Discover Tuneagers: A Songwriting Club for Teens

Discover Tuneagers: A Songwriting Club for Teens

Publicado en

Navigating the teenage years can be challenging, and finding a constructive outlet for creativity is essential. That’s where Tuneagers comes in—a songwriting club designed exclusively for teens. This club offers a supportive environment where young, aspiring songwriters can connect with peers worldwide, learn the intricacies of songwriting, and begin their journey as artists.

Tuneagers is more than just a club. It’s a community where teenagers can find their voice, share their stories, and grow as songwriters. Whether you’re an experienced songwriter or just starting, Tuneagers provides the tools, instruction, and encouragement needed to hone your craft. And now, Tuneagers is offering a scholarship for free access and a 25% discount for West River Academy students!

Why Join Tuneagers?

Find Your Voice, Share Your Story

Learning to write songs is a skill that requires both instruction and regular practice. This process can be daunting and less enjoyable when done alone. Tuneagers offers a vibrant community of like-minded peers and professional songwriters who will guide you through the songwriting process, providing feedback and encouragement every step of the way.

In Tuneagers, you’ll have the opportunity to meet professional songwriters who will share the tricks of the trade, helping you learn to tell compelling stories through music. This isn’t just about writing songs; it’s about becoming a storyteller, a collaborator, and an artist.

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A Community of Peers and Professionals

Tuneagers is not just a club; it’s a community tailored to your interests. Want to learn how to write rhymes from a professional hip-hop artist? Are you interested in co-writing a rock opera? Whatever your passion, Tuneagers will connect you with professionals who can help you explore and develop your unique style.

The club also emphasizes collaboration, teaching you how to co-write songs—a valuable skill in the music industry. Even the biggest names in music, like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Justin Timberlake, often co-write their songs. At Tuneagers, you’ll make friends and learn how to create music together, enhancing your songwriting abilities and building a network of fellow music enthusiasts.

Accelerate Your Growth as a Songwriter

Join Tuneagers and gain access to up to eight hours of instruction and live events each month for the price of a single music lesson. Traditional one-on-one lessons are beneficial, but a songwriting club like Tuneagers offers a unique advantage by focusing on the art of making music. These hands-on learning opportunities will help you develop your songwriting skills rapidly while also providing a platform to build social connections with teens from around the globe.

Meet the Founder

Tuneagers was founded by Aimee Bobruk, a professional musician, songwriter, and music teacher with over 15 years of experience in the music industry. Aimee has written and released multiple albums of original music and collaborates with publishing companies and artists as a lyricist and melody writer. Her song “Black Swan” was performed in Eurovision’s Melodifestivalen in Sweden, and she has over 25 co-writes released worldwide and two Grammy nominations.

“When I was 15 years old living in a small town and trying to learn how to play the guitar and write songs, I had nowhere to turn to learn how to do it. I wanted a group of kids like me, a mentor to ask questions to, and a live music venue. Tuneagers is the club I wish I had then!” says Aimee Bobruk. Tuneagers is her passion project, designed to provide the support and community she once longed for.

Aimee Bobruk
Tuneagers Poster

Scholarship Opportunities

Tuneagers is excited to offer a scholarship for free teen access until October 30th. This scholarship includes intensive mentorship from Aimee Bobruk and access to a wealth of content to help you write your first song. Valued at $2000, this is a fantastic opportunity to bring your musical ideas to life. Applications are open until August 15, 2024. Apply now using this form.

Even if you miss the application deadline or are not accepted, there’s still good news. All learners associated with West River Academy will receive a 25% discount on the Tuneagers Club Membership until October 30th. For any questions, feel free to email Aimee at ab@aimeebobruk.com.

Join Tuneagers Today

Tuneagers is more than a club; it’s a stepping stone to discovering your artistic voice and building a network of supportive peers and professionals. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to grow as a songwriter and artist. Visit Tuneagers today to learn more and join our community!

Mentes Brillantes: A Visionary Education in Ecuador

Mentes Brillantes: A Visionary Education in Ecuador

Publicado en

The foundation of Mentes Brillantes is a story rooted in a mother’s desire to create a unique and supportive educational environment for her child. Sonnia de Carrion, who has dedicated nearly 30 years to teaching, envisioned a different kind of education while pregnant with her daughter. Concerned that unschooling might be a lonely option for her only child, Sonnia sought to create a nurturing, safe, and engaging learning environment.

