Deschooling is a period of time, sometimes weeks, or even months, after the child leaves school when the parents allow the child to disconnect from the rigid school environment and take a step back from schoolwork. The child should be allowed to decompress and disconnect from those patterns of learning to transition and enjoy being at home. Deschooling isn’t a break from learning. It’s a break from the rigid guidelines that have been in place, allowing the learner to adjust and relax and allowing you, the teacher, to ease into the next step and figure out what you want to do. It gives them, and you, permission to rethink what learning is and to explore new ways of learning. Learning used to be at a desk, and now your child may find themselves at the kitchen table, asking you questions about a topic or requesting explanations for new concepts. You will want to be upfront with your child about this period of deschooling. Explain to them what deschooling is, how much time you plan to allow them to take off rom their studies, and what you will do instead. Also, let them know what to expect and what you will do when you begin your home education plans. If you’re unsure, you could have a brainstorming session with them to prioritize and plan together. That may help your child to make a commitment and to be accountable. Honesty and communication are keys to building a trusting relationship with the child you will home educate. If you don’t have the answers and are not sure about something, say so. It’s okay to say, “I need to think about that a little more.”You might find that your child doesn’t know what to do with themselves. They are accustomed to having their days planned with rigid schedules. Bells, classes, teachers, and loads of homework may have been their reality. Maybe they left school because of a problematic situation, such as a social issue, bullying, or the inability to fit into traditional academics. In those cases, they may need to take their time in healing and regaining confidence.
During the deschooling period, you can go places with your child. Let them sleep in, read, cook together, do puzzles, play games, teach them how to mend and fix things, go to the park or the zoo, visit relatives, watch documentaries and movies. Use this time to reconnect with your child. Then you’ll be sending the message that you want to be with them.