This is the second part in a series based on a talk I gave at the Life is Good Unschooling Conference in May 2019. The first in the series can bee seen here.
This group of books gives parents ideas about how to lovingly share our physical space with children, and how to get and stay organized when you have your children at home with you most days. They are:
A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander
Alexander is an architect who was commissioned by the University of Oregon in 1970 to create a plan for the campus that would be shaped by the people using the campus. This idea grew into over 200 “patterns” that rely more on how buildings make us “feel” rather than just hoe they look. Among others, of note for families with children at home are the patterns of the children’s realm, the teenager’s cottage, and the farmhouse kitchen.
Children’s Rooms and Play Yards a Sunset Book
This book (from 1960!) has some great ideas about how to “help a child fit into a grown-up sized world”. Kids naturally want to do what the adults around them are doing. With a little effort you can make your home more welcoming to your children.
Welcome your children to participate alongside you with your hobbies (or profession).
Make it easy for kids to participate in everyday life with built in step stools in common areas, and furniture modified to their size.
The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn
If you are a family living on one income, you may find yourself in a position where you need to be more frugal than you want to be…if so, here comes The Frugal Zealot to the rescue! Amy’s trio of books originally began as newsletters. She shares tips on everything from saving money on buying a car to making your own soup mix.
Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield
This book is about creating schedules/calendars, maintaining your home, meal planning, etc.
This book gave me the inspiration to make the customized planner below (using Excel) the first year we homeschooled our older daughter in what would have been her kindergarten year. I wrote activities we were going to do each day on the left side (and referred to it when telling family and friends about our activities as many of them had questions about homeschooling). I also used it to organize my regular household tasks and found it helpful in maintaining my sanity!
Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes
This book talks about casting aside the pressures of our consumer culture and focuses instead on relationships, independent thought, and creativity.
I hope these books spark ideas for you and help move you forward you in your homeschooling journey!
Carolyn Groves
