Use Law of Attraction to Decide Kids' Schooling

LOA Parenting Coach Shares Insights on Homeschooling and Unschooling

Jul 12, 2009

Annie Desantis is a law of attraction parenting coach. She shares her opinions on schooling decisions and offers invaluable advice to parents in this interview.

Annie Desantis is a parenting coach and psychotherapist, whose focus is on inspired parenting based on the law of attraction or LOA.

According to Desantis, "Play is vital in early childhood development for our babies and toddlers to learn." In this interview, she talks about how to make schooling fun and interesting for children.

Desantis' LOA Parenting website offers series of free games parents can sign up for. The LOA parenting membership site is a members-only site with features like free parent coaching audios, forum, member blogs, member web pages, tele-seminars, interviews, community and answers to commonly asked parenting questions.

Q. How can kids adjust to a, "non-play oriented learning," school (as most schools are), coming from an LOA parenting home that incorporates principles of play and learning? What are your opinions on homeschooling based on LOA Parenting principles?

A. "Schooling decisions are difficult. My own experience when my eldest child started school was a challenge. After six months at school, she went from a confident child eager to learn and discover, to an anxious child scared of making mistakes.

"I investigated many schooling options, ranging from Steiner schools, homeschooling, private schools. As a single parent at the time I didn't have the finances or time available for private or home schooling, and had to go with what I thought was the worst option, a public school.

"However you have to make decisions based on your situation and I couldn't put the time into homeschooling due to work commitments. Instead I found a smaller school with a fantastic principal that I felt was more committed to foster the individual rather than a focus on churning out averages.

"We had to move to a different area to be able to go to this school, but I felt it was important and it ended up being a much better option.

"I was fairly involved in the classroom, so could offer my input with art or personal development courses such as problem solving and group activities.

"I also gave my children mental health days, usually individually, where I would spend the day with one of them doing things that we enjoyed, maybe going to the beach, a museum, or cooking.

"I also made sure the after school activities my children were involved in were not study orientated, but were learning, exploring, fun play activities, such as art classes, swimming together, bush walks, picnics.

"The first five years are the most critical in a developing child and if you can have as much input as possible in their learning/play activities while they are tiny, then you give them a great start.

"Children do have to deal with all kinds of different situations, we can't control and sanitize all their activities so they only have positive fun times.

"They learn all kinds of skills when confronted with less than ideal situations. Kids are incredibly resourceful, and if we as parents maintain a focus on how can we make this better, and creating positive experiences or learning something, then our children learn to find ways to get what they need despite a school system that personally I believe does little to prepare a child for flourishing.

"There is fantastic support now for homeschooling, I would recommend families look at that as an option if they think they can manage the commitment. Put the time into researching the options and what ever you choose - it isn't something you are stuck with.

"Sometimes as children mature they are better able to cope with a state school, sometimes your situation may change in that you can take on more of the education responsibility.

"But what ever you decide, just trust that it is the best decision at the time and find ways to maximize the good in it all, and put energy into after school activities to bring more of a balance."

Q. After reading this, some parents might wish they'd done a few things differently. What would you say to those parents?

A. "That's normal! Hindsight is a wonderful way to beat ourselves up as parents. We all do the best we can with the knowledge and resources we have at the time. Our kids have their own journey and we just provide some of the stimulus. They will be absolutely fine!"

Q. If you had one nugget of advice to parents, that don't have the time or resources to get any kind of parenting coaching or books, what would it be?

A. "Just love them, make every moment count, focus on what you appreciate and love about your child and of course play with them!"