When people first learn about self-directed learning environments, I hear questions like:
- Does that mean there are no rules?
- Do kids get to do whatever they want?
If you’re comparing WonderWild to traditional school, the answer is probably most like, “Yes!” Our learning center certainly has fewer rules! The kids aren’t sitting down, they aren’t still, and they aren’t quiet. They have a lot of freedom to choose “whatever they want.”
As a self-directed learning center, we value autonomy. The children here choose how to spend their time and which activities to engage with. We place a lot of trust in them, seeing them as capable and trustworthy.
A parent may wonder how an environment based on freedom prepares kids for the “real world.” As grownups, we know very clearly that the real world doesn’t let us do whatever we want!
But even when we center the values of freedom and autonomy, you might be surprised just how many rules there are! There are various factors limiting the children’s choices:
- We’re a community, so everyone makes compromises in order to work together peacefully with others.
- We keep safety in mind.
- We like things wild and messy, yes, but not so messy we attract critters or ruin our space.
In our “no rules” environment, there are actually a lot of rules! Here are just a few that have come up in our short time together:
- Don’t take scissors or other sharp, long, or hard items into the Play Room.
- Don’t take food into the Play Room.
- Don’t purposely throw the ball pit balls out of the Play Room.
- Don’t color on the walls. (They are made of wood and hard to clean.)
- Ask first instead of grabbing an item from someone else.
- Stop the game if someone says “stop”.
- Never use scissors or other risky tools as part of a pretend game.
- Move loud, active games to the Play Room or outside if someone is working in the Focus Room.
- Don’t take food into the Quiet Room.
- No rambunctious games in the Quiet Room.
- Stay out of the Quiet Room if someone has requested space for time alone.
- Set a timer for time on the computer and stop playing when the timer goes off.
- Stay within the designated outdoor area.
No matter how wild and free we seem, we are actually all constrained by many rules.
The truth is that both aspects – freedom and restriction – are valuable. As children explore their freedom and brush up against constraints, they are building powerful life skills:
- How to make good decisions.
- How to keep themselves and others safe.
- How to balance different values against one another.
- How to work within limits to accomplish their goals.
- How to communicate and collaborate with others.
These are skills that will serve them in many different situations throughout their lives. WonderWild is a great place to practice them!