Mentes Brillantes started as informal gatherings in 2019, where Sonnia’s daughter and children of close friends, who shared similar educational philosophies, participated in English and cooking classes and enjoyed ample free play. The core of this initiative was the joy and growth witnessed among these children, all of whom shared the same religious beliefs as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

From Informal Gatherings to a Flourishing School

What began as casual classes quickly evolved into a more structured program. Overcoming numerous challenges, Sonnia and her husband discovered West River Academy, an institution perfectly aligned with their vision of a values-based, safe school. Starting with 20 students, Mentes Brillantes adapted swiftly to the pandemic, expanding its reach to 100 online students. The dedication of Sonnia and her husband, who initially ran the school alone, was instrumental in this growth.

As the school grew, more teachers were hired, and students were divided into grades. By 2022, Mentes Brillantes began seeking a physical location for in-person classes. Currently, they serve 315 students through a mix of presential, online, and hybrid modalities.

Pre-K to 6th grade students can attend school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, while Thursday classes are available online. Fridays are free for these students. For 7th to 12th-grade students, in-person classes are held on Thursdays and Fridays, with the option to attend online. They have online courses on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Mondays are free. All in-person classes are available live and online.

A Holistic Approach to Education

The school emphasizes holistic education, incorporating extracurricular activities such as Spelling Bees, Theater plays, choreographies, Art Contests, Music talent shows, and Field trips. These events reinforce the students’ talents and knowledge, providing a well-rounded educational experience.

Assessment at Mentes Brillantes includes four annual tests, which can be taken online or in person. Their graduation program is particularly noteworthy. In the 12th grade, students select a topic they are passionate about and write a research paper. This process includes deadlines, rules, and meetings in English to discuss the topics, guided by project tutors. If a student is not proficient in English, they are allowed to complete the project in Spanish.

At the end of the year, students present their research orally to judges, summarizing their year-long investigation and discussing their findings and conclusions. This exercise helps develop essential soft skills such as public speaking and research capabilities.

Building a Supportive Community

The journey of Mentes Brillantes has been marked by growth and success, primarily attributed to the supportive community of educators, students, and parents and the significant support from West River Academy. The school’s commitment to each student and their families is evident in every aspect of its approach.

Sonnia de Carrion’s vision has flourished into a vibrant community where students learn, play, and grow together. With Jehovah’s blessing, Mentes Brillantes has seen two groups of students graduate in 2023 and 2024, a testament to the school’s dedication and effectiveness.

Looking forward, Mentes Brillantes aims to continue fostering the abilities and spiritual qualities necessary for their students to succeed in life. The collaboration with West River Academy and the strong sense of community promises a bright future for this innovative educational initiative.

Jaco Learning Center – WRA Group in Costa Rica

Jaco Learning Center – WRA Group in Costa Rica

Publicado en

Collaboration is key at Jaco Learning Center because the teachers, parents and students work closely together to create a learning experience built on creativity, unity and natural learning.  They have created a beautiful learning space that has different sections based on age range. They have an outdoor space, a second-level sport section, a music area, divisions within the building to separate the learning areas and they fill each space with age-appropriate learning materials such as books, craft projects and other educational games and activities. The parents and teachers work well together to design learning themes. In addition to the natural curiosity that comes with living in Costa Rica’s tropical climate, the parents and teachers prioritize critical thinking skills and it is very important to teach the students about how they can directly create a positive impact on their community.

In March, our Creative Director, Rachel Nishikawa, had the fantastic opportunity to visit and meet with the Principal, Brittany. With three of her own children enrolled, Brittany radiates a profound dedication to the unschooling ethos. Her warmth and boundless compassion are evident in every interaction. She gave Rachel a tour of their vibrant learning hub where children thrive at their own rhythm.

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We enjoy connecting with our groups around the world because it is fascinating to see how alternative education can be applied in various cultures. In countries where withdrawing students from the government educational system is illegal, families who dare to do so run the risk of being arrested or reported to social services. In order to reduce the risk of this happening, families enroll in West River Academy and demonstrate with their Confirmation of Enrollment documents that they are complying with compulsory attendance laws by enrolling in a private school in the United States. They can also present official transcripts to prove the student has completed grade levels. Worldschoolers and other ex-pats who join learning communities may feel safer being enrolled with a school such as West River Academy.

