Kids' Achievements - One Year Unschooling

Greetings everyone.

It's the last day of the school year here in Australia. Of course that doesn't affect us as we learn all the time! We joke to the kids that they have to stop learning things now. Just try it. It's not easy.

But one of the down sides of unschooling we've discovered, is that at this time of year they have no award ceremonies or reports from teachers to tell family and friends how amazing they are!

So I'm writing this bragging post to mark this graduation moment of one year unschooling.

Firstly Mr Actor - Aiden

His year has comprised many ups and downs in his physical health, but at this point of the year we can say he is having more ups than downs. Yay!

His biggest challenge and what we have focussed on mostly has been learning to come back into the world after his OCD had sidelined him. Here I would like to chronicle some of his achievements in this area. And although they may seem basic to some, they constituted much talking to himself and conquering of panic attacks etc. I am so proud.

Some of these steps have included:

Climbing the rock face across some slippery gravel and dealing with heights

Riding in the boat (this is still a work in progress)

Eating in a café (we celebrate the weight gain that has come with his health)

And covering himself with cicada shells whilst there (okay that bit surprisingly was fun for him

- despite the Mr Actor face)

Playing on a children's playground

 And climbing across a stream on a slippery log

(when there was a perfectly good bridge!)

Next we have Mr Artist - Miles
He at 14 has really started to hit his stride. Independence is busting out all over the place.
Miles has LOVED homeschooling this year, and the worst thing you can say to him is that he would have to go to school again. He is revelling in the relaxed pace, the late nights, doing his own thing, and studying his own passions. One of those has been to build an Anderson Shelter at Heartwoods. So earlier in the year he measured out and started digging. It was slightly delayed due to rain issues, but he kept it up digging solidly and not accepting help, until he finished the digging portion this last visit! I'm so proud. Now is the building part...

Miles also enjoyed climbing the rocks, although not sure it was such a stretch for his long legs.

And learning to drive our boat solo

accompanied occasionally by a surprise passenger Winter. A sea hound...or as a passing boater said - shark bait.

The final achievement Miles has unlocked in this last year has been to drive a car solo. We have been teaching them on our property, and he finally was able to help out when we needed to deliver our old Elsie to rest at Heartwoods. Bushy and he were alone, and so they each drove a car. It saved Bushy having to run up and down driving both up the hill. If you watch the video you will notice he is very slow. He discovered as he left the shot that he still had the handbrake on!

So, I've compiled this little pile of photos to help the kids mark a passage of time and some of their accomplishments. It'll be nice to look back on, and fun to share with all of you!

Thanks for reading and being interested.

And happy graduation kids! It's been a mad, scary, fun, calm, exhilarating, panicky, confusing, learning, proud, loving year. Bring on the next one!

Lots of love,

Jazzy Jack and The Bracks