Photographer Mom Documents Her Kids’ Childhood Without Electronic Devices
Niki Boon began taking photos as a hobby while she was working as a physiotherapist in Scotland. However, the New Zealand native found her interest in the art waning while she travelled, and it wasn’t until she had returned home and started raising a family that her passion was rekindled. “Childhood in the Raw,” an ongoing photo series of her four children’s technology-free life on her 10-acre property in New Zealand, is the perennial fruit of this passion. Boon makes a gift of the photos to each child on his or her birthday.
“There is a bit of work involved when living on land for sure,” Boon told Bored Panda when we asked her if she experienced any hardships living in the countryside. “..and we have animals to tend to. But the work is, mostly, what we enjoy…and it is great for the kids to gain the sense of what it is to have to work to enjoy what we have, to learn where our food comes from first hand, about new life and death, both very interesting and not always easy life lessons to learn.”
Update: This photographer draws inspiration from a famous children photographer Alain Laboile, you can check out a post about his work here.
More info: nikiboonphotos.com | Facebook | Instagram | 500px (h/t: mymodernmet, NatGeo)
“My children are unschooled and live without TV or modern electronic devices”
This is a “lifestyle that may seem unconventional to some”
“But I am here to celebrate the magical place I choose to live with my family”
“I document their days, together, in an environment full of nature and uninhibited play”
“I photograph as physical record of their childhood, life as it is…”
“the real…”
“but also as a reflection of a childhood rooted deep in my own past”
“…a most sincere place of freedom”
“A childhood I now pass on to my own children”
“Although deeply personal I believe that others will also connect to some aspect of their own childhood…”
“I believe my children are right where they belong covered in mud”
“running and living through nature”
“They belong here wild and free”
“where the landscape begins and their little souls end”
Thank you, Niki Boon, for taking the time to answer Bored Panda‘s questions!
All of these comments are hilariously revealing. All of the comments criticizing this woman's choice to educate her kids outside of the societal norms prove the mis-education perpetuated by the state school system. If you all took the time to look up the definition of the term 'unschooling' you would find that it refers to an unstructured, interest led form of education rather than the rigid, hands-off approach you all subject your children to. How do you think children were educated prior to the industrial age? Appreciate these photos for what they are, a beautiful depiction of a wondrous childhood, or piss-off with your key-board warrior negativity.
I quite agree. And of course, the main thing she is teaching them is not to be little group of mobile-phone addicted sheep. However these kids grow up, the one thing I guarantee is that they won't be boring! Good luck to them, I say. I wish I had grown up like that - complete with the mud!
Well said Peter.
You've said it nicely "how do you think children were educated prior to the industrial age". Well, I'm sorry, this is post-industrial age. The question is - are her children going to be well equipped to survive and succeed in today's world?
They will be far better off then most millenials will be. Stupid, spoiled brats that don't know how to do anything for themselves.
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I agree, but what do you think would happen if they get dropped off into the real world? They won't have the slightest idea what is going on
First off, the 'real world' you refer to sux. So why wouldn't you want to give your kids the best chance to develop a connection with their home and the planet they inhabit. Develop their personalities, ideals and values prior to exposing them to your 'real world'. Hopefully then we might all stand a chance of reversing the devastation we have allowed to be wreaked upon it.
I agree about that, I respect her choice for unschooling them, and it's great they won't grow up with their noses on tv or smartphones... But will it be enough after that ? I mean, they are not going to stay children forever ! When it will be time to find a job, how do you think employers will react to the unschooling thing ? Even with a diploma they want someone who is 22 yo, with a phd and 5 years of experience...
Those here who denigrate homeschooling speak from ignorance. Most homeschooled kids surpass their peers on college entrance exams, and easily win admittance (including scholarships for academic excellence) to the best schools in the country. All of the statistics bear this out. Not only this, but as a professor myself, I can honestly say that such kids generally make better students: with longer attention spans, a greater sense of responsibility when it comes to completing assignments, and they are far more active in classroom discussions than most of their peers. Not only that, they also bring a more interesting perspective into those discussions. These are only a few of the reasons why homeschooled children succeed in higher education and beyond.
RickFitz homeschoooling and unschooling are two different things. Some intertwine them. They are different
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NOTHING here says homeschooling- they are "unschooled". Maybe it is just a term and they are being taught- but- no technology? Really? When that is 99% of our everyday life? Sure get them off the net and outside- but this is ridiculous if the story is to be accepted at face value.
Google unschooling and educate yourself rather than commenting from ignorance if this subject line really means that much to you.
