What Is Unschooling? A Guide for Parents Considering This Method

If you’re considering homeschooling, you’ve likely come across the term unschool and wondered, “What is unschooling?” Does it mean no structure at all? Do parents step back entirely from their child’s education? Let’s break it down.

Unschooling is often misunderstood, but at its core, it’s about trusting a child’s natural ability to learn—without rigid lesson plans, standardized tests, or school-like schedules. Instead of following a set curriculum, children explore their interests and learn through real-world experiences, curiosity, and play.

So, what does unschooling actually look like? How do unschooled children gain knowledge without traditional lessons? Let’s explore how this approach works—and whether it’s the right fit for your family.

What Is Unschooling? (And Is It Right for Your Family?)

Unschooling is a style of homeschooling that shifts the focus from structured curriculum to child-led learning. Instead of following a rigid plan, unschoolers learn through life experiences, curiosity, and exploration—just like adults do when they develop new skills.

For parents accustomed to traditional schooling, this approach can feel overwhelming or even scary at first.

If You’re Wondering About Unschooling…

• How do unschoolers actually learn?
• What’s the difference between unschooling and radical unschooling?
• Will my child fall behind if we unschool?
• How do I know if unschooling is right for us?

You’re in the right place.

In this guide, we’ll break down what unschooling really is, how it works, and how to decide if it’s the right approach for your family. Plus, I’ll share insights from my homeschooling journey—and you’ll find a video, podcast episode, and more unschooling books and resources that dive even deeper into this topic.

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How Does Unschooling Work?

Sometimes, the best way to understand unschooling is to hear it explained.

In this video, I break down what unschooling is, how it works, and how you can apply its principles in your own home—so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your family.

📽️ Watch the video below to learn how unschooling could work for your family.

Meet Your Homeschool Guide

Hi, I’m Jackie—the founder of HomeSchool ThinkTank, a homeschooling consultant, educator, and certified life coach. With more than 15 years of experience homeschooling my own kids, I take a holistic approach to helping parents navigate both the practical and personal aspects of homeschooling.

As a homeschooling consultant, I guide you through the how-tos of homeschooling, while my expertise as a life coach helps you navigate the day-to-day challenges of life as a homeschooling parent. Whether you’re exploring unschooling, another homeschooling method, or a mix of approaches, my goal is to provide insights, encouragement, and practical strategies to help you create a homeschooling experience that truly works for your family.

When you sign up for HomeSchool ThinkTank Happenings, you’ll get weekly tips and inspiration—plus an opportunity to schedule a free consultation with me.

⬇️ Click the button below to get weekly homeschooling tips! ⬇️

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Definition of Unschooling

Now, let’s define what it truly means to unschool and how it differs from traditional education.

Unschooling is a homeschooling approach focusing on child-led learning rather than following a traditional curriculum. Instead of structured lessons, unschoolers learn organically through everyday life, exploration, and personal interests.

Unlike traditional education, which is based on standardized lessons and testing, unschooling trusts that children will naturally develop skills and knowledge through curiosity-driven experiences.

💡 John Holt: What Is Unschooling?

“Unschooling is the freedom for anyone, young or old, to choose why, what, when, how, and from whom to learn things.” – John Holt, Known as the ‘Father of Unschooling’

Many unschooling families believe education should be woven into daily life—through conversations, real-world experiences, reading, projects, travel, and self-directed discovery.

What Happens If You Get Unschooling Wrong?

Many parents are intrigued by unschooling but hesitate because they worry:
❌ They won’t know how to track progress.
❌ State regulations will make unschooling impossible.
❌ It’s too unstructured and chaotic.

On the other hand, some parents jump into unschooling too quickly—without understanding deschooling, natural learning processes, or ways to support their child’s education in a nontraditional way. This can lead to frustration, self-doubt, and feeling like unschooling “isn’t working.”

When Unschoolers Get It Right…

When unschooling is approached with confidence and the right mindset, parents often find that:
✅ Children become more engaged in learning than ever before.
✅ Education happens naturally through life, curiosity, and exploration.
✅ There’s less pressure to recreate school at home—and more freedom to embrace their child’s unique strengths.
✅ Unschooling fits seamlessly with everyday experiences, from conversations to hands-on projects and travel.

🔹 John Holt, often considered the father of unschooling, once said:

“Children do not need to be made to learn about the world, or shown how. They want to, and they know how.”

What does unschooling actually look like in everyday life? How do unschooling parents support their child’s education without a traditional curriculum?

