Choices on walks - let them have freedom
Yesterday we went on a walk around a local park. (We’re lucky that we have so many parks and woodland near us)
Whenever we’ve taken our eldest to a place like this, since he could walk, we’ve let him choose where we go around the park. It gives him power.
For most of a child’s life they get told what to do and when. With unschooling, we give them freedom and choice. They can decide how to spend their time. Part of our job is to offer suggestions and opportunities for them to decide. Obviously our 4 year old doesn’t know what is in the world to see, even I don’t know everything, but I can research and find out about places.
So I take them to the park and then it’s up to them. We often stay as long as they want when we don’t have any other plans.
I might offer a suggestion like;
- There's a pond, shall we explore it?
- Would you like to go to the playground with the climbing frame or the swings?
- Should we explore this path? We haven't gone there before etc.
Sometimes my ideas might work so we start getting closer to where the car is parked when he’s getting tired, or towards the cafe if we’re hungry but he still feels very much part of the big decisions. We’re partners in this walk.
A lot of the time he already has his own ideas. This is what happened.
We started off in the playground but we quickly became bored of the equipment so we set off to walk through the park. We've been here before but we haven't seen it all yet.
It was VERY windy and with all the oak trees around the ground was quickly becoming covered in acorns of all sizes. So, of course, T started collecting some. (We have a tray at home with lots of leaves, stones, small sticks, snail shells, etc. the list goes on). We might plant one and see if we can get it to germinate.
After walking away from the playground, we passed the bandstand (where the husband was there to film something) and continued quickly to get to the pond. I was very pleased to see the lilies were flowering; T was happy he could stand on some rocks then put his hand in some running water. The pond water runs under the path, then you can see it on the other side where it then continues down to a small waterfall.
T was then hungry so we headed to the Visiter Centre. It's a volunteer run centre and the food and drinks are very lovely and affordable. Volunteers even make the cakes, which are so delicious! I have no photos of it (maybe another time).
After the stop we headed out again. Following T's lead we headed back the way we came but, as we weren't hungry, we went a little slower and enjoyed the view. You can see Castle Hill with Victoria Tower in the distance. If you follow my husband 
T was happy he could see the tower, then we were off again to climb along the path! He had climbed up where it was much higher and then continued along the top while I walked on the path. He enjoyed walking along the tops of the big rocks.
I then noticed a path we hadn't been down before, and as it was still windy where we were and the path was lower down the hill and sheltered, I suggested we follow it. T was excited to try it out. The path was rougher and so a little more fun. We were going down steps into the wood and then we spotted something interesting. A little waterfall! T was thrilled to see where the water from the pond went.
We continued down the path until we came out at the edge of the park, down from the playground where we started. He played on the climbing frame and went on the swings etc. until Daddy had finished his work.
Just a few things before I sign off.
Yes, I have two children and both were with me! W, who is 9 months, was in the sling for the 'walk' parts of our time at the park. She enjoyed watching her brother climb and shout and everything else. She also found a stick that she carried around for ages! I'm sure it will be very different when BOTH children want to go their own way on our trips and at the moment I don't know how that will work exactly. We'll work that out when we get to it, as a family, as partners.
All the photos used in this post and all of my posts, unless otherwise stated, are my own.
Thank you for reading,
Lydia x