Unschooled is just a term for homeschooling
Unschooled is ok if they can/will be happy to make a living off the land and continue living there and I'm sure, as all mothers do, she knows what is best for her children - they certainly seem happy bar the odd scraped knee! But I do wonder, what if one of them wants to leave and get into a certain profession? They'll have no academic record, which whilst isn't everything to a person, is everything to an employer!
You don't need an academic record to get into college or any testing scores. However, the same sort of testing is available to any home schooling family if they so choose to use it later on. So either way her kids will be successful whoever and whatever they choose to do.
I went to school up until I was 16 then dropped out. I went to go get my GED and had to relearn everything in college. Started at basic math, I'm a horrible speller, and it takes my brain a long time to do school work. My entire childhood was being shy, depressed, hating school. I remember in middle school staying up until 1am to finish projects. Very sleep deprived. I struggled with fitting in and often thought about suicide. At the end of it all, once I got into college, I had retained little information from being in school as a child that I had to completely start over. If I had my own house with lots of land I'd probably consider home schooling my kids teaching them the basics. I sort of like this woman's idea ;)
I am 18 and have been unschooled my whole life until I started going to college a few months ago, and I would just like to say that while her type of unschooling is totally awesome, it isn't the only type. While I have done volunteer work on a farm, I have had a very technologically immersed unschooling education. I learned math and coding on Khan Academy, history and astronomy watching Crash Course videos on Youtube and read probably at least 2h a day with Ebooks on my iPad. Not that there is anything wrong with her method of unschooling, just giving an example of another way. Like Perter has said, unschooling is all about having a life-long love of learning, and if her kids decide they want to do something, then they will do it.
Technically, they can't be unhappy with how they're living, because they haven't lived any other way. I agree with you though.
So she /he will go on to find the 'right' employer or the 'right' kind of work - unlikely to become a Trump-style billionaire , but quite possibly rather fulfilled and 'happy' ... we do - in the end - all live our own individual lifes , and have to sort out what & how we get on with it . My guess is they will fare not too badly ; i certainly wish all of them well , and thank their mother / parents for giving them such unique chance(s) towards a 'good' life !
Funny thing, she uses a digital camera, a computer and the internet to show the world how she took technology out of her children lifes...beacause humans....
My parents didn't allow me to use the internet until I was 18 and I thank them for it. I actually went outside and did kid stuff. Who cares if it's hypocritical. She's the parent and they are children. Children are happy as long as they have the outdoors and they have the energy to have fun outside. Once they get hooked on technology there is no getting them outside of the house.
I dont agree. I think there is a middle way as well. My sister has this smart, i mean super smart, kid who loves books and computers but he also loves roll games so every Saturday this super brainy, not really strong socially child runs around the Forrest playing with a bunch of other kids. And when they are with my parents they spend a lot of time fishing, shooting bow and arrow etc etc. My sisters holiday house doesnt have much in terms of electronics so when they are there they play outside almost all the time. I think we should give kids more credit.
I see that I am not the only person to have these thoughts. What she is doing is great, but saying that technology isn't a part of her children's lives and then using it to put them in the spotlight is nothing but hypocritical and really not true at all.
What is hypocritical? She is an adult and her children are very young. Why should they already be exposed to t.v., smart phones and computers? My children grew up without all these things until they were in their teens and they are very well socialized, educated and have a much greater sense of self and what is truly important in life than many of their peers.
Thought the same thing
Yes you are right, but use of limited technology is not bad too .. Computer is idiot box but same time good also, all depends how we use it,
And I was just about to post the same comment :)
film cameras DO still exist. and just because a parent has access to technology doesn't automatically mean the children do.
But isn't that a little hypocritical - yes film does still exist, but for them to arrive on this site some tech must be involved. Whilst I do admit it's nice to just let children be... it's also important to realise that these children are growing up in the 21st century and restricting all tech access in it's own way is a form of neglect.
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Agreed- she is a leech having her 15 minutes at the expense of her children's stolen youth. Yay they get to play- sure- but so? They won't know the very real requirements of our digital age. Take a child from say the 1800's and dump them in our cities- poor things couldn't find themselves by the end of the day!
Wow. The stupidity exhibited by many of these comments is incredible. What are you all so mad at? A woman ha decided that an 'un-schooling' education (otherwise known as natural learning) is the best path for her young children and she took some beautiful photos of them to showcase this lifetstyle. In an attempt obviously to prevent them from slipping into a soulless hollow existence many of you obviously are drudging through.
This is where our childhoods should begin, deeply rooted in the Earth, in play, in exploration. They know much more about living in their environment than a child glued to his video game console eating processed chips.