We’ll explore these questions throughout this article and in our videos. But first, let’s hear from those who helped shape the unschooling movement.

John Holt: The Pioneer of Unschooling

John Holt, known as the father of unschooling, transformed the way we think about education. As an educator, author, and advocate for child-led learning, he believed children learn best when given the freedom to explore their interests. After years of teaching in traditional classrooms, he became disillusioned with the school system, believing it stifled curiosity and natural learning.

John Holt’s observations led him to write several groundbreaking books, including How Children Fail and How Children Learn, which challenged conventional education and argued that children learn best through exploration, play, and real-world experiences. Holt believed that learning is not something that happens to children but something they actively do for themselves.

“The most important thing any teacher has to learn, not to be learned in any school of education I ever heard of, can be expressed in seven words: Learning is not the product of teaching. Learning is the product of the activity of learners.”
— Growing Without Schooling magazine, No. 40 (1984)

Recognizing that schools were unlikely to change, Holt turned his attention to helping families create better learning environments outside the system. He coined the term unschooling to describe a learning approach that rejects school-like methods in favor of self-directed education.

To support families interested in homeschooling and unschooling, he founded Growing Without Schooling (GWS), the first magazine dedicated to the topic. Through GWS, Holt encouraged parents to trust that children learn best when given freedom and support.

Holt’s work laid the foundation for modern unschooling, but his influence didn’t end with his passing in 1985. His close collaborator, Pat Farenga, carried Holt’s vision forward, ensuring that the philosophy of unschooling continued to evolve and reach new generations of homeschooling families.

Article: The Foundations of Unschooling by Pat Farenga

📖 The Foundations of Unschooling is an article by Pat Farenga, who published the magazine Growing Without Schooling—founded by John Holt. In the article, Farenga states:

“Unschooling is a term first coined by John Holt to mean learning and teaching that does not resemble school learning and teaching.”

Quotes by Patrick Farenga

📖 “I broadly define unschooling as allowing your children as much freedom to explore the world around them in their own ways as you can comfortably bear: I see unschooling in the light of partnership, not in the light of the dominance of a child’s wishes over a parent’s or vice versa.”

📖 “…unschooling is the freedom for anyone, young or old, to choose why, what, when, how, and from whom to learn things is a key element in John Holt’s work. In short, if you don’t have the freedom to choose what to think about then you are in mental slavery; of course, we can choose to subordinate ourselves to a teacher (the master-pupil relationship) in order to accomplish or learn something, but that relationship only works well if the student wants to learn that subject or work with that teacher.”

Patrick Farenga, “The Foundations of Unschooling.” John Holt GWS (Growing Without Schooling)

How These Ideas Continue to Shape Unschooling Today

Farenga’s insights remain at the heart of modern unschooling. His work reinforces the idea that education isn’t about replicating school at home—it’s about trusting the learning process, creating opportunities, and allowing children the freedom to direct their education.

Holt’s and Farenga’s perspectives continue to inspire families worldwide, helping parents break away from traditional schooling models and embrace a more natural, curiosity-driven approach to learning.

Traditional Homeschooling vs. Unschooling

Unschooling is a type of homeschooling that emphasizes child-led learning and natural education over structured curriculum. Within unschooling, there are different approaches, including unschoolers and radical unschoolers.

While unschooling methods vary in philosophy and practice, they share key similarities:

✔ Child-led learning: Education is guided by the child’s interests rather than a set curriculum.
✔ Flexibility with curriculum: While unschoolers don’t rely on formal curricula, they may use them if the child chooses.
✔ A non-traditional approach: Learning happens through life experiences, exploration, and curiosity rather than structured lessons.
✔ A different mindset about education: Unschooling parents see learning as an organic, lifelong process—one that doesn’t need to mirror the public school system.

Both unschoolers and radical unschoolers believe that education is about learning, not schooling—but how they apply this philosophy differs.

Feature	Homeschooling	Unschooling
Curriculum	Follows a set curriculum	No set curriculum
Who Decides?	Parents choose subjects	Child chooses what to learn
Learning Style	Lessons & workbooks	Life experiences & curiosity
Assessment	Grades & tests	No formal testing
Parent’s Role	Teacher/instructor	Facilitator/guide
Flexibility	Structured	Highly flexible
Use of Textbooks	Commonly used	Optional
Where Learning Happens	Home/classroom-like	Everywhere
View on Education	Follows a structured plan	A lifelong, organic process

📖 Article: Unschooling or Homeschooling by Billy Greer

Billy Greer’s article Unschooling or Homeschooling explores the history and philosophy of unschooling, highlighting why it’s often misunderstood. He explains:

📖 “School is a case of knowledge (that someone else has determined to be important) chasing after the student, while unschooling puts the student chasing after the knowledge (that they have decided is important).”