 

Meet Lifelong Student of WRA, Anastasia Tegheni

Meet Lifelong Student of WRA, Anastasia Tegheni

Publicado en

Tuvimos la libertad de expresarnos a través del arte, la poesía, la ciencia, la música y, sobre todo, simplemente estando en la naturaleza.” – Anastasia Tegheni

Anastasia Tegheni has been enrolled with us since she was 7 years old, along with her older brother Damian, who graduated from West River Academy in 2021. Blessed with parents who understood the importance of childhood exploration, they fostered an environment where curiosity roamed freely and passions were pursued enthusiastically.

In their early years, Anastasia and Damian found solace and expression in sketching the beauty of the natural world around them, from the intricate patterns of insects to the serene majesty of the local flora and fauna. As Anastasia matured, her artistic talents found a new canvas in acrylic painting, where she discovered a penchant for capturing not just images, but emotions, within her work. National recognition soon followed, with Anastasia’s pieces earning accolades in esteemed art exhibitions.

Enjoy some of her work.

However, her artistic talent was just one part of her diverse interests. During her teenage years, Anastasia discovered a passion for competitive marksmanship, where she found herself excelling in focus and determination. With the support of a dedicated mentor, she flourished in national competitions, showcasing her abilities beyond the realm of art. During our conversation in this interview, she shared how that period in her life held significant importance, as it marked the beginning of her deep appreciation for patience, conscientiousness and discipline.

Then at age 14, Anastasia’s vocal skills took center stage when she WOWED her Music History teacher with a moving performance of Angela Gheorgiu’s “The Tree.” Anastasia faced a crossroads at this time, where her growing passion for opera clashed with the demands of her firing practice. The shooting range was on the opposite side of town from where she had her music practice. That’s when she made the decision to put her ALL into her dream career as an Opera Singer. In November 2023, she clinched First Place in the National Opera Competition, scoring both a prize and a scholarship offer. With her graduation from West River Academy set for May 2024, she’s eagerly anticipating the start of her next chapter!

Here are some pictures about her Opera career

Please watch the video interview below to hear Anastasia’s story straight from the source.

Entrevista sobre Wild Life – The Unschooling Podcast (Alexandra Kons)

Entrevista sobre Wild Life – The Unschooling Podcast (Alexandra Kons)

Publicado en

Escucha una entrevista fascinante con Alexandra Kons y Peggy en the Wild Life Unschooling Podcast. Si eres nuevo en el unschooling, necesitas escuchar esto; si llevas haciéndolo un tiempo, esto será la actualización que necesitas.

About Alexandra Kons:

In the bustling world of journalism, there are those who not only report the news but also carve paths of innovation and inspiration. Meet Alexandra Kons, a remarkable journalist from Spain whose journey is as diverse as it is captivating. Beyond her journalistic endeavors, Alex is also a devoted unschooling mother, weaving her passion for learning and empowerment into every facet of her life. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Oriental and Asian Studies from the Friedrich Wilhelms University of Bonn and a Master’s in Arabic Studies from the Free University of Berlin, her academic prowess is undeniable.

Alex’s professional trajectory is equally impressive, spanning roles as a crypto-journalist, editor-in-chief, marketing expert, and podcaster since 2017. However, her latest venture as the Head of Education at Freeth’m since 2023 truly showcases her visionary spirit. In this role, she spearheads the creation of self-sustainable, decentralized towns worldwide, embodying a bold vision for the future where education and community intertwine harmoniously. Alex’s story is about her achievements and the boundless possibilities when passion, expertise, and a commitment to change converge.

You can read the transcript HERE if you speak Español and don’t want to miss this incredible interview.

Peggy Webb de “Umbrella School” de West River Academy habla sobre cómo ayudar a los estudiantes de Worldschool a ingresar a la universidad

Peggy Webb de “Umbrella School” de West River Academy habla sobre cómo ayudar a los estudiantes de Worldschool a ingresar a la universidad

Publicado en

Peggy was interviewed by a worldschooler mom, Lizz Quain, and she wrote the following on her Youtube Channel:

Peggy Webb is the founder of West River Academy, an “umbrella school” which many homeschoolers, unschoolers and worldschoolers, in over 50 countries, have used since the late 1990s to convert their learning into courses with credits and grades. They offer annual enrollment, official transcripts, and high school graduation from an accredited private school. This conversation is part of my new interview series with worldschooling veterans, families and service providers (schools, worldschool hub leaders, travel insurance CEOs etc.). There will usually be Facebook Lives in my Facebook group   / trailblazingfamilies   on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays. Please join us there so you can participate in future FB lives. Replays will be posted on this Youtube channel. Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations with fascinating worldschoolers, make sure to subscribe to this channel, invite your friends and family to the FB group or this Youtube channel and let us know what kind of inspiring worldschooling and family travel content you are eager to watch! 🥾✈️🌍👪