For everyone getting upset at this story because of their misunderstanding of the term 'unschooling' and their perception that it is somehow reflective on their personal education choices: Unschooling (or natural learning as I prefer to call it) refers to a style of education that intentionally removes the structured elements normalized by state controlled education systems and attempts to allow the student to follow an interest led educational path. The role of the parent is to simply facilitate their child's explorations rather than direct their learning. Obviously in order for a child to research their chosen subject fully they require the ability to read, converse, deduce and calculate. Skills easily conveyed wit a subject matter they are invested in. It is a branch of home-schooling for those who like to nitpick the terminology. It is a style that views education as a life-long journey as opposed to an undertaking with the sole purpose of securing employment.
As a current 18-year-old un-schooler, reading these comments has been hilarious! Was tempted to write a reply similar to yours, but when I saw this I could not have put it any better. Well said.
What? An 18 year schooler? But, you're able to write in complete sentences and interact with others. Shouldn't you be somewhere being socially awkward and grunting? ????
Keeping education from one's children is the most irresponsible thing one can do as a parent.
Unschooling doesn't mean they're not getting an education. It means they're not getting a typical structured education that you are obviously referring to. I know many unschoolers that still get diplomas and go to college.
La is probably American and doesn't understand the terminology, here we call it "homeschooling."
It would be great if children will try both types of lifestyle...When they will be adult, they can compare and choose...The soul of children have to be free as much as possible...and the nature gives them very good suggestions...
Homeschooling and unschooling are two totally different things! They are both based in the "home" but the similarities end there. Homeschooling uses a curriculum and lesson plan. Unschooling uses a less structured approach. Now depending on the state the requirements are different. But I know personally where I live every child still has to test in the school district and have an certified person go over what has been learned each year and they have to turn in a report to the school district saying they have completed the required credits to move to the next grade. But dont just take it from me do the research yourself I have included a few links for more information. http://healthresearchfunding.org/20-incredible-unschooling-statistics/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201406/survey-grown-unschoolers-i-overview-findings
LOL. Learning from experience isn't considered a real education now? Better to read about someone doing something, than learn by doing? Unschooling means following the child's interest and curating material and opportunities to support their learning. It means being open to the reality that traditional school isn't the end all and be all. And recognizing learning takes place everywhere. It is not limited to household chores, and homeschooled/unschooled kids are desired by the many of the top tier colleges. Statistically, every standardized test supports this approach benefits the child more so than traditional schooling. Including tests measuring social skills: http://habituallyofftopic.com/hard-evidence-to-dispel-the-myths-of-homeschooling/
Like mine did. I think she's doing a wonderful thing. They will be fine.
Unschooling means learning through experiences, not getting a real education. You learn household chores and things like that. Get it right
She's just setting up her children to fail. If she's OK with that and that's fine.
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No academic record = community college at best, less likely to enter STEM fields & test below grade level compared to traditional & HS peers
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Despite their parents' stupidity.
She is educating her children, using books. No one needs the Internet to get an education.
You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Children who get these kinds of educations don't just learn as much and more as children in traditional school systems, they learn why things are important to understand and how they are integrated into our daily lives. You can teach math, science and history all through cooking, growing food and many other outdoor activities. I grew up in traditional school and I learned things only to be able to pass a test, not because I genuinely cared or was interested. I know that is the same for many others. It wasn't until I began living this lifestyle that these wonderful children are getting to experience from childhood that I see why what we learn is important and actually want to educate myself. Open your mind, these are the kids that will grow up to truly make a difference in the world. I guarantee they will have just as good of a chance, if not better at being successful as "normal" children. Plus, they will be much happier!
The sides here are so equally divided. I wholeheartedly envy this woman's approach to living and raising her kids -- off the grid! Best education u can get. The lessons - lost on 99% of the kids today- are of the truest form. If they want to pursue a career that requires formal education, then they will! Major props to this brave mama.
Yeah, keeping depriving kids of braindead standardized testing is horrific.
School prepares them for a life of slavery.
I don't know, letting your kids eat glass and drink bleach is pretty irresponsible. Buying them alcohol for their sixth birthday, or a katana, or a blowtorch, or letting your kids just sit in front of a computer or TV all day is pretty fucking irresponsible too. Spending as much time with your flesh and blood, making bonds--actually living life--seems pretty pale by comparison.
You might need more schooling because it seems you didn't understand what she is doing...
She is giving them a very rich education. She doesn't say how old her children are, but you have to remember that she is in New Zealand. Every country (even every state in the U.S.) has different requirements for schooling. Most children who do not begin formal schooling until later (some studies say as late as 11) do not show any academic deficits in standardized testing even after one year of school. Like others have mentioned they must learn to read to do many unschooling tasks (research, follow a recipe, etc). Most children can learn things at a much faster rate when they start later AND research shows that learning should be 100% play based and child lead through age 8 anyway.
