self-directed learner — and their interest is the key.
A child with a desire to play video games just needs to be left alone. A child who wants to make his own video game needs reading and writing and math and coding, a library, a mentor, an ally, an audience.
A child who wants to play LEGO just needs everyone to stop complaining about the mess on the floor. A child who wants to build a model of a medieval castle needs books, a museum, internet research, a plan, a pile of sketches, math.
The people who pooh-pooh any type of “child-led” or “interest-led” learning are operating from a deep prejudice against both children and learning. They believe children are lazy and incapable of self-generated complex thought and action. And they believe learning is an inert and lifeless thing that must be delivered like a blow or a benediction. They fail to recognize the power of each and they completely miss the magic that occurs when you bring the two together. The learner and the opportunity to learn: they don’t require that much effort to unite. Mostly we just have to stop getting in their way.
We all start from a place of want. If we’re allowed to pursue our interests — if we’re supported and encouraged — we will quickly get to a place of need. We can hardly go a few steps down the trail before we meet up with the need for knowledge, the need to acquire or hone a skill. We *need* to challenge ourselves in order to do the things we really *want* to do. That’s where learning happens.
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“The book spells out the different steps in implementing student-directed projects, and every chapter has an inspiring list of specific ideas/formats. My only complaint is I want more — I can’t wait to read what Pickert publishes next.”
“[A] must read for all parents and educators who are interested in raising/encouraging children to take charge of their education and make learning a lifestyle and not just a chore. This book is filled with practical advice…”
“There is so much practical, useful information in this book. … Pickert gives us the tools to be great mentors to our kids.”
“In addition to teaching how to do project-based homeschooling it’s like a manual on how to live.”
“Do yourself a favor and read this book with a highlighter and pencil in hand.”
“Although the title says ‘Project-Based Homeschooling,’ it is really something that any parent could incorporate into their lives, homeschooling or regular schooling.”
“Brilliantly written book, easy to read, easy to follow, well organised, stuffed full of easy to follow and idea-provoking tips for enjoying learning and supporting children of all ages. ... As a librarian and advocate of life long learning, I can’t tell you what a joy this book is to read — affirming, inspiring and practical.”
“Her writing style is really accessible, witty and flows beautifully; she paints a picture of a world you can’t help but want to be a part of. This isn’t a vague philosophy, this is a how-to book that empowers parents to empower their children.”
“For those new to homeschooling and even those such as myself, who have been homeschooling for years, this book will be the one you have on hand at all times. Easy to read, intelligent, heartfelt, inspiring and honest!”
“I can't recommend it highly enough.”
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“[H]er new book … synthesizes so much wisdom about homeschooling from a project-based perspective.”
“[O]verflowing with ideas for any parent who’d like to encourage more self-directed learning in their kids.”
“Do yourself a favor and read this book with a highlighter and pencil in hand.”
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“Anyone who considers themselves the ultimate guardian of their children’s education … will find ideas to think about and act upon.”
“[A] rare book that both inspired me to make changes in the way I homeschool and gave me the practical means to make them.”
“[T]his isn't just a homeschooling book. It is a guide to parenting.”
“[I]t’s a revolutionary vision of how kids can learn — and an idea book for making that learning happen.”
“What Pickert has done with her book is explain in an easy-to-read and practical manner what parents can do at home to ensure that children will take charge of their own education and gain essential skills. If that sounds far-fetched, I suggest you read the book.”
“There are only a handful of books that I can honestly say have changed my life. This … is one of those books.”
12 comments
I've found that the obsession with a game, in our case apps on the iPad, don't last forever. For a while TBO was obsessed with "Where's My Water?" or something like that. Then it was some other game. Now it's a bridge-building game. But he doesn't do that all day ;) He takes breaks to build "amusement parks" for the kitten, various things with Superstructs and legos, and the occasional worksheets (his choosing).
very true — sometimes a child only seems obsessed to a parent because he hasn’t had enough time to explore it enough to move on. :)
This line interests me: "The people who pooh-pooh any type of 'child-led' or 'interest-led' learning are operating from a deep prejudice against both children and learning." I agree with you. Funny thing is, many of the sourpuss complainers I come across are very educated, evolved people who really should know better. I feel sorry for both them and their kids that they don't see the kids in a different light.
Your examples about Legos and video games are excellent explanations of what you're writing about, Lori. Even a sourpuss parent should be able to read those examples and have some insight into what you're saying here.
i think a lot of adults (including teachers) have gone so long without seeing authentic, self-directed learning that they stop believing it exists.