Worldschoolers

Enjoy the interview:

You can see other interviews here, as well: https://westriveracademy.com/en/peggys-interviews/

Grupos WRA: Conozca a Los Castaños de El Salvador

Grupos WRA: Conozca a Los Castaños de El Salvador

Publicado en

We’d like to introduce you to one of our 102 groups world-wide in West River Academy. Los Castaños is a group in El Salvador that is committed to educating their students in an expansive way.  This year celebrates seven years of educating students and teaching the community about alternative education.

The phenomenon of unschooling can be found in various ways: families who travel and their education is based on the cultures they discover on their journeys; some families do unschooling because their children are high performers in sports; others because they disagree with traditional education and many other reasons.

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Los Castaños

If we delve even further into how to carry out unschooling, we have families that do it individually and others in a community manner. Today, we want to show you this latest modality of unschooling, which is in a group-organized way, similar to a school structure outside of the traditional system.

Los Castaños was founded by Claudia Turcios, a Salvadorian who has embraced Natural Learning and is committed to providing practical knowledge for the next generation. Her vision was put into action on November 26, 2016, when she organized a small group of families to learn topics such as agriculture, cooking, managing finances, and the list goes on. Seven years later, her dream has expanded and now provides a solution to hundreds of families. This current year, she has more than 80 students and 20 teachers who share the same vision.

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What is the experience in Los Castaños like?

This alternative and bilingual school consists of children ages 3-18. Claudia and her team are with them on their educational process each step of the way. This is the second year that 12th graders will be graduating and certified by West River Academy.

Their methodology is a mix of Montessori, supported by emotional intelligence with a firm foundation of ethics. This is not a school where you leave your children at the school door mindlessly. The participation of families is essential for the healthy functioning of this institution.

Among their students, they have the competence and training to receive neuro-divergent students with autism, giftedness, and Down syndrome, which makes educational life inclusive and without distinctions in terms of opportunities and activities. Everyone is equally invited to participate in the different educational events offered by the school.

In addition to life in the classrooms, Los Castaños offers field activities that are previously planned and can be seen in their annual calendars—visits to museums and local or national parks. Even everyday places such as grocery shopping for their meals provide a guided experience to cultivate practical life skills.

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“At Los Castaños, we educate for peace.”

Claudia shared with us what a typical day looks like for them. The idea is that the day is flexible and offers an array of subject areas they can learn at their fingertips.

Of its 20 teachers and facilitators, some are permanent for each grade and others rotate to provide different natural learning activities weekly: music, cooking, arts, Kenpo/Karate, studio arts and design, and entrepreneurship. They actively participate in the Recicla 503 program as ambassadors of environmental care. They offer swimming, coding, yoga, mindfulness, and other practical and optional activities.

One of the main priorities to them is to have a comprehensive emotional education program, which promotes “self-knowledge, management of emotions and feelings, management of tension and stress, assertive communication, empathy, interpersonal relationships, conflict management, decision making, critical thinking, and creativity.”

Graduandos Los Castaños West River Academy

Graduation 2023

As we had mentioned, 5 of their students are graduating this year. One of the fundamental requirements at West River Academy is to complete an Biografía Educativa, a written essay about their educational journey from as far back as they can remember until now.

Claudia tells us that this activity was therapeutic for these young adults since they were able to internalize and reflect on everything they had learned. She said that this will have a positive impact on their future as adults, in more ways than we can know.

We are very excited to celebrate all of our high school graduates on December 15, 2023!

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Inspiration for everyone

Now that you know these spaces exist and are a reality, we hope to inspire other families to join, organize, and form a community. Likewise, search within your local area because without knowing it, there may be a school very similar to Los Castaños near you, where your children can obtain alternative, emotional, and ethical education in their community.

All the images in this article are actual photos of Los Castaños. Here are some pictures of its facilities:

Thank you for daring to make a difference and supporting educational freedom!

Happy 7th Anniversary to Los Castaños!

Punto de vista sobre el plan de estudios en West River Academy

Punto de vista sobre el plan de estudios en West River Academy

Publicado en

  Undoubtedly, a curriculum organizes and greatly simplifies the student’s life. Having a guide of what to study according to age sounds logical since humans usually evolve similarly; we do so at different rates and depths. Find out how we view the curriculum at West River Academy.