KEEPING EDUCATION? You dont understand what means education.
*what education means. English, dude.
looks like childhood from the 60's
I think it's great. I would much rather have my children live this innocent life than grow up in some polluted city where morals do not count as long as you have a degree from some snobby university. P.S - amazing photography!!
Those kids have a magical childhood, which I think is priceless. Having the choice, I know what I'd prefer. As for education, they are still so young. I'm sure they are schooled at home and should at a later date they want to go to college, I'm sure they'll be just as well prepared as those kids who spend their days with a smart phone glued to their nose.
People, people - please! Educate yourselves on the meaning of the term "unschooling"! It does not mean the children are not learning!
Albino Squirrel - I chose to "unschool" my child for her preschool years. (I live in a city in which where a child goes to preschool can have a huge influence on the rest of his/her life.) The children I cared for and her chose what they wanted to learn about from 18-months-old for my DD and 2/3 for the other children. DD was a very inquisitive child and one day came to me and identified all the letters on a book cover (at 1.5 years old). I had never formerly instructed her on letter identification, and took that as she was interested in letters and started from there. By the time she was 3 they could follow a picture card grocery shopping list and recipes and they were already playing rhyming games (a kindergarten skill). We learned about the solar system, dinosaurs, bugs, animals etc. We went on outings and played all day. I chose Montessori elementary school for her (also child-lead) and at 8 she does school work on a 5th grade level.
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But it does mean that they learn house chores and things like that. No real education.
Unschooling is just one of the many educational philosophies out there for a parent to choose from to ensure their kids receive an education. Kids still learn the three R's and much more. It is a child led directed education so if the kid is really into science and math the parents allow them to immerse themselves into as much as possible. If a child is a huge history buff then they may tailor their learning activities toward that. Saying that a child isn't receiving a real education just because it isn't a traditional one is incorrect. Plenty of children are afforded that "privilege" and they do not thrive and end up hating learning.
Dirty children running free! Love it - wish I was one of them!
There is something about dirt on the outside that is good for ones insides.
Looking at these pics was like a flashback to my own wild childhood in the far north of NZ! Brilliant! Education? I hear people here whining about education....In hindsight my education for what little it was worth, was a huge waste of time! Sure I went to university and have a degree now, but it's basically a worthless piece of paper that commemorates a huge investment of time and money for what amounts to an indoctrination in conformity, with no practical value to me now. The job market is ruthless and greed is the global staple! Our insane system is killing this planet and you want to induct more into this global cult of savage inhumanity? No! It's time to nurture our children in nature and let them learn a new paradigm! There's 'education' and then there's intelligence....and intelligence strongly suggests that we reinvent the system before we presume to train our young in its ways!
Riki for the win!!!:)
To each their own, I guess. Happy cute children. But I prefer introducing mine (if I'll have any) to both nature and technology. A little bit of everything, just the way I happily grew up.
Your photos are like gold. Also, unschooled doesn't necessarily mean uneducated, right? I wish i can give my child the same privilege (yes, for me a childhood like that is a privilege.)
These kids will grow up to be smarter than any of us.
Quite a lot smarter actually Albino. Their connection to the earth they inhabit will give them an appreciation for it hopefully and enable them to instigate change to reverse our generations mistakes. The fact that you fail to comprehend this leads me to believe they probably are already smarter than you.
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That doesn't make sense. How does living where they live and how they live make them any smarter than us? Think before you type.
You should do that "think before you type". Albino
The photos are lovely. How sad to think that a summer running, jumping, pantomiming good Queens and Knights, and day-long fun with a water hose, has become non-normal. Cherished are the memories of sliding in the mud...of course naked, our mother's would have killed us if we got our clothes that filthy!
Poor albino squirrel.
I question the term unschooled verses uneducated. I feel these children are receiving an education. Granted conventional, but that isn't always a bad thing. I say, good on ya.
looks very similar to the pics I took of my 3 kids...we live in the country, they had TV(sometimes), went to school(to learn)..no phones though...built a mudroom for the mud, chicken house, pigeon house, barn ...it's a wonderful life but with everything there must be balance and to deprive them of higher learning...
Glorious pictures, remind me of my 60s childhood.
I sincerely hope there is more to this story, that the children are home-schooled, and can read and write or they will be really pissed off one day at the neglect, because at some point they will need to know how to live in the real world. The fact that these photos and story are on the internet, leads me to think there must be some technology in the house, or how did this get here? Phony story but nice photos.
