How to Make Self-Led Learning Work for Your Family

When you think about school, you probably think about teachers and students. The teachers present the topics that need to be learned, and students take notes, study, and pass tests to prove they know the material.

But, how much learning is actually happening in this traditional system of schooling? Can you recall any of the information from that history test you aced in the 10th grade? So often this knowledge comes and then goes as you move on to the next topic.

However, when you are in charge of your learning, this isn’t the case. Think about the last thing you chose to study. Whether a certification for your job or researching how to cook exotic cuisines—learning is more enjoyable when you follow your interests.

Believe it or not, your child can learn this way too. When children are given a choice in their education, they choose to study topics they actually care about. And the learning sticks, driving them to more inquiry and knowledge as they follow their passions. 

It’s pretty amazing what kids can learn when they’re given autonomy in their education. And you can bring this method, and all the knowledge that comes with it, home. Let’s dive deep into self-led learning, discovering how it works and its many benefits.

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What is self-led learning?

Self-led learning happens when a student is given choice in their education. Rather than passively taking in information, they are shaping the course of their learning. This means they have the space and time to follow their interests. 

Self-led learning also gives more credit to the learning that comes from simply living life. From figuring out how to cook pasta to learning the best way to research a topic—everyday life offers plenty of valuable learning moments.

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How is self-directed learning different from “traditional learning”?

Learning in school is driven by your state’s standards and curriculum. Students have a list of items they’re supposed to learn this year. They receive this info, are tested on it, and then it’s checked off the list. 

This can be one way to ensure a well-rounded education—but most of this knowledge is quickly forgotten as they move to the next subject. And if your child just studied something they’d love to study further, there’s no time given to pursue this interest. They have to move on to the next topic to make sure all the boxes are checked by the end of the year.

Self-directed learning strives to give your child time to dig deep into their interests. If they love sharks, a self-directed learner can spend hours learning about the history of sharks, the different kinds of sharks, the anatomy of a shark, the diet and locations of different species of sharks, and so on. 

The best part—your child is excited about this learning. They’re pumped to learn about the different parts of a shark. And along the way, they expand their vocabulary, practice spelling, work on reading comprehension skills, and maybe even learn a little math. All because they asked the question “why can’t I live underwater like a shark?”

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Why self-led learning works

Children are born curious. As we grow, we don’t age out of that curiosity—we’re just given less and less time to follow it. We’re bombarded with facts to memorize and tests to pass—and our love for learning fades. But with self-directed learning, you can keep your child’s innate curiosity alive.

But how are kids supposed to learn without a formal education?

It may seem odd, but many studies (based on surveys of self-directed learners) show that self-directed learning works. Kids who graduate from self-directed schools go on to excel in college and beyond. Many unschoolers choose entrepreneurship or work in the creative arts. And a surprisingly large amount go on to work in STEM fields.

Self-led learning works because kids are given the freedom to pursue their interests. And if their interests require them to understand advanced math, they will learn it. Not because it’s required, but because it’s important to them.

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How self-directed learning can work for your child

Child-led learning looks different for everyone. Some homeschooling families choose to take an unschooling approach, where the child’s day is totally directed by their interests. If they want to learn something, you guide them to resources. In this model, much of the focus is on learning from life experiences. 

But you don’t have to unschool, or even homeschool, to offer self-directed learning moments to your child. It can be brought into their school’s classroom or be modeled at home during their time away from school. Here are a few ways you can give your child more freedom over their education.

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At home

Homeschoolers have the most time in their day to dedicate to self-directed studies. This style of learning is self-paced, and it can be worked into almost any homeschooling philosophy.

Full educational autonomy

If you want to give your child complete freedom over their learning, look into unschooling, Sudbury, or other self-directed learning options.

These options give your child all the space they need to learn when they want and how they want. For younger students, this will often look like a day full of play—outside time mixed with open-ended play and screen time. 