The school, as we know it, came to solve a global problem: the massification of education. Only a few had access to theoretical knowledge just over a century ago. Time and time again, entire communities came to the same conclusion in different eras, which was inefficient in an increasingly connected and globalized world.

Humanity has continued to evolve, and this problem is in the past. More and more families know that they can ask themselves the individual question: “How do I study?” At first, it is just a concern, and sometimes just an unfulfilled desire: to be able to personalize your children’s education according to their interests and time. And this is where our point of view comes from.

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Curriculum

In an adult-centric world, it is expected to believe that the adult should guide their children’s education. At West River Academy, we believe that adults should only act as a companion, mere observers at the service of their children. Why? Because it is the individual who knows his vocation, his talents, and his purpose. No matter how old he is.

Routines tend to develop naturally when our toddlers are not in school without an external entity dictating 100% of it. These routines are structured by the parents’ available time, the needs that arise within the family, and even shaped by the culture of the geographical location of each family.

Without realizing it, these routines are study plans. Observing that our children love art and buying materials so they can doodle everywhere or a plastic musical instrument to emulate what they play is a study plan since it is taught to them. It gives our children the opportunity to explore their abilities through play.

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How does a child who doesn’t go to school study?

Then school age arrives, and we wait patiently for the institution to give us a list of materials and books, and we trust that the study plan or curriculum is appropriate for our children. It’s the way that worked for our parents and that worked for us.

As this process is foreign to our planning, we feel the impulse to create a curriculum outside of our children’s planning, acting as the institution that offers knowledge, which entails a period of uncertainty if what they are learning is sufficient. And then bombard our children with information. It’s much simpler than this.

The first year can be the most overwhelming, and doing so alone usually takes longer to unschool. When you sign up with us, you have one-hour personalized consultations. Also, we have monthly meetings with other families and monthly zooms with the WRA director, answering common questions, which makes the process much more bearable and faster.

In our article “Estudiantes que no encajan en el sistema educativo tradicional,” we share several links to websites with study plans as support. At the same time, you can unschool your adult brain and create a study plan with the flexibility your children need to know themselves and achieve their individual goals at every stage.

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Study plan and workload

This is why you will not find a pre-established study plan at West River Academy because we want to keep all beings from following another’s or the mass path. We only demand that you present to us at the end of the year report what the learning process was like, what you learned, and how it went from the family experience.

With us, you will find endless tools to assemble your study plan, whether planned or emerging as your son or daughter lives. Each family is different and knows what is best for each member. That is why we encourage natural education, whether respecting an entire period of 3 months in a single activity or diversifying several activities during the week. Observe with patience and trust. Remember it as a mantra: Patience and Trust.

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BONUS: Books in English by E. D. Hirsch.

If you are still not convinced by natural education and want to be covered by what your children should know in each grade according to the traditional educational system, the author E. D. Hirsch made a collection of books that are currently only in English. These are titled like: “ What Your Second Grader Needs to Know,” and there is a book for each grade, from preschool to high school. You must replace “second grader” with the degree you wish to investigate.

We hope this article has been helpful to you and you have been able to answer your doubts about which study plan or curriculum to choose when unschooling. We invite you to read other posts on our blog to delve deeper into the unschooling topic.

¿En qué se diferencia la desescolarización de la educación en el hogar?

¿En qué se diferencia la desescolarización de la educación en el hogar?

Publicado en

Muchas veces has leído en nuestro blog y a lo largo de nuestro sitio web la palabra “Unschooling”, y es posible que te hayas acercado a nosotros para hacer “Homeschooling”. Puede que hayas pensado que son sinónimos. No lo son, y cada uno tiene su particularidad.

La educación en el hogar suele ser el primer enfoque para cambiar el sistema educativo tradicional para adaptarlo a su estilo de vida. Esto no deja de lado las materias, calificaciones y evaluaciones. El contenido lo dicta el sistema educativo, con una mezcla de intereses. Todo esto se aprende al ritmo del alumno y desde casa.

A medida que avanzamos en la educación en el hogar, es normal perder un poco la estructura y el ritmo para volverse cada vez más relajados. Empezamos a preocuparnos si nuestros hijos están siendo educados correctamente. Este período de reajuste familiar puede resultar muy incómodo para todos los miembros de la familia, y el miedo al futuro y las dudas sobre haber tomado una buena decisión se instalan en la dinámica familiar: Comienzan los conflictos.