That's a nicw childhood you're providing for your children but I hope you teach them so that they won't grow up to be ignorant adults.
How are they not being taught what do you find *ignorant about them?
I think all the ignorant adults have been passing judgement on this post.
There is a HUGE difference between being "uneducated" and being "ignorant". For example, one can choose to be uneducated about the unschooling movement. Or, one can be ignorant, meaning the choose not to learn, about the unschooling movement.
Looks like they're mostly dirty. What on earth is going to happen to them when they need to make a living. I get it. Away from TV and Tech and live off the grid... for a while... but then reality sets in.
But you clearly don't get it... Beautifully captured Nikki!
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Exactly. If one when they get dropped off into the real world, they won't know anything. It would be impossible to make a living.
*if or when
god that looks wonderful, I wish I would have had that vs. wasting my way in prison, I mean er school. And for those of you who think you need an education to make something of yourself might want to run down a list of truly successful dropouts. you don't need an education to start a business, but you sure need one to be slave, er I mean employee.
When she says *unschooled* I presume they are at least homeschooled. Because if they aren't, that would be highly irresponsible. Not to mention, illegal.
Also, if she is in either Scotland or New Zealand, she is a mum, not a mom.
Feel free to Google 'unschooling' and educate yourself regarding this lifestyle. You'll find it's not only legal but actually is the epitomy of taking responsibility, for your child's education.
I grew up the same way. Living a life without the distractions of electronics lets the mind wander and discover the world around you much more as a child. Though you have to have the right area to grow up in order to live like this. I personally would like my two to grow up the same way but, I have a husband who is so sucked into the computer I would rather pack my bags and move to Alaska. Don't get me wrong I love him but it's not my upbringing. So we argue over how much time the kids are having understanding the world. Most of my childhood I grew up in what someone would call the 60's, I went to school I am educated. My parents grew and hunted for what we needed to survive with. They taught me to be open minded,social and to ask questions about what I felt was questionable. To me that is one of my best traits is to communicate and learn from people.
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That would be an amazing childhood, and I love that idea. But these kids don't go to a real school. That's the difference
People on this app always look for a way to make things negative...
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We don't do that. We speak our minds and you shouldn't judge anybody for that. We have our opinions and you have yours.
You have a right to your opinion, but you should feel a responsibility to ensure it's an informed one before airing it and causing offense.
Unschooling means you are not indoctrinating your children with the idiocy of public schools. Kids are encouraged to learn on their own. They do learn to read and write and do math. Typically it is not done with a lot of textbooks at least in the beginning. They do many of the box types of learning. There is a lot of free time, outside time. As for testing, that in my opinion is a waste of time. It hasn't done anything for the schools here in the US. Our school systems are failing miserably. They are taking away recess, music, art etc. Kids have hours of homework and have no idea how to interact with their peers.
Should read "out of the box style of learning"
I get the whole lifestyle otherwise, but the unschooled makes an off note in my ear. They surely should go to school and that way get integrated into society at least in a small measure. Makes me wonder if they actually know that there are schools out there, where a lot of children from different families go to. I am not opposed to this, I just can't see myself ever doing anything like this. And aye, like someone else said, makes me wonder about their future prospects if they ever want to leave this place. Btw, the photos are absolutely stunning.
I'm ok with this, not everybody should have skills anyway, living off the land is just fine!
I mean, we need skills to live and that is all, not everyone should be a modern person or a global person, local person are beautiful with their culture.
Beautiful pictures. I so enjoyed your post. It's obvious your kids are thriving! Great job, mama!
I just came to see the parent wars in the comments section
This is only a good idea if you're sure that they're never going to have to interact with society, and just live off the land and be 100% self-sustaining. If not, then she's just making sure that adjusting is going to be difficult. Let's face it, society is broken, but there's nothing we can do about it unless everyone decides to change; and we all know that's never happening.
So she copied Salley Manns work but used a digital camera to do it. This is hilarious.
So she copied Salley Mann's style and used a digital camera to do it. This is hilarious
So she copied Sally Mann and used a digital camera to do it? This is hilarious.
Why aren't your kids schools? Shame on you.
Cool good for her.. I'm sure if anyone else did classic photography they'd do the same.... Where's that Natalie Portman photo of her clapping making a sarcastic face???
This is absolutely beautiful and a pure delight. Wow.
Look how SINCERELY HAPPY these kids are, as if all is right in the world. Aaaaahhh how I wish my kids were raised the same.
Pure grace. In gratitude for what your offer your children, these children of the true world.
Beautiful and inspiring.
