Extraordinary Parenting: the essential guide to parenting and educating at home

With younger children especially, leaving an invitation to play for them to find in the morning can be a great way to buy you time to have a quiet coffee first thing.

The typical classroom, with other children ready to point out, correct, and even laugh at every mistake, and the teacher all too often (wittingly or unwittingly) helping and urging them to do this, is the worst possible place for a child to begin.’

If we want our children to learn to value their play, then we must show them that we value their play.

‘yes spaces’ effectively negate the need for a lot of traditional discipline.

school is the biggest source of stress for young people.

Offering your child the space to ask ‘why’ time and time again is one of the most precious gifts you can give them.

Just keep encouraging that “why”.’

Homeschooling — however long you do it for — provides a unique opportunity to build up your child’s knowledge of the world, knowledge which will give them the context for all future learning.

Consistency and patience will help with building the habit of independent play.