En este punto, algunas familias piden ayuda externa y contratan tutores que les ayuden a mantener el ritmo con el que llegaron, otras vuelven al sistema educativo tradicional y otras optan por la desescolarización. Todas las opciones son válidas ya que sólo las familias saben qué es lo mejor para la educación de sus hijos.

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Educación en el hogar y no escolarización

La desescolarización es una educación sin el currículo establecido por el sistema educativo tradicional, sin notas. En West River Academy (WRA), nos sentimos cómodos con ambos sistemas e incluso con doble inscripción si la familia decide continuar con el sistema educativo tradicional y certificar sus otras actividades con nosotros.

El pilar fundamental de la desescolarización es el aprendizaje natural. Esto habla de la promoción de las cualidades innatas del individuo, ampliando el espacio para la experimentación sin planes de estudio rigurosos ni cuidados excesivos. Dando lugar a la espontaneidad y la curiosidad inherentes al ser humano.

Durante muchos años nos han dicho que es imposible tener una vida funcional si no tenemos el mismo horario todos los días; compartimos con un número de personas y que alguien más debe traernos el conocimiento de forma estructurada. En realidad, este tipo de educación es una de las muchas que hay para ofrecer. 

Elegir el sistema educativo tradicional es una opción, pero se pueden acreditar otras alternativas. En WRA, nos enorgullecemos de dar la bienvenida a todos aquellos que encajan o no. en el sistema educativo establecido. ¡Hay tantas maneras de educarse como familias!

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¿Cuál es la diferencia y la similitud?

La diferencia fundamental entre homeschooling y unschooling es que en el homeschooling se traslada la escuela al hogar, con todos sus elementos. En cambio, la desescolarización se basa en el aprendizaje natural, y no hay temas ni valoraciones sino la vida. Por eso nuestro lema es: “Convertir experiencias de vida en crédito académico”.

En ambos sistemas se considera la educación, uno de forma escolarizada y el otro de forma no escolarizada. Es común confundir educación con escolarización. cuando uno contiene al otro, y no son sinónimos. La desescolarización no significa estar sin educación.

Esperamos haber aclarado todas las dudas respecto a estos dos conceptos con esta breve explicación. Ahora que ya sabes si estás educando en casa o desescolarizando o planee probarlo, usted sabe la diferencia.

Es necesario poner límites en la crianza y en todo lo demás.

Es necesario poner límites en la crianza y en todo lo demás.

Publicado en

Cuando pensamos en poner límites en la crianza, lo primero que nos viene a la mente es la connotación negativa que socialmente ha recaído sobre la palabra “límite” y sus derivados: limitación, limitado, etc. Este artículo limpiará todas las emociones externas de la palabra y la asociará desde hoy con Libertad.

Los límites nunca hablan de ser un obstáculo o de encerrar a un individuo en una idea. Habla de los límites y de ese espacio que le pertenece a cada individuo o grupo de personas y que no sólo nos ayuda a respetar a los demás pero también a respetar y hacer respetar nuestro espacio personal.

Una vez establecido este parámetro, podemos darnos cuenta de que Los límites son necesarios, no solo en la crianza sino también en el sano desarrollo de cualquier grupo. de personas de cualquier edad y cualquier campo.

Dos factores fundamentales para que los límites sean efectivos son establecerlos y hacerlos cumplir. Solo es útil poner límites con un acompañamiento sostenido. Establecer límites no es agradable cuando la situación llega a un punto hostil. Siempre es posible hacerlo.

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Normas y límites en la crianza

Cuando ponemos límites a nuestros hijos desde una edad temprana, estos límites suelen darse de forma más conciliatoria. Otra palabra asociada con límites y con carga emocional negativa es “autoridad”. También debemos limpiar esta palabra para hacer un uso más útil, y lo haremos en otro artículo. queremos aclarar que Los límites no tienen mucho que ver con la autoridad. Tienen que ver con la Libertad y el Respeto.

Poner límites sanos y prácticos, estos tienen que ser extraídos de las consecuencias naturales y no de los caprichos o miedos de nuestro niño interior herido. Tenemos una guía para encontrar la diferencia. Una vez detectado y curado, poner límites será lo más coherente y directo que te haya pasado.