This resonated with me. We don't homeschool, but I observe much of this behavior from my children on their off time: the desire to create their own new worlds, as opposed to playing in worlds that have already been built for them.
I saw the first sparks of this behavior when, as toddlers, they much preferred to draw their own pictures than to color in coloring books. It's just grown from there.
My 12-year-old was inspired this summer to create his own video game. From writing the script, to casting the characters, to recording the voices, to composing a score and performing/editing that, to the actual creation of the game... It's a goal that's kept him busy all summer, learning and experimenting, without any prompting from me.
If anything, I've held him back by insisting he go outside and get some fresh air now and then :-)
I love your blog and your ideas. I finally stopped resisting the lure of your book and just dropped it into my shopping cart already :-)
no one should resist the lure! take the lure! ;o)
your son’s summer video game project sounds great. :)
“the desire to create their own new worlds, as opposed to playing in worlds that have already been built for them” — YES. this is why i sometimes wince when i’m looking around pinterest or the kid activity blogs .. kids don’t need everything done for them. they really just need the opportunity to make their *own* worlds. sometimes i think parents are so starved for play themselves, without meaning to they take some of that away from their children.
Lori, you are a font of common sense. I agree; there are too many adults who no longer have any faith at all in children. This makes me sad.
Re: the kid activity blogs, I struggled with this. I started a process-oriented art blog and shared what my kids and I were doing, which was not at all product-oriented. We weren't doing anything that could be reproduced exactly; I was blogging about ideas (really, I was writing the blog I'd wished I'd found--I'd wanted ideas on materials and methods with no set end result, just sparking points so we could be creative and try new techniques together). But of course when you're blogging you try to find like-minded people, but I wasn't really comfortable (or successful) in the kid-activity blog world. Part of me wanted to be, because I really wanted to spread the joy of this sort of art activity, especially when done alongside my kids--at a time when I couldn't find time to work on my own creative projects, changing my viewpoint and deciding to make time to be creative as a family probably saved my sanity--but ultimately, that doesn't seem to be what most people are looking for. And some of those kid activity blogs (not all, but some) made me very uncomfortable because it seemed like the kids were just accessories to the parent's blog post. And eventually I stopped blogging about our art activities because the whole thing made me cranky. Or curmudgeonly, as you would say. ;)
i can see where a process-oriented kid art blog would have a hard time raising its voice above the throng of product- and activity-oriented blogs. i think people are afraid of process without a guaranteed product. they want to know where they’re going and what it’s supposed to look like. unfortunately that leads to kids who also want to just be told what they’re supposed to do and what it’s supposed to look like.
“some of those kid activity blogs (not all, but some) made me very uncomfortable because it seemed like the kids were just accessories to the parent's blog post” — yeah. there’s a fine line there. i know people *love* their kids and want to have awesome experiences with them and give them wonderful things, but when i look around pinterest i see a lot of adults doing the things that *kids* used to do themselves. i mean, seriously, 50 different fort ideas? the whole fun of building a fort is that you use your own ideas! and you use whatever’s at hand! and you do it because *it was your idea to do it*. having your mom plan your fort and then photograph you lying in it .. blarg. a fort is supposed to be an escape, not a planned activity. curmudgeon, indeed. ;o)
a boy who wants to browse the online lego catalog just needs his parents to stop limiting his "screen" time. a boy who wants to build his own lego game needs to study online heroica tutorials, read about druids, knights, and rangers, sketch battle scenes, understand game rules/maps/dice, teach the game to willing participants, and let dad win every once in a while. : )
and in the end he still needed the *real* lego heroica game, which he saved his allowance to buy. doesn't get much more magical than that.
:)
I have used the term child led many of times, when I was referring to things that my children were doing that was not prompted in anyway by me. Have I been using this term wrong, or am I missing the point? I finally finished your book, and I want to thank you for sharing your wisdom. I am learning so much from re reading the book, being a member of your forum and visiting your blog. When I finally get my act together, my children are going to love you. Have a great weekend!!
i think people mean different things when they use the term “child-led.” some people are vehemently against it and some are adamantly for it — but they can’t really come to terms on what it means, so it’s hard to have a productive argument. ;o)
sometimes in education it seems you spend 80% of your time just defining terms.
for what it’s worth, i think you were using the term correctly.
you’re very welcome re: the book, and thank you! you’ve made my day. :)
you have a great weekend, too!
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