This is a typical Kiwi weekend - the rest of the week our kids get an education. Very easy to have both worlds in NZ.
It´s a beautiful place to grow up - for sure! And I think those kids are not as unschooled as she says. At least they do have a digital camera at home and obviously an internet connection. I hope for them, that they do have neighbours and other visitors (family + friends) so the kids get to know, that there are other ways of living than theirs and will be able to decide on there own, which way is right for them. What happens, when the kids grow up and tell Mummy "I want to be a Manager, I want to live in the city, I want to travel the world..." I hope she is prepared for that and I hope she is preparing them to be able to choose.
Well clearly these beautiful kids will not grow up to be the vile keyboard warriors I've come to expect in any and all comment sections.
These pictures are just beautiful and portray great love, family, and discovery!
absolutely beautiful
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Glorious pictures. Reminds me of my 60s childhood.
Awe
Funny thing, she took out tech from their life, YET she uses a digital camera, a computer and the internet to let the world know how their kids don't use tech...beacuse humans.
Totally agree with you. Other thing worth pointing out : not everybody with children gets to leave in the country side with acres of land.
living with no technology....except for what looks like a massively expensive Leica camera and oh....here are the resulting images ON THE INTERNET, what a crock!
They delete all the comments in Facebook. This is another incident after telling readers using lsd could enhance the artistic ability. I am going to unfollow it.
I love it to a certain extent and try to imagine how are they going to function in our society when they turn 20. They may continue to live this Tarzan life for ever but still, they will need to learn how to hunt for food !
I enjoyed seeing the photos of the kids. It was heartwarming and gave me pause to reflect a little on the staunch differences with my own childhood. I do, however, take a little umbrage with the "technology-free" assessment. The camera with which Ms. Boon is documenting her children's alternative education is unto itself a great work of technology. The ability to capture these images for eternity is one of the most magnificent technological advances known to human-kind. I begrudge no one who lives their lives defining their own "norms". Just keep in mind that no matter how isolated, independent, and off-the-grid you may feel, none of us are islands. Someone, many people in fact, had to enter academia in some form or fashion in order for Ms. Boon to be able to have these moments with her children and share these wonderous images on the internet (yet another technology she appears to be tapping into). I think we should think twice about poo-pooing other people's choices, from all sides.
I'm 36 and this is my childhood as well... simply wonderful, thank you ...
This is true childhood. This is magic. I admire and respect your way of motherhood :)
Gorgeous photos. And what wonderful memories you have, and can share with them as they grow. Kids being kids in nature shouldn't be such a shocking concept. They need it!
Good one but it would be so much better if it was COLOURFUL
I agree so much and I hope that when her children were born that none of her friends told her otherwise
amazing
Beautiful!
What a talented lady.
Awesome documentation!
It's an illusion! She has a smartphone and internet.
It's amazing just how opinionated and knowledgeable everyone is these days - especially with a platform such as social media to air their opinions and knowledge on! Can't we just appreciate these photos for their value as glorious memories of her children's childhood and absolutely enviable photography? Please, feel free to do your own thing - let others do theirs.
Unschooled? That's wonderful until they need to compete in the world and cannot read, write or do math. What if one wants to be a doctor, an engineer, or a lawyer?
God forbid Murica kids ever went through this. They would have a shit fit without being able to have their face shoved into some electric screen.
WOW god forbid Murican kids would go through this. They would have a shit fit without their face in some kind of electronic device.
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. This is how it should be.
I will say that children are curious and learn much of what they need without setting and following a curriculum of any type. My son who does go to preK mainly goes for the social aspect. He has self taught himself all 50 states and capital, most world countries and capitals, all of the US presidents, etc. Just encouraging the to be curious and providing access to information can do a lot more at times than a structured curriculum.
Beautiful photography. Sounds like a pretty cool photographer also...
Of course, she's an excellent photographer. And I love the philosophy of unschooling. But I'm concerned at how many people implement unschooling as well. In this particular case, dictating some "technology-free" life is not unschooling. Unschooling is about allowing kids to pursue their interests. Keyword: *Their* interests. We happen to live in the age of technology. Any real "education" must include that technology if we're interested in preparing children for the future they're actually going to live in (and not some idealistic circumstances within our own mind). While there are many benefits to what this mom is doing, I'm always wary of circumstances that lack balance. Especially when that lack of balance is dictated (either through rules or through the omission of opportunity/access).