Ejercicio práctico de comprensión de los límites

En la crianza respetuosa, el pilar fundamental es siempre ponerse en el lugar del otro. Se basa en la empatía. Es decir, colocarnos a la misma altura que nuestros hijos y hacer el ejercicio de sentir lo que ellos vivirían, de estar en el mismo lugar.

hoy traemos un ejercicio eso cambiará nuestra perspectiva sobre cómo los límites se ven, se sienten, y se necesitan y cómo nos aportan una sana convivencia.

mujer le habla a un hombre con mochila al aire libre

Juguemos con la imaginación. Primero, necesitamos que te metas en el personaje:

Decidiste pasar este año viajando de mochilero de un país a otro. No sabe qué esperar de esta primera reunión con su anfitrión. Nunca los has conocido en persona. 

 

¡Vamos a jugar!

Llegas al pueblo con todo tu equipaje, con el típico agotamiento de un viaje en tren de horas y una caminata para encontrar tu destino. Cuando finalmente encuentras la dirección y llamas a la puerta, su anfitrión abre con una gran sonrisa, pero se nota que está en problemas. Rápidamente explica que surgió una emergencia y que estaba esperando a que salieras. Te entrega las llaves de su casa, te dice que estás en casa y se va. No te da la oportunidad de acompañarlo.

Por favor, tómese un tiempo para reflexionar sobre cómo te sientes y cuál sería tu siguiente paso.

¿Qué podrías hacer mientras tu anfitrión está fuera? ¿Qué harías mientras esperas?

RESPIRAR — IMAGINAR — SENTIR

esperar

Respuestas posibles

  1. Entras a la casa, visualizas el rincón más despejado para dejar tus cosas, y molestas lo menos posible, merodeas un poco por la casa, pero te siempre terminas al lado de tus cosas y te entretienes con tus cosas para pasar el tiempo.
  2. Entras a la casa, dejas tus cosas en la entrada, y como tienes las llaves, decides salir y ver los alrededores y vuelve cuando creas que habrá alguien en casa.
  3. Entras a la casa, dejas tus cosas y vas directo a la cocina. Decide complacer a su anfitrión recibiéndolo a su regreso con una comida típica de su país, además tienes hambre del viaje.

¿Qué hay detrás de cada respuesta?

  1. Pusiste límites dentro de la ignorancia y la incertidumbre, lo que te hizo caer presa de la situación. Gran parte de tu libertad queda paralizada hasta que regresa el anfitrión. Contrariamente a la intuición, otra persona tiene el control, aunque te hayan dicho que estás en casa con las mejores sonrisas e intenciones. Este escenario beneficia a quien no pone límites.
  2. Decidiste no pertenecer al grupo., para continuar hasta que pueda interactuar adecuadamente con alguien individualmente. En el mejor de los casos, llega unos minutos antes que su anfitrión y comienza de nuevo. Por otro lado, en un escenario no tan agradable, tu anfitrión vuelve a buscar algo rápido para volver, te había dado la única llave, y tú no estás. El anfitrión parece ofendido y te echa la culpa.
  3. Estás en tu pico de libertad, feliz con la sorpresa que se llevará tu anfitrión, y cuando llega, te enteras que algunos de los ingredientes que usaste, los iba a usar para algo que prometió traer al día siguiente, y es demasiado tarde para reemplazarlo. Aunque sus intenciones eran buenas, agregó algo más al día de emergencias de su anfitrión. Se siente responsable de la incomodidad.
familia de tres integrantes, uno señala mostrando algo

Transferido a la paternidad

El mundo de la desescolarización puede ser abrumador al principio, y una de las razones es precisamente no saber poner límites, Confundir la libertad con la ausencia de límites. cuando en realidad es al revés.

Cambiemos los roles. Usted es el anfitrión y su hijo es el mochilero. Sólo que ahora, tú eres la madre/padre/tutor, y el niño o adolescente es él mismo. En la mayoría de los casos, los niños que abandonaron la escuela generalmente comienzan con la opción tres, y si algunos castigos o premios no obedecen a consecuencias naturales, recurren a las opciones 1 y 2.

La ausencia de límites podría causar una falta de creatividad debido al miedo al fracaso. Distanciarse de la familia para no molestarlos. Y tres, en comportamientos confusos, que se realizan con las mejores intenciones, solo que los resultados no son armoniosos con el grupo familiar. ¿Te suena familiar? Una vez que se sabe esto, todo es reparable. Los límites son fundamentales.

