Hi!

My name is Amy Childs and I started offering unschooling as an option to my three children when they were 8, 10 and 13.  Although they have chosen (for now) to be involved in more traditional educational settings (two in college, one in a performing arts high school), they still consider themselves to be in charge of their own lives and choices, and tell me that they will always be excited about learning new things.

When I originally gave my kids the choice to opt out of school, I had never heard of unschooling and thought I was the first person to try such a thing!  I told my kids that if school wasn’t fun, then they didn’t have to go, and we’d figure some other plan from there.  In my own life I was becoming more and more aware of the ways that “schooling” damages people’s ability to stay connected to themselves, and I wanted nothing more for my kids than that they grow up whole and happy.

I was thrilled when, several months later, someone said to me “it sounds like you’re unschooling!”  I was excited and relieved to discover that thousands of other people were allowing their kids this level of trust and freedom, and having amazing “educational” results as well!  Until that point I had reassured myself by thinking “well, maybe my kids won’t know math, but at least they’ll know how to be happy.”  I was excited thing to learn that they would probably end up knowing math too.

A decade later, I have three incredibly happy young adults in my life – and incidentally, they’re all really good at math, and they love it.

As a single mom looking for creative ways to put food on the table while also staying home with my kids, I invented a job for myself: I am a “happiness consultant,” and I help clients of all ages to discover their true selves and to have more fun, fulfilling lives.

I also produce a podcast called Whatever Whatever Amen, in which I regularly address four different topics: Happiness, Consciousness, Sex & Love, and Parenting With Trust.

One of the “secrets to happiness” that I share with others is NOT a secret to most unschoolers: trusting young people is not only the most respectful way to help your children grow into productive and healthy adults, but it also MAKES LIFE MUCH MORE FUN!

Helping parents as they evolve along on this journey of trust and freedom is one of the greatest joys of my life.

Amy Childs
amy@amychilds.com