Are you looking for ways to foster deeper connections with your children while providing an enriching homeschooling experience? This article will review key takeaways from the book Wild + Free Family by Ainsley Arment.
This is more than just a book about homeschooling – it’s a comprehensive guide on nurturing meaningful relationships with our kids, embracing their unique qualities, and sparking a lifelong love for learning and exploration.
Table of Contents
About Wild + Free
Ainsley Arment is the visionary mind behind the Wild + Free movement, a thriving community aimed at redefining homeschooling. Ainsley’s journey as a homeschooling mother sparked a desire to create an educational philosophy (influenced by Charlotte Mason) that intertwines learning with the spirit of adventure and the freedom of childhood.
With this in mind, she established Wild + Free, which has grown into a movement that now inspires thousands of families around the globe.
The essence of Wild + Free is rooted in the belief that childhood is a sacred time for exploration and growth and that children learn best when they’re given the freedom to pursue their curiosity and passions. It blends structured learning, emphasizing creativity, wonder, and a love for the great outdoors.
As the leader of this movement, Ainsley encourages parents to step away from one-size-fits-all educational methods. Instead, she advocates for a dynamic, interest-led learning approach that adapts to each child’s unique needs and pace.
Ainsley Arment has been instrumental in encouraging relaxed homeschooling, breathing life into a holistic, engaging, and empowering form of education. Her books, including Wild + Free Family, provide practical guidance and encouragement for parents seeking to implement this philosophy at home.
Through her work, Ainsley continues to inspire a paradigm shift in homeschooling, emphasizing the importance of nurturing strong familial bonds, celebrating each child’s uniqueness, and kindling a love for learning that extends far beyond the textbook.
Connect with your kids
In the book Wild + Free Family, Ainsley emphasizes the vital role of cultivating strong emotional connections with our children. This forms the bedrock for their development and academic growth.
By prioritizing relationship-building, we create an environment that supports learning and ensures our children feel loved and valued. This can range from daily conversations to shared activities, effectively forming a safe and supportive backdrop for their exploration of the world.
Understand your child
In the bustling ecosystem of a family, each child is a unique entity with individual needs, interests, and learning styles. Arment urges us to recognize and respect these differences.
Wild + Free Family encourages us to tailor our teaching approach to suit each child’s unique traits can enhance their educational experience and personal development, helping them to thrive and grow in confidence.
Create a safe space
According to Arment in Wild + Free Family, a significant aspect of successful homeschooling is the creation of a safe space – physically and emotionally. A space where our children feel secure and loved fosters a willingness to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them.
This safe and positive atmosphere nurtures curiosity and encourages our kids to be active, enthusiastic learners.
Encourage wonder
Arment underscores the importance of fostering a sense of wonder in our children in Wild + Free Family. We fuel their imagination through exposure to diverse experiences and opportunities to explore and ask questions.
These inquisitive habits enhance their current learning and equip them with critical thinking and problem-solving skills, invaluable assets for their future endeavors.
Unlock your child’s potential
Our children’s interests and passions are avenues through which they can unlock their full potential.
According to Arment, as parents, our role is to provide them with the space, time, and resources to delve into these interests. In doing so, we help them forge a strong sense of self-identity and an enduring love for learning – qualities that will serve them throughout their lives.
Go on adventures
Arment’s book encourages us to take our children on adventures. These adventures, irrespective of scale, can create lasting memories, instill a love for the outdoors, and open their minds to the wonders of the world.
These shared experiences are a testament to the fact that learning can be enjoyable, adventurous, and incredibly rewarding.
Don’t forget that kids grow up
Arment concludes with a poignant reminder: our children will grow up and lead their own lives.
As such, our goal should be to help them become confident, independent, and resilient individuals. By nurturing their individuality, creating a conducive environment for growth, and supporting their passions, we equip them with the skills and mindset they need to make their unique mark on the world.
Final Thoughts
Wild + Free Family by Ainsley Arment is an invaluable resource for any homeschooling parent or educator. The book goes beyond traditional pedagogical approaches to offer a holistic vision of what home education can truly be.
Implementing the insights and practices suggested by Arment can help transform your homeschooling journey into an enriching experience that fosters lifelong learning, deep familial bonds, and individual growth.
If you’re yet to read “Wild + Free Family,” it’s high time to pick up a copy and immerse yourself in its inspiring and transformative lessons.
Here’s to a joyful, empowering homeschooling journey!
Have you read Wild + Free Family? I would love to learn your key takeaways from the book! Leave a comment below!
Xuan Klevecka is a Southern California-based homeschool mom, wife, and Holistic Homeschool Mindset Coach. She’s an Enneagram 5w4, a lover of good food, and a former middle school history teacher. You’ll either find her looking at road maps and daydreaming about her family’s next epic adventure or perusing recipes and cooking up a feast for the brood.
