Group Guides

Group Guides

We’ve put together the documents below from hundreds of conversations between group members. These links will take you to various google docs.

Podcasts and video resources If reading is hard, check out our evolving list of podcasts and video resources.

Table of Contents guides with overviews of unschooling, deschooling, connection parenting, neurodiversity rights and culture, anti-ableism, screentime, AAC, unschooling success stories, and group policies.

For other recommended unschooling, connection parenting, neurodiversity, and disability resources outside of this group, check out this list:

Other Recommended Resources

Table of Contents

The table of contents below can also be navigated entirely on google docs, or via the index.

  1. Group Guides
    1. Guide 1: Group Basics
      1. Overviews of important topics.
        1. Group Guidelines – short and long versions (5 min)
        2. Unschooling Defined – Guide (6 min)
        3. Deschooling – Guide (6 min) 
        4. Connection Parenting – Guide (12 min) 
        5. Autism, Neurodiversity, and Disability Rights and Culture – Guide (6 min)
        6. Sensory Integration – Guide (5 min)
        7. Children Learn Through Play – Guide(2 min) 
        8. Therapist Checklist – Guide (12 min) 
        9. Functioning Labels – Guide (8 min)
        10. Technology Concerns – Guide (4 min) 
        11. podcasts & videos  (for reference) 
    2. Guide 2: Unschooling and Deschooling
      1. Unschooling (also see Guide 7 – Unschooling Works) 
        1. Unschooling Defined – Guide 
        2. Eclectic Homeschool vs Unschooling – Guide
        3. Unschooling Structure vs Demands – Guide
        4. Children Learn Through Play – Guide
        5. Children learn through play – Research
      2. Unschooling Resources
        1. Groups, Pages, Blogs, Podcasts
        2. Unschooling Books & Articles
        3. Unschooling Conferences and Camps
        4. Local Unschool groups around the world
        5. Complying with Homeschool Regulations while Unschooling
      3. Deschooling
        1. Deschooling – Guide 
        2. Deschooling FAQs
        3. Deschooling Stories by Subject
        4. Neurodivergent school memories
        5. School Refusal is Really Trauma (The Long Road)
        6. We Don’t Know How Kids Learn (David Bowles)
    3. Guide 3: Connection Parenting, Reflective Parenting
      1. Staying Connected  
        1. Connection Parenting – Guide 
        2. Reflective Parenting – Guide
        3. Time-In, Floor Play, Special Time, Hangouts
        4. Connection Parenting Stories
        5. Plan B / CPS – Caveat – by R.D.
      2. Unlearning authoritarianism 
        1. Adultism – Defined – Guide
        2. Unschooling Chores
        3. Peaceful Parenting – The case against spanking & time outs:
        4. Undue Influence- Connection is protection from predation. 
      3. Understanding Needs and Behavior
        1. Sensory Integration – Guide
        2. Sensory Integration – Sensory Day
        3. Interoception – The Eighth Sense – A Brief Overview
        4. Emotional Intelligence – Guide
        5. Executive Function
      4. Supporting Yourself
        1. Trauma Recovery
        2. How To Raise A Healthy Child When You’re All F*cked Up (Parenting for Wholeness)
      5. Supporting Your Child (also see Guide 4) 
        1. Gender affirmation
        2. Therapist Checklist – Guide 
        3. Therapy – Avoid ABA and knockoffs
        4. Occupational Therapy – what is it
        5. Technology Concerns – Guide (see Guide 5) 
      6. Tips
        1. Backwards / Reverse Chaining
        2. Oral Hygiene
        3. Puberty, Hygiene & Sleep
        4. Sensory – Bloodwork
        5. Shoes
    4. Guide 4: Neurodiversity/Disability Acceptance
      1. Anti-Ableism
        1. Ableism Defined – Guide
        2. Functioning Labels – Guide 
        3. Functioning Labels – Why are they ableist?
        4. ABA is bad – Guide
        5. Tone Policing and Masking – Guide
        6. Double Empathy Problem – Guide
        7. Preferred Terminology
        8. Anti-Ableism Resources
        9. Autism Speaks and Other Ableist Organizations
        10. Health At Every Size (HAES) – Guide
      2. Understanding
        1. Autisic Adults – Learn from them by listening
        2. Aggression, Frustration, Burnout, Meltdown – Guide
        3. Aggression – What to do – Guide
        4. Screens – Why do Autistic people need them
      3. Neurodiversity Resources
        1. Autism–Neurodiversity Paradigm Deep Dive
        2. ADHD – Neurodivergence
        3. PDA – Persistent Demand Avoidance
        4. Giftedness & 2E as Neurodivergences
        5. Bipolar diagnoses in younger children
        6. NVLD (NLD) Non-verbal learning disability
        7. Adaptive / Assistive Technology
      4. Diagnosis
        1. Self-Identification – Self-diagnosis
        2. How to get a Diagnosis / Find a Therapist
      5. Disability Resources
        1. Dyslexia Resources
        2. Dysgraphia Resources
        3. Hypermobility – EDS
        4. Blind and Sight-Impaired Learners – Resources
        5. Illness and Disability – Learn by listening
        6. PANDAS PANS LYME TIC-BORNE
      6. Psychology
        1. Therapist Checklist – Guide
        2. Executive Function
        3. Emotional Intelligence – Guide
        4. Reflective Parenting – What is Mentalization Theory
    5. Guide 5: Tech and Screens
      1. Technology Concerns – Guide 
      2. Tech is GREAT
      3. Screen Time & Self-Regulation
      4. Screens – Why do Autistic people need them
      5. Minecraft
      6. Adaptive / Assistive Technology
      7. Unschooling Math- suggested apps
      8. Unschooling Reading/Writing/Spelling – suggested apps
      9.  Screen/Tech Limits are off-topic except in this file: Screen Time Concerns – No dissents please
    6. Guide 6: AAC
      1. AAC – Guide
      2. Intro to AAC by Giraffe Party on Facebook
    7. Guide 7: Unschooling Works!
      1. Reflective Communication – What to say to doubting family?
      2. Unschooling and College
      3. Unschooling Math
      4. Unschooling Reading/Writing/Spelling
      5. Unschooling Teens / Adults
      6. Unschooling History – Thread 
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