Unlike traditional homeschooling, which often focuses on structured lessons and a pre-planned curriculum, Greer emphasizes that unschooling isn’t a step-by-step method—it’s a way of life:

📖 “What is it that unschoolers do? Where do you find a curriculum package that will help you to be an unschooler? The reason that unschooling is hard to explain and hard for some people to understand is that it is not a technique that can be broken down into a step-by-step process. Rather, unschooling is an attitude, a way of life. Where most homeschooling puts the emphasis on what needs to be learned, unschooling puts the emphasis on who is doing the learning. This makes it a very personalized experience and one that does not lend itself well to the one-size-fits-all approach of a commercial curriculum package.”

Billy Greer. “Unschooling or Homeschooling” – Family Unschoolers Network (F.U.N.) We discovered this article in the Way Back Internet Archive.

📖 Billy Greer, “Unschooling or Homeschooling” – Family Unschoolers Network (F.U.N.) (Archived from the Wayback Machine)

Unschooling is about trusting children to take charge of their learning rather than forcing education to fit into a predefined structure.

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Unschooling Methods: Radical Unschooling vs. Unschooling

Unschooling is a broad term, but not all unschoolers approach it the same way. While both unschoolers and radical unschoolers embrace child-led learning, the key difference lies in how much autonomy children have—not just in education—but in all areas of life.

Some families focus primarily on self-directed education, while others extend this philosophy to daily routines, discipline, and lifestyle choices. Here’s how the two approaches compare.

🔹 What is Radical Unschooling?

Radical unschooling extends child-led learning beyond education into all areas of life. Parents trust that their children will learn what they need when they need it—without imposed rules about eating, sleeping, or screen time.

📝 Example: Instead of setting a bedtime, radical unschoolers trust that children will listen to their bodies and sleep when they’re tired.

📌 Radical unschoolers often say: “If you unschool for everything except math, then you’re not really unschooling.”

🔹 What is Unschooling?

Unschooling is also child-led, but parents may take a more active role in guiding educational opportunities while maintaining some family structure.

📝 Example: An unschooling parent might leave books, games, or science kits around the house (a technique called strewing) to encourage curiosity.

Unschooling vs. Radical Unschooling

Unschooling	Radical Unschooling
Focuses on educational freedom—kids choose what and how they learn.	Extends beyond education, applying self-directed principles to all aspects of life.
Parents may suggest books, games, or experiences to spark learning.	Parents do not enforce traditional rules (sleep schedules, food choices, technology use, etc.).
Some unschoolers use curriculum selectively if the child prefers structure.	Children make all major decisions about their daily lives.

What Unschooling Doesn’t Mean

Unschooling is often misunderstood, so let’s clear up some common misconceptions. While every family’s approach may differ, most unschooling parents agree that unschooling does not mean:

❌ Ignoring your child’s need for education – Learning still happens, but curiosity rather than rigid lessons guide it.
❌ Neglecting your child – Unschooling parents are deeply involved, providing support, resources, and guidance as needed.

💬 Unschoolers Might Say…
🔹 “Who else is unschooling their children?”
🔹 “Are there any other radical unschoolers in this group?”

Billy Greer captures the essence of unschooling beautifully:

📖 “School is a case of knowledge (that someone else has determined to be important) chasing after the student, while unschooling puts the student chasing after the knowledge (that they have decided is important).” – Billy Greer

🎥 What is it really like to be an unschooler? Watch the video further down this page.

What Unschooling Parents Understand

Unschooling parents embrace a different mindset about education, one that recognizes learning as a natural, lifelong process. Here are some of the key ideas they follow:

✔ Children are natural learners. They gain knowledge by following their interests at their own pace.
✔ Traditional schooling can limit curiosity. A rigid curriculum may stifle a child’s ability to explore their passions.
✔ Learning happens everywhere. Education isn’t limited to classrooms.
✔ Experiential learning is powerful. Field trips, real-world experiences, and hands-on activities spark curiosity.
✔ Life is bigger than school. Education matters, but it’s only one part of a fulfilling, meaningful life.

Many parents understand these ideas in theory—but unschooling parents have the courage to break away from the traditional school mindset and allow their children to learn in a way that feels natural and joyful.

