We're sharing some of the most-loved episodes from our archives. Here's #14!     We do two episodes a week—this is our free one. Join us on Patreon to unlock a NEW episode every week for just $5/month!   #14: When Hobbies Are Your Homeschool This episode originally aired on March 29, 2021.   When there’s joy, there’s learning! We're talking all about hobbies in our homeschool: the why, the how, and all the ways these seemingly trivial activities and interests can actually unlock deep learning, self-confidence, and lifelong joy for our kids.   Takeaways -Hobbies are something we do because we want to, and doing something because you want to helps us focus and learn more. -Hobbies create a sense of success more than we might experience doing things we don't want to do. Hobbies help us to spiral UP!  -Hobbies support mental health and emotional regulation. -Hobbies give our kids a noncoercive experience of learning. They help us learn to love learning and enjoy the process of hard work. -Hobbies get us into a flow state. They build our confidence to try new things and explore more. -Hobbies reduce stress. Making time for hobbies now helps our kids establish the lifelong habit of cultivating hobbies.  -A flexible schedule and routine gives us time to explore hobbies. -When kids have time for hobbies, they’ll come back to the table refreshed. -Encourage and support hobbies--even ones we don’t understand and ones that happen on (gasp!) screens. -Homeschool can be built around hobbies or playing, with academics in between—because hobbies are learning! -Create excitement about the day by putting hobbies first, followed by hard work. -Kids are figuring out who they are and how to have a full life when they explore their interests.  -What not to do: -turn their hobby into an academic thing -invalidate their screen-based hobbies -go overboard or get over involved    It's all happening on Patreon! You can always get new content on Patreon! Join our $5 Squad on Patreon to get an extra episode every week. Every month, you'll get 2 Listener Q&P (Question & Process) Episodes, an LTW Extra episode, and a monthly check-in where we get real about what's going well, what's hard right now, and what we're doing for self-care. You'll also get plugged into our community of like-minded parents for support, encouragement, and fun!   More About Homeschool Unrefined We are an inclusive and nonsectarian podcast. We believe Black Lives Matter, and we are LGBTQ+ affirming (for more, read our piece on Romper). We are listener supported and are donating 10% of all Patreon income and product sales to The Conscious Kid, a Black and Brown-led organization that has been instrumental in our own evolution and in leading the way in both ideological and tangible change with their work in “parenting and education through a critical race lens." Read our full ABAR Statement here and on Instagram.   Connect with us!  Visit our website | Sign up for our newsletter. | Support us on Patreon. | bookshop.org Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube Angela on Instagram: @unrefinedangela | Maren on Instagram: @unrefinedmaren Email us any questions or feedback at homeschoolunrefined@gmail.com