You don't have to!!
Unschooling A Teen
Sue Patterson
Listen to the Podcast
School (or a schoolish approach to homeschooling hasn't bee a good fit for your teenager.
Could unschooling a teen really work? Let's talk about it.
Podcast Transcript:
First... The Facts about Unschooling and Teens
Here are some facts that we need to bring to the front of our minds.
And, then I’ll get to your questions, because I know you have them.
- Everyone is hardwired to learn and be curious - even your teens. It’s in our human nature. You may not see it. It may not look the way you expect it to. But it's a biological fact.
- We all learn best when we are engaged and playing. When lessons are drudgery or out of context, they’re not retained. No one is listening. And it turns quickly to a power struggle.
- Unschooled kids who are allowed to explore their hobbies are developing skills that will help them in adulthood. Maybe they’ll turn a hobby into a career path - or maybe they’ll bring the “soft” skills they learned with that hobby to another career. But those skills they develop will be with them no matter what they choose.
- Unschooling through the adolescent years CAN be translated into an acceptable transcript.
- Colleges accept unschoolers - all the time.
- Unschooled kids who choose college do well there.
- Unschooled kids who choose a career that is more entrepreneurial or doesn’t require college, also do well.
- While all teens are learning how to become independent, unschooling families usually don’t experience the rebellious phase that society believes is unavoidable. When parents show their teens that they’re partnering with them, listening to them, and helping them achieve what they’re looking for - what’s to rebel against?
Resources to Help You Unschool Your Teens
6 Unschooling
E-books
Gather the tools you need to DIY your way through the teen years!
Don't Want to Do This Alone?
Parents of Teens
The Creating Confidence Membership is fabulous for anyone who needs more support with unschooling.
Parents of Teens will find SO many resources - in addition to other parents who are unschooling their teenagers.
Simply the BEST place
to get the unschooling support you're looking for!
2 Common Questions about Unschooling Teens
What if all they’re doing is playing videogames?
I’ll probably do an entire (separate) podcast on this (I've actually done several!), but the short answer is that unschoolers are playing a long game. We don’t know what is happening in their brains as they do this. But as we learn more about unschooling - and learn to trust that children will move in the direction they need to go - we can ease up a little. Your next step as an unschooling parent is to focus on partnering, get your fears in check, and keep communication open, learn more about what they're doing with technology.
How on earth would I make a transcript from their daily life - something that a college would accept?!
Subjects weave throughout our daily activities. We simply have to set our fear aside and examine what’s happening. If we’ve had a chance to do this with our younger kids, we’ll be more able to see it with our teens.
Here’s an example from a recent coaching call:
The family decided to plant some trees in the backyard. So, let's talk about all the learning that happens in this simple activity.
- Research is required to see what trees do well in the area. Comparing and contrasting tree types or species is necessary. (Language arts, math, science)
- Figuring out how much they’ll grow and then knowing how far apart to plant them, how tall they will get, (math & science)
- Looking at the “lay of the land” to assess the sunlight and rainfall - and maybe factoring in how that changes with the seasons. (Geography, Earth Science)
- Will we need soil amendments? (Chemistry, geography)
- Price comparisons, estimates, budgeting (math)
All these little life experiences and projects - like planting a few trees - are full of learning opportunities. They add up! We have to notice them though. We don’t have to write everything out like this. I’m simply trying to help you reframe how you
see learning. And remind you that everything counts!
Unschooling & Transcripts
Do you need to figure this out ASAP? I can walk you through.
Or maybe you're a Planner, and you'd like to see how these next few years could look. Sometimes fear can get the better of us, so seeing these resources is like turning the light on in a dark room. It's not nearly as scary once you do that!
This course includes:
- Video Walk-through for BUILDING a transcript
- PDFs and Worksheets to help you
- Everything Counts Ebook
How do you know your child is learning without curriculum? Learn what to look for, how unschooling assessment works, and how progress shows up over time.
Wondering what to say to your child if they feel they are behind? Understand typical reactions as well as the do's and don't of how to handle the situation.
Parents worry about grades, gaps, screen time. Let's discuss what prepares kids for adult life through unschooling / homeschooling: adaptability, problem-solving, confidence.
Are unschoolers behind academically? Understand how learning works without grade levels or curriculum, and how to tell if your child is progressing over time.
Does unschooling feel like nothing is happening? Here’s why it can look lazy, what’s actually going on, and how to start trusting the process.
Curious what an unschooling day looks like? See real-life examples by age, understand why it feels unstructured, and how learning happens without a set schedule.
Is it time for the Mother's Day Fairy to come to your house? What? You don't know about her? Let me explain...
Wondering what unschooling looks like on a typical day? Learn how real-life learning shows up, why it can feel unstructured, and how to know your child is actually learning.
Radical unschooling is often misunderstood as extreme, hands-off parenting or a rejection of learning altogether. In reality, radical unschooling is about going to the root of how children learn best — through connection, trust, and real life. It's not limited to academics - it's about ALL Learning. This post explains what radical unschooling actually means, what it doesn’t, and why it’s far more intentional than most people assume.
Discover 10 reasons why spring is the perfect time to try unschooling. Real-life learning, no curriculum, and simple ways to get started this season.