Enriched childcare
Do you have a full-time job? Are you working on a passion project? There are so many ways to support your child’s learning while you’re at work besides sending them to school. And with modular learning, you can construct a childcare option that ideally fits with your family’s work schedule. Find out about full-day programs, teachers and caregivers who specialize in independent learning - and how you can share education with other parents in the community. We’ve actually found it helpful to separate the problem of finding childcare and providing quality learning for your child in order to address both effectively. Here’s how some of our parents are addressing finding enriching childcare for their children while providing them with a customized learning plan and staying actively involved in their education at the same time.
Start a Learning pod, Hybrid school or homeschool co-op. can be a wonderful way to supplement your child’s education with a 2-3 day program that allows them to spend ample time in nature and out in the community. A homeschool co-op is a program that is organized by local parents or a local teacher and can be hosted at their home or Families can enroll their children in these programs 2-3 days a week and sometimes choose to enroll their child in 2 or 3 different programs to create variety in their schedule and expose them to a diverse set of mentors. See our article on how to start a pod.
Forest school. A forest school is an outdoor version of a homeschool co-op that meets 2-3 days a week or more. It is a wonderful way to ensure your child spends lots of time in nature with friends, enjoying the beauty of the natural world and learning a great deal about science and social interaction in the process. Similar to homeschool co-ops, families can generally enroll 2-3 days a week in a forest school.
Bilingual playgroup. Similar to a homeschool co-op or forest school, a playgroup can meet a few days a week on a half-day or full-day schedule. Bilingual immersion is the ideal way to pick up a foreign language, so simply by being in an environment where they are speaking a foreign language all day, your child will develop their cognitive skills - and of course linguistic ones! The younger your child is when they start learning a foreign language, the more quickly they are likely to advance and retain their skills.
A stay-at-home parent/working from home. Staying at home can be an incredibly fulfilling job for mom or dad - and allow them ample time for flexible work . Generally children who learn from home are quite autonomous and self-directed, so while you work on your projects, they’ll work on theirs. Families generally spend a lot of time out and about, taking children to museums, cultural organizations, parks and more. For more
Start a new homeschool co-op or forest school. To start a new forest school or homeschool co-op, it can be as simple as hiring a teacher, hosting in your home or the local park and inviting a group of 5 or 6 other kids to join and split the cost.
Curating classes and activities at home. While it’s a bit more work in the beginning, some parents have found it incredibly fulfilling to hire local experts to teach an array of classes at their house and invite other families to join. A great place to find teachers is by seeking out artists in the community with special skills, university professors and parents who are also customizing their childrens’ education.
Full-time childcare or teacher. Some parents choose to hire a full-time childcare provider or teacher to direct their children’s learning. We’ve found that actors, musicians and artists can be wonderful in this role as their primary responsibility is to facilitate your child’s natural love of learning and they are fantastic communicators. Parents seeking a more affordable option can opt to share the expenses of the teacher or provider with another family or a couple families. We recommend sharing your thoughts on learning and self-directed education with the primary facilitator you choose to hire.
Swapping. Many families in our community love to swap! Connect with families near you who share your values and trade your days. This is a phenomenal way to help your child build meaningful relationships with adults besides you and also a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other intelligent families in raising each other’s children. Make sure you are aligned on values and your approach to education, but also come with an openness to learning and evolving in your views.
