It’s time for another compilation episode! This time, let’s dive into video games. Video games are a common topic of conversation in unschooling circles because, when it comes to questioning conventional advice, this topic is a hot bed of widely varying perspectives. For me, when I find myself in that conundrum, I look to my reality. What does it look like for me, for my kids, for my family?
And with this episode, I’m widening that a bit to ask, what does it look like for other unschooling families? I’ve brought together snippets of podcast conversations with both unschooling parents and with grown unschoolers.
I hope you find it both interesting and helpful as you explore unschooling!
AUDIO SNIPPETS TAKEN FROM THESE EPISODES …
EU179: Unschooling Stories with Joan Concilio
EU109: Unschooling Stories with Sylvia Woodman
EU134: How Unschooling Grows with Virginia Warren
EU008: Q&A Round Table with Anne Ohman and Anna Brown
EU068: Unschooling and Technology with Teri DeMarco
EU119: Gaming and Growing Up Unschooling with Xander MacSwan
EU159: Growing Up Unschooling with Max VerNooy
EU141: Growing Up Unschooling with Alec Traaseth
EU180: Growing Up Unschooling with Nick Bergson-Shilcock
EU181: Growing Up Unschooling with Jack & Sean O’Brien
THINGS WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Episode image by allinonemovie from Pixabay.
Loved this! Thanks for putting this together, Pam! I’ve been really diving into this topic over the last month or so, reading Jane McGonigal’s book Reality is Broken, a book all about video games and their design and positive impacts, while watching my just-turned 10 year old son immerse himself in the gaming world through Minecraft, YouTube, vintage Nintendo Legend of Zelda, and more. This has been so helpful and affirming to me, especially hearing from the grown unschoolers.
I have felt so conflicted about “screen time” and gaming, but I’m feeling pretty good about it now. I’ve realized that one piece of my resistance to video games is that I feel disconnected from my son when he plays. But now I see that he is always trying to pull me into his world and I was ignoring his bids for connection because of my ideas about video games (stuff I’ve absorbed from all around). Now my path forward is clear: jump in and explore with him, play more video games, and respond to his excitement the same way I would if he wanted to involve me in an art or science project! Thanks again!!
That’s brilliant, Stephanie! Responding to his excitement the same way you would if he wanted to involve you in an art or science project. Love it. Have fun! 😀