Natural Learning is something that happens, rather than something you do...

© Beverley Paine

I take a different approach from most parents who write about unschooling or natural learning. For me, working out what is needed is at the centre, rather than what 'should' be done. Natural learning isn't something you do or layer on, it grows out of a need. When we identify our needs we are more able to meet them, more able to find the resources and materials that will help us meet them. So often we are confused about what our needs are. Most people have been conditioned to confuse needs with wants. Sometimes we work hard towards getting what we want only to find out it isn't what we need and thus didn't really want it after all!

It isn't hard to work out what children need - they are unbelievably transparent about their needs. But most of us need to deschool ourselves to begin to see that.

So, a learning naturally life is one where we simply live, doing what we need to do each day to survive and thrive (grow). Our modern life often means we do a lot of things in very complex ways, which can alienate us from the process - for example, we don't grow our own food so creating nutritious meals is much easier than it was for our ancestors. It also removes us from a lot of learning opportunities about what we need to survive and thrive. Natural learning doesn't mean we have to grow our own food (though it is an enriching experience), but it does mean that we need to be mindful about how and why we do what we do when we prepare our meals. Talking about our choices, the origins of the foods we use, the different ways we prepare food and why we do it this or that way educates our children, as does giving them opportunities to work with food to prepare meals. We don't need 'lessons' - we simply need awareness, curiosity and interest in the whole of life.

Living this way is a very busy life but all actions are meaningful and in context with what we individually and collectively need.