Deschooling is the transitional period a child (and often the parent) goes through after leaving traditional school before fully starting homeschooling. It allows time to mentally and emotionally adjust, break away from rigid school structures, and rediscover a natural love of learning.
During deschooling, families often:
- Focus on rest, connection, and curiosity instead of formal academics
- Observe the child’s interests, learning style, and natural rhythms
- Let go of school-based ideas like “teaching = worksheets” or “learning only happens at a desk”
Deschooling is especially helpful if the student has experienced burnout, anxiety, or a hostile school environment. The general rule of thumb is to allow one month of deschooling for every year the child was in traditional school, although this can vary.
