FREE RANGE FAMILY- THE BEGINNINGS

Free Range Family!

That's our goal... to be free from as many imposed constraints as possible.
Free to learn... to discover... to explore... to live!

Our home educating journey began just over 12 years ago, with the birth of our son, Jamie. Naturally, as parents, we help our children learn and satisfy their curiosity for their new, amazing world, from the day they are born. At that time, we didn't realise just how involved we would become, on an ongoing basis, with this learning adventure. When Jamie was a year or so old I was already beginning to dread and fret about the idea of handing this precious, tiny little person over to other people at kindergarten, and then school. I literally felt sick to the stomach at the idea, and really quite terrified of what could potentially happen to him without someone who was specifically on the lookout for his safety and wellbeing. Tales of kidnaps, pedophiles, bullying, drugs, smoking, accidents... the list of horrors just goes on! It's enough to drive a parent crazy!

Around that time I just happened to be lucky enough... or more likely it was "meant to be"... to see a segment on a current affairs programme about a local family who home educated their children. I'd never even heard of it really, except in the case of distance type "school of the air" education. As I listened to the words from this wonderful family I instantly knew that this was the direction our journey would take. It was just right... fitted our hopes and ideals perfectly.

I was a little uncertain as to how my husband would take to the idea, although knowing what an open minded "outside the box" kind of person he was, I didn't think he'd dismiss the idea out of hand. And to my delight he shared my vision for this somewhat radical idea immediately. Not even a moment's hesitation! Neither of us doubted for a moment that this was the right way forward for us, and although there have been ups and downs and many changes along the way, we've never regretted this path.

Right away we stared to read everything we could on home education, and education in general, plus lots of books on ideas and activities. I couldn't resist buying all kinds of resources... many of which would not be used for years, some not at all... including books, workbooks, art and craft materials, science bits and pieces etc etc. He was the best equipped 1+ year old in Australia! :)

One of the best things we did, was make contact with a group of local home educators, including the most amazing and knowledgeable home educator you could ever meet... Beverley Paine. If any of you are active in the Australian (and even overseas) home education community, you have most likely heard of this incredible lady! And not forgetting her equally knowledgeable husband, Robin. We have had many chances to glean so much wisdom and information from them, which has helped us through some rough spots, and made our journey much more flowing and enjoyable.

It took us some time to actually attend some of the many outings and events run by hard working people in this group, mainly because I was shy and uncertain of what to expect. We needn't have worried however... the kids were delightful, and their parents so willing to share their experiences, and tips learned along the way. The outings were great, whether they were of a more educational nature, or purely social. We were soon so busy with these, you could hardly say we were "home" educating, as we were never there! :)

By the time Jamie was 5, we were more "old hands" than new educators. :) Normally at around this age, he would have started school and official structured learning, but in a home learning situation, nothing needed to change. We just continued exploring, experimenting, discovering, following our interests. And that's the way it goes forward... even now, all these years later. Of course the things he wants to know, and needs to discover become more complex, as his thinking processes develop. But now that he's approaching the time he would have "normally" gone to high school, it doesn't suddenly change and become a whole new ball game. We just need to be aware of his growing and developing, and support any areas in which he desires to specialise, as he follows what really interests him and will eventually (probably) lead to his career path.

The home educating lifestyle (which has many variations, from highly structured to totally unstructured... more on these another time) is not for everyone. There is no right way or wrong way, and finding just the right path through it can be difficult and time consuming. In fact, most home educators change their way of doing things dramatically, and often, throughout the years. Some try it for a short time, and decide it's not for them. Some try it... and just can't imagine life any other way! We did it right from the beginning, so for us there is no other way. It's just part of life... learning together as a family, each and every day.

Life Learning... a family journey.