I’m a gentle parent and my 3 children are home schooled – they make their own rules, decide on their own homework and even interview their prospective teachers

Hannah Megan, 34, from London, has adopted a ‘gentle parenting’ approach
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A mother who doesn’t send her children to school has explained they instead take part in ‘democratic learning’ groups where they make their own rules, decide on homework and interview their teachers.

Hannah Megan, 34, from South London, has adopted a ‘gentle parenting’ approach and believes her children’s unorthodox education will improve their decision making skills.

The mother-of-three – who works as a marketing executive – supplements the learning group with tutoring classes and online lessons while the family are travelling.

She said this allows her children to learn maths by ‘converting currency,’ practice new languages and ‘study the geography, religions and culture of wherever we are’.

In these ‘democratic learning groups’, youngsters can choose what they are taught, homework is optional and new teachers are even interviewed by the students.

Hannah Megan, 34, from South London , has adopted a ‘gentle parenting’ approach and believes her children’s unorthodox education will improve their decision making skills

The mother-of-three – who works as a marketing executive – supplements the learning group with tutoring classes and online lessons while the family are travelling

She said this allows her children to learn maths by ‘converting currency,’ practice new languages and ‘study the geography, religions and culture of wherever we are’

It is not known which learning group Hannah’s children go to, but at one ‘democratic learning group’, called The Learning Circle, children are encouraged to ‘listen to their own wisest and most compassionate voices’ and ‘collaborate together respectfully’.

The groups hold meetings where children, along with the teachers, discuss and decide together what will be taught. This meeting is chaired by a child.

Students decide together which topics they will study, which the group claims teaches children to ‘negotiate’ and listen to others’ points of view.

Homework is also not compulsory, and families decide with teachers what their child’s homework approach will be.

Perhaps most shocking, children actually interview incoming teachers – where the youngsters will share their thoughts and feelings on the possible new educator.

As a parent, Hannah, who shares her homeschooling journey on TikTok, says her ‘number one’ priority is to build her daughters’ confidence and believes their unusual educations helps them communicate better with peers.

READ MORE: Are millennials ‘overcomplicating parenting’? Woman quizzes her mother on parenting methods of children in ’80s – as people say it used to be better

She explained: ‘[My daughters] are well behaved but because I treat them as grown-ups, rather than because of fear.

After welcoming her first daughter 13 years ago, Hannah wasn’t confident that traditional education would work for the family.

As a result, she worked up a homeschooling plan – which her two other daughters, aged 10 and eight, are also following.

The mother explained: ‘I always tell them that they are free to start school if that’s what they want.

‘But the last time I asked them their response was “hell no!”‘

Although Hannah said the family don’t have a ‘strict schedule’, her daughters attend the ‘democratic learning classes’ with other children twice a week – where they are taught maths, English, science and art by ‘qualified teachers’.

You win some, you lose some- I wish this hadn’t been such an expensive day out but there we go, we had to try! Apparently steam railways in the rain are not my kids’ vibe. Sometimes everyone is just tired and they’ve had a big busy week – better luck on our next home education day out! #homeschoolinguk #homeeducationuk #homeeducator #homeeducating #steamtrain #welshhighlandrailway

worked up a homeschooling plan – which her three daughters, aged 12, 10 and eight, are also following

‘On another day they have a less structured group and on another day they go to a drama group,’ she said. ‘They also have other online classes throughout the week.

‘When they’re at home the learning is very hands-on and practical. We might go on a trip out with them or get them to do their own research. It can be intense, especially juggling it alongside work.’

She says lots of people have ‘followed her online’ and have messaged to say they too are now going to start gentle parenting.

Hannah said she believes this is due, in part, to the normal school system not working for neurodivergent children, and claimed many children were much happier during the pandemic when they could learn from home.

The mother admitted many people are horrified when they learn of how her children are schooled, but that her family are supportive.

Hannah said the kids’ father – whom she is no longer with – is supportive of her approach to parenting. And her mother – their grandmother – is also in favour.

‘We are so used to having children controlled, I think it’s mental,’ Hannah said. ‘Forty percent of jobs that our kids will do haven’t even been invented.

Hannah said she believes the normal school system does not work for neurodivergent children, and claimed many children were much happier during the pandemic when they could learn from home

‘And yet we are still teaching a hugely outdated curriculum and a stale environment with desks and chairs.’

At home, Hannah’s children are taught things she sees as relevant, including practising budgeting and life skills with food shopping as well as cooking.

‘When we are abroad we do currency conversion and read up on the religion and culture of the place we are in,’ she added.

Hannah thinks the whole education system needs a rethink.

She said: ‘It’s a factory line system and a product of the Industrial Revolution. Plus teachers are under a whole lot of pressure, and many are struggling with mental health issues from the stress.

In my experience, how I’m teaching my kids is becoming a lot more popular, and I think that’s a really great thing.’

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