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Alternative Ideas to Textbook Learning

Unschooling embraces real-world learning beyond textbooks and worksheets. Here are some engaging ways children can explore, discover, and grow naturally:

📚 Library & Museum Visits – Dive into books, archives, and hands-on exhibits.
🌍 Field Trips & Travel – Learn through real-world experiences and cultural exploration.
🎲 Play-Based Learning – Board games, strategy games, and interactive activities.
📺 Educational Media – Documentaries, podcasts, and high-quality YouTube channels.
🏡 Community Involvement – Join homeschool groups, youth programs, and local events.
🎭 Creative & Hands-On Activities – Explore art, music, cooking, gardening, and science experiments.

📌 Want more ideas for hands-on learning? Join my newsletter for weekly inspiration!

Characteristics of Unschooled Families: Learning in a Natural Way

Unschooling families embrace flexibility, curiosity, and self-directed learning. While every family’s approach is unique, they share some common characteristics:

✔ Using curricula is optional. Traditional textbooks are viewed as one of many resources rather than the foundation of education.
✔ Children often explore projects or deep interests. They naturally engage in self-driven learning based on curiosity.
✔ The child leads their education, but with parental support. Parents provide guidance, encouragement, and resources, but children make decisions about what and how to learn.
✔ Learning follows a natural path. Instead of a fixed curriculum, education unfolds organically through life experiences, exploration, and conversation.

Unschooling isn’t about letting kids do nothing—it’s about trusting the learning process and creating an environment where curiosity thrives.

📌 Click here for helpful homeschooling and parenting tips and inspiration.

Video: Unschooling Explained by an Unschooler

In this video, you’ll hear directly from an unschooled teenager who shares his experience with unschooling. He explains how learning happens without a traditional curriculum, what a typical day looks like, and how unschooling has shaped his education.

Why Do Parents Choose Unschooling? (The Benefits of Unschooling)

Parents who choose unschooling often do so because they see learning as a natural, lifelong process—not something that only happens in a structured classroom. Unschooling allows children to develop curiosity, independence, and a love of learning without the constraints of a traditional curriculum.

Here are some of the key reasons why families embrace the unschooling approach:

1️⃣ Unschooling Encourages Lifelong Learning

Traditional schooling often focuses on memorization and test-taking, but unschooling nurtures a child’s natural curiosity. Instead of learning to pass a test, unschooled children pursue knowledge that is meaningful to them, which leads to deeper understanding and long-term retention.

“We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way.” – John Holt

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2️⃣ Unschooling Builds Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills

Since unschooling is interest-driven, kids naturally become problem solvers, researchers, and independent thinkers. They:
✅ Learn to find answers on their own
✅ Develop confidence in decision-making
✅ Gain real-world skills through exploration

Instead of waiting for instructions from a teacher, unschooled kids take ownership of their education, which prepares them for lifelong success.

📌 Want to explore how children learn? See the differences between schooling and learning.

3️⃣ Learning Happens Through Life, Not Just Textbooks

Unschooling families believe that education isn’t limited to books and classrooms—it happens in everyday experiences, such as:
✔ Conversations and storytelling
✔ Hands-on projects and experiments
✔ Travel, nature, and outdoor exploration
✔ Playing games and pursuing hobbies
✔ Watching documentaries and researching interests

Unschoolers see the world as their classroom, making learning an enjoyable, natural process.

📌 Looking for fun and educational games for unschoolers and homeschoolers? Click here to explore top games by subject!

The Early Years: Before Going to School

Unschooling is incredibly natural for young children who haven’t attended school yet.

Why?

Because they’re already learning through play, exploration, and curiosity—without formal lessons.

For children who have never been in a structured school setting, learning is still fun and self-driven. They haven’t been conditioned to think of education as something separate from everyday life.

Unschooling in the early years is simply an extension of how young children naturally learn—by observing, experimenting, asking questions, and exploring the world around them.

How to Start Unschooling: A Simple Guide for Parents

If you’re new to unschooling, you might be wondering:
“Where do I even begin?”

The good news is that unschooling doesn’t require a rigid plan—it’s about embracing natural learning and trusting the process. However, transitioning from traditional education to unschooling can take time, especially for parents who are used to structured schooling. Let’s get started by learning about deschooling.

Step 1: Understand the Deschooling Process

Before fully embracing unschooling, many families go through a period called deschooling—a time to unlearn the traditional school mindset and rediscover a more natural approach to learning.