Beyond lovely. Magical. Genuine. I lost my breath time and time again, as the heartstrings of my soul were plucked by hands of light
good for a weekend/ summer vacation trip , free from school not agood idea
Lovely images and I applaud the sentiment, but I'm afraid this is a complete rip-off of French photographer Alain Leboile http://www.laboile.com, whose work 'La Familie' is virtually identical in terms of the subject matter and overall look and feel. Different children, but certainly not an original angle or even style - many of these shots are almost exactly the same, almost staged to recreate Leboile's shots. Just do a quick compare of the photographers' galleries to see what I mean...
You can literally do a search of black and white photography featuring children and come up with thousands of similar shots.
that is lovely, but do you teach them to read and do math and the basics they will need that too they need to be able to function in the world as well as celebrate,play and dance in nature. They will grow up with deep connection with nature and want to preserve it. they will need to how to read and write to do that
Just beautiful <3
As a child who came from a sequestered upbringing, all I can say is, I really hope you are right, that you actually possess the knowledge to teach your children what they need to succeed in life. I really hope your children do not enter the real world only to learn that they have been mentally fucked.
Mentally fucked. No wonder a mom decided to do this instead of having her children interact with you
What is success?
Please define unschooled. Home schooled is good — no education is clearly not good. They are also unsocialized by the looks of it, which means difficulties for them as adults — and much of schooling is actually socialization. They have no friends, by the looks of it — only each other — which is a very small and narrow world. How will they learn to have relationships with "others" if they never associate with others growing up? It is rather cult-like. The freedom is wonderful, but even people who were raised in freedom and nature such as Native tribes — had, well, a TRIBE of people to associate with. Many of us grew up without technology, played outdoors daily, and had friends and fun without constant adult presences. But this is extreme to the point of cutting the children off from the world and thereby simply creating problems for them when they grow up. Their choices will be limited, their relationships fraught with difficulties, and work options extremely limited.
I don't understand this nostalgic longing for the "natural life"?! 1. Who prevents parents all over the world to ration the use of communication? 2. What happens when the kids, or her, are seriously sick? The goat and the mud help? I think we should grow up. Every phenomen has a good and a bad side. And it's our choice to use what we want. Human longevity and health is routed in the science and tech progress. Which also bears less nicer aspects. But please remember, the cave man who was totally natural, barely made it to the age of 20. Lets not idolaise the past.
These innocent photos of your children can be manipulated by paedophiles You have put your children in danger by posting their photos
Aw have you told everyone who posted photos of their children in instagram?
Having a place like that to spend all the summer seems to be a great idea and possibility to learn different life, but by keeping your children there all the time, outside of the modern world and society, not teaching them to use technology etc. you are making them handicapped. Extreme solutions are always harmful.
I went college with an 40 year old lady who also grew up without technology. She stuggled like hell with everything computer based we did.
My sisters kids have pretty much the same upbringing. Seems to be more common than you'd think.
Great photos! They remind me of Sally Mann's photography. :)
Unless she is going to force them to stay and work on her farm for the rest of their lives, they need to be able to survive in this world- meaning education, and how to interact on those electronic devices. Connection to the internet is important in self-education and exploration. Being one with nature isn't a bad thing but as a child when you have no other options, it's limiting in this day and age.
Read this people http://nikiboon.com/meettheartist/ A quick name search reveals the truth...HOMESCHOOLED!!! And these children will most definitely grow up smarter than most of their peers.
Cool!
Love it!!
I <3 <3 <3 the last one of the running girl and also the hammock one. I would TOTALLY put that print up on my wall!!!!
This is great. I mean, to really focus on the important things in life. Give them an opportunity to perhaps not fall into the never ending rat race trap. School taught one way for all children, then tests and scores that determine our future. Then years of more school because all jobs that pay mediocre at best, require a masters. Then you are working for someone and trying to survive. Even after succeeding, try to maintain in a society that gets more and more expensive and always have to have more so that you can keep up with the "Jones". People are so VACANT. Just empty. No cares for society and how to make the world a better place. Just lunch room gossip and empty convo. Wake up, go to work for someone else, go home and drink because the day was stressful and it's still not enough money to have the life you want or the time you need to not only enjoy life but also contribute to society. This gives them a chance for another perspective.
Oh my gosh, that could have been me as the little blonde girl in many of those pictures. Although, we did go to school.
Love it!!!
I LOVED THESE!
Amazing photography! i won't say anything about your Lifestyle, it's not My Business... As Long als your Kids Are happy and you think they Will Be Too in the Future everything's okay , isn't it?:)
Hey whoever this Great Mom is , these photos are divine . I am 19 and I am ultra jealous of the childhood they are living . you can teach them Physics . Best of Luck
Where did it all go.So beautiful, my young days to. That is healthy children at their best.