Older students may choose to pursue an online course or dig into their interests with documentaries or YouTube videos. They may work on writing and producing a play or spend hours coding on their laptop. Their day won’t always look like learning, but it’s happening all the time.

Autonomy within limits

Some educational styles, like Montessori or Unit Studies, lend themselves to educational autonomy. Your child may not have direct control over their entire “learning time” but they have choices of activities and topics within your daily or weekly educational schedule. 

For example, you may require your child to complete a certain amount of math instruction a week. But this can be accomplished with word problems that are all themed around their favorite place to visit, like the zoo. Or, instead of practicing with worksheets, you can head to the kitchen and practice fractions while baking a treat of their choosing.

Deep dives into their passions

As a homeschooler, if a topic sparks your child’s interest, you have plenty of time to follow their interest. Dig into their favorite topics together, going as deep as they’d like. 

Some passions will be fleeting, while others stick around for months. When this happens, work with it. That focus on one topic is an asset that is rarely learned in the classroom. Let them follow it as long as possible.

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In the classroom

Yes, student-directed learning is possible even in a traditional classroom. It takes some preparation and a dedicated educator, but it can be done.

If you’re looking to bring more educational autonomy into your classroom while sticking to state standards, look to project-based learning as a guide. STEM topics work particularly well for bringing together a student-directed project that tackles different learning areas. 

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During free time

If your child attends school during the day, you can implement self-directed learning during nights and weekends. The best way to start—step back and take time to see the value that their chosen free time activities hold. 

If they enjoy playing video games, they’re still spending time reading, calculating, problem-solving, and working on social skills. Instead of dismissing their favorite activities as a waste of time, look for those learning moments.

If they love the problem-solving aspects of video games, check out a Synthesis cohort for more puzzle fun. Or ask them if they’re interested in learning how their favorite games are made. This can lead to instruction in coding, game design, and storytelling. 

No matter how or where you do it, if you’re encouraging your child’s passions and giving them time to pursue them in a manner they’re excited about, you’re helping them practice self-led learning. 

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The most common self-led learning mistake to avoid

When you are first exploring self-directed learning, you’ll be encouraged to look for the learning in everyday living. Realizing how much learning can happen naturally is an important step toward giving your child educational autonomy. But it’s also easy to fall into the trap of always pointing out the learning in their activities.

You don’t need to turn their favorite activities into “learning moments”. The learning is already there. Instead, ask questions and show an interest in their passions. Then offer ways to explore those ideas in new ways. 

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What are the limits of self-led learning?

Can a child really learn everything they need on their own? Well, yes and no. 

First, it’s important to remember that even though your child is directing their learning, they aren’t doing it by themselves. You can still guide them to resources, curating their experiences and learning. And they will still have instructors throughout their lives. But with self-directed learning, they decide which classes to take and whether or not an instructor is a good fit.

Parents and educators hesitate most about approaching reading and math in a self-directed way. How do kids learn to read without formal instruction? It happens—but it may not be on the timeline you expect or follow a traditional school path. 

Some unschoolers learn to read at age 4 or 5, while others may not become fluent readers until age 10. But this ability comes because reading is an important part of our everyday lives. Your child will learn basic math skills, like counting money and measuring, because they encounter it often. 

Your unschooled child may never dive into calculus or advanced algebra topics, but if they decide to focus on woodworking, they’ll learn trigonometry. Rest easy knowing that If they need to know it, they’ll learn it.

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Shifting your mindset to allow more self-led learning

Choosing to follow a self-led learning model requires a significant mindset shift for most parents, especially if you attended a traditional public school. But if this style of learning sounds like a good fit for your family, you can do it. 

The best part of self-led learning—you can simply enjoy living life with your child, learning and growing together. You can watch them blossom into their truest selves without the stress of conformity and academic performance weighing them down. Take the time to work on your mindset, spend a few months deschooling, and give it a try. Then watch the learning happen naturally.

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