If your child has attended school, deschooling gives them the space to decompress, follow their interests, and rebuild a love of learning without external pressure. Even if your child has never been in school, you as a parent may still need time to shift your thinking away from conventional education methods.

💡 Deschooling Tips:
✔ Give your child freedom to explore without structured lessons or a rigid schedule.
✔ Observe what naturally interests them—books, hands-on projects, games, creative activities.
✔ Trust the process. Learning doesn’t have to look like school to be effective.
✔ Resist the urge to “test” learning. Instead of quizzes, engage in conversations and real-world experiences.

📖 Want to learn more about deschooling? Read this guide on deschooling!

Step 2: Shift from Teaching to Facilitating

Unschooling shifts the parent’s role from teacher to facilitator. Instead of directing lessons, you help your child discover and explore their interests by:

✔ Encouraging curiosity-driven conversations and answering questions
✔ Introducing new ideas through real-world experiences (travel, projects, and hobbies)
✔ Supporting problem-solving and independent thinking
✔ Helping your child find the right resources for their interests—whether it’s books, online courses, or hands-on experiences.

💡 Example: Instead of assigning a history textbook, you might explore historical sites, visit museums, or watch documentaries together.

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Step 3: Provide Opportunities for Exploration

Unschoolers thrive when they have the freedom and tools to explore the world in meaningful ways. Rather than following a curriculum, they learn by engaging with their surroundings.

🌿 Ways to Encourage Exploration:
✔ Take regular field trips to museums, parks, and science centers
✔ Connect with homeschool groups, clubs, or community classes
✔ Offer hands-on activities like gardening, art, cooking, or building projects
✔ Encourage real-world problem-solving through entrepreneurial activities or volunteering

📌 Want to explore project-based learning? Check out this guide!

Trust the Process: Unschooling as a Path to Lifelong Learning

Unschooling isn’t about abandoning education—it’s about redefining it. Whether you’re just beginning to explore this approach or ready to take the leap, remember that children are natural learners. The key is to trust the process. If you want more guidance, be sure to check out our FAQ and resources below and follow along for weekly homeschooling tips.

Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about unschooling.

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Stay Inspired on Your Homeschooling Journey

Unschooling—and homeschooling in general—isn’t about following a rigid formula; it’s about finding what works best for your family. Whether you fully embrace unschooling or blend different approaches, having the right support and resources can make all the difference.

That’s why I invite you to join HomeSchool ThinkTank Happenings—your go-to source for homeschooling insights, parenting strategies, and mindset inspiration. Each week, you’ll get practical tips, fresh ideas, and encouragement to help you create a homeschooling experience that fits your family’s needs—no matter what approach you take.

➡️ Want to stay inspired and confident on your homeschooling journey? Join HomeSchool ThinkTank Happenings today!

Common Questions About Unschooling

As parents explore unschooling, they often have questions about how it works in practice. Here are answers to some of the most common concerns.

📚 Books About Unschooling

If you’re interested in learning more about unschooling, these books and resources can provide valuable insights, real-life experiences, and practical guidance.

✅ Free to Learn – Peter Gray
Explores how children learn naturally through play and curiosity, offering research-based insights into why self-directed education works.

✅ The Unschooling Handbook – Mary Griffith
A practical guide filled with real-life stories, tips, and strategies for incorporating unschooling into your family’s life.

✅ How Children Learn & How Children Fail – John Holt
Classic books by the “father of unschooling,” offering observations on how children naturally acquire knowledge.

✅ Unschooled – Kerry McDonald
Explores modern unschooling, self-directed learning, and real-world examples of families embracing this approach.

✅ Dumbing Us Down – John Taylor Gatto
A powerful critique of the traditional school system and an argument for alternative education models like unschooling.

📌 Looking for more homeschooling books? Click here to explore top reads on education and homeschooling.

Resources to Help You Homeschool Your Kids

🎥 Articles, Videos, & Podcast Episodes Just for You!

✔️ The Benefits of Homeschooling – Discover why homeschooling works and how it can transform your child’s education.
✔️ How Homeschoolers Make Friends – Practical tips to help your child build meaningful friendships.
✔️ Different Approaches to Homeschooling – Understand different homeschooling methods and find what works for your family.
✔️ Free Course: Homeschool with Confidence – Learn the essentials of homeschooling and set your family up for success.
✔️ Homeschool Consulting for Parents – Get personalized guidance to create a homeschooling plan that fits your lifestyle.