Cómo establecer límites en la crianza de los hijos

Siguiendo la misma línea que el mochilero, juguemos a imaginar de nuevo. Vuelves a ser esa persona que viaja y llega a casa de un extraño, y tu anfitrión te recibe con una gran sonrisa, aunque notas que está en apuros. Esta vez la situación tiene algo diferente:

Esta persona explica que tiene una emergencia, que todo está listo en tu habitación, que es la del edredón rojo y negro, y tu baño es el amarillo a la derecha cuando sales de tu habitación. el te da una copia de la llave y te dice que cada uno tiene la suya, que en la cocina ya hay comida hecha, y que se puede caminar por la casa excepto por la habitación del fondo, que es azul y, sobre todo, no puedes tocar los libros de derecho en el estante. Se despide y se va.

¿Qué podrías hacer mientras tu anfitrión está fuera? ¿Qué harías mientras esperas?

RESPIRAR —- IMAGINAR — SENTIR

esperar

Es probable que se siente en su habitación, descanse, se bañe, coma y siéntete completamente libre ya que conoces las reglas y hasta dónde puede llegar por el bien de la vida familiar. Todavía no podemos leer la mente, ni tampoco su hijo o hija.

En comparación con la situación 2, si tu hijo entiende las reglas, podrá moverse libremente y ser auténtico, sin miedo, siempre que esos límites sean consistentes y protejan el bienestar personal y grupal.

Otro aspecto importante a la hora de poner límites es que una vez establecidos, se explica la razón detrás de ellos, pero cuando se les recuerde, deben ser dirigidos sin necesidad de mayores detalles. Una larga discusión en una situación de riesgo puede llevar a la confusión y a la pérdida del sentido del límite.

Como demuestran responsabilidad al tomar acciones específicas, los límites se aflojarán a medida que se entienda su propósito. A veces los límites seguirán existiendo, pero ya no seremos responsables de hacerlos cumplir porque no será necesario. Nuestros hijos los entenderán y los utilizarán. 

Esto no implica que en el futuro volvamos a tener la responsabilidad de hacerlo cumplir, recuerda que el segundo factor importante del límite es implementarlos.

No tengas miedo de poner límites de nuevo

Cuando repetimos comportamientos que nos dijeron que son parte del rol de una madre o un padre y no cuestionarlos, probablemente creamos que es una debilidad volver a poner límites ya que es una falta de autoridad. ¿Cuántas veces escuchaste a otros o te escuchaste decir? ¿Cuántas veces tengo que repetírtelo? ”; la respuesta es: tantas veces como sea necesario, y también se hará de la misma manera que la primera vez, con calma, de manera conciliadora y firme. haga clic aquí para leer sobre un ejercicio que evita repetir comportamientos sin dudarlo. 

Un ejemplo de esto se puede ver en el campo de la cocina. Cuando empezamos a enseñar a nuestros hijos a cocinar, una regla sencilla y típica es que no usan utensilios de cocina afilados. Estos están reservados solo para adultos. Con el tiempo, esta regla se relaja, permitiéndoles usarlos bajo la supervisión de un adulto hasta que lleguen al punto en que puedan manejar los utensilios de cocina sin supervisión.

Sin embargo, en algún momento invitan a sus amigos y, emocionados por la visita, comienzan a tomar los utensilios de cocina como juguetes. En ese caso, es necesario retomar la responsabilidad de poner límites y explicarles que su comportamiento no fue responsable ni seguro para ellos ni ellos mismos. Por ello, “no podrá volver a utilizar los utensilios cuando haya visitas ya que ha demostrado que no puede manejar la situación con una variable adicional”.

Con el tiempo, pueden ser capaces de utilizar los utensilios con total autonomía, pero es crucial SIEMPRE establecer límites. Esta es la manera de acompañar y cuidar a nuestros hijos.

madre colocando limites verbales a su hija en la cocina

El establecimiento de límites se aplica a niños, adolescentes y adultos, sean nuestros hijos o no, siempre y cuando estemos en un grupo con un objetivo común. Esto se aplica a un mochilero y anfitrión, en el trabajo, con amigos o en un equipo deportivo donde se presenta. En definitiva, en cada grupo de tu vida.

Poner límites y respetar los límites que marcan los demás son fundamentales para la convivencia siempre y cuando resguarden tu seguridad y la de todos. Con esto en mente, puede prepara a tus hijos para saber cómo actuar ante reglas injustas que solo benefician a un grupo o persona en particular.

La clave es ser coherentes y vivir como queremos que sea el mundo.

Espero que este paseo por los límites te haya servido y saber hacer con amor y naturalidad.

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