Great the this stupid format allows you to type out a long post, press enter and then it deletes the whole thing to give you your log in options.....can't be arsed typing it all out again...can't remember anyway.....Great pics! F**k this stupid comments format and all you a**holes bleating like sheep about indoctrination...I mean education. Look at the way the world is today! Look at the insane system we have; destroying the planet and look what kind of people it requires to keep that going!! You want more of that??
Do you have any idea of the danger you are putting your children in ? Do you have any idea of who is downloading these photos ?
Nice but way are they allways in boxer shorts ? :)
it's very sally mann style
Living without electronics is great but no schooling? Quality education is invaluable. They can roll in the dirt during summer holiday.
Unschooled is a term used by homeschoolers that let children learn at their own pace and follow their interests. It does not mean no education.
NO one said nothing about them not being schooled.
Yeah I seen it now sorry. I read the first blip, scrolled down and missed the first part of the picture. I am not ok with not having any education in a child's life reading is something pretty important to me. I would at least homeschool my kids.
"My children are unschooled" right before the first picture
She did not say "no schooling" dear. You have access to the internet, educate yourself dear.
Love this. Bravo for doing what needs to be done for your kiddos. Keeping them out of the box is healthy. I homeschooled my only child and she decided college wasn't for her but is learning a skill at the local small community college. I was criticized for years and should not have let that bother me. I love the pics of them playing in their skivies!!!
Well there not so free now ughh
I agree with unschooling. I also think you must provide many things to stimulate there interest in learning. Playing in the mud and rolling around in the gross and logs is all good and well but to unschool you must give enough stimulation for them to find what they want to learn for a time. In 15 years you should take these pictures again and see how cute they are all uneducated and "raw".
Do you vaccinate them?
I think she's a wonderful photographer, but a terrible mother. Now, I don't know what unschooled actually refers to, maybe there are teachers home-schooling them, because I don't think parents alone can give all the education a child knows. That's why schools are a thing. If they are getting a good education at home, that's great. If they expect to live this life in the future, they at least should know some math, what photosynthesis is, or why electronics or optics are very important and useful discoveries in our society, since photography is part of their lives. I know these type of parents mean well, but more often then not these children grow up to become very socially awkward adults.
What is more terrible is saying she is a "terrible mother" when you do not even know what "unschooled" means and how she does it.
"All I know is that I know nothing."
How terrible is that?
Children without electronic devices engaged in any garbage
Any garbage? You mean like playing outdoors? Learning in natural way? Wow
Poor kids, stupid mother
Poor and stupid indeed, you
The pictures are wonderful, but I don't like the idea of posting pictures of you half naked kids on social media. And how are you using this
Now you're talking about naked in public. You sure are very hard to please
*continued. If you are living without technology?
It's one thing to not let them have any interaction with technology, which is the thing the world lives on. Not schooling them is ridiculous
well, she is not alone. Please meet Alain Laboile and his lovely family: http://www.laboile.com/works.html
is she using a filmed cam? the children will have a difficulty coping with the future..... I hope she could still balance things...
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Unschooled???? Zero technology- while mom obviously has this horrible, civilized burden to carry for them- this is ludicrous and child abuse! Should she also make them eat raw meat because after all, we were first evolved without the use of fire??? This is the most hideous, unscrupulous abuse! She is sacrificing their birthright for her pitiful, mediocre "art". They will grew up and see what she has stolen from them.
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check your white privilege
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I grew up in a country and age where education was scarce and we were deprived of a lot of things that later we found we needed so much in life. Structure, discipline, frustration and socialising with other people is so important when you grow up. Homechooling is bad enough, but depriving them of thigs that come so natural to you that you don't even think about them is going to make them some very sad adults. They will live in a world where all the things they never knew matter. Unless they become Amish. Then it is ok.
Your lack of education is evident.
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I see it once again this page has to absolutely remove. The girl and boy are 3/4 naked?! Sorry it's pedophile-ish.
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Boredpanda delete all the comments on this post. I think it's not jutisfied to put your children for commercial use like this without them really understand what is going on. Besides its another incident after they put an article that lsd would increase artistic ability. I hope someone from family agency would take a look of what really happens. Unfollow this page.
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Congratulations your children are feral and will find it hard to integrate into society when you are dead....selfish, selfish woman! Sounds like neglect and child abuse
Congratulations your an idiot.
You can talk to people in society. Or else when you have technology in a kids hand they will me on it like day without talking to humans.
*be
Neglect and child abuse.. Big word
All of these comments are hilariously revealing. All of the comments criticizing this woman's choice to educate her kids outside of the societal norms prove the mis-education perpetuated by the state school system. If you all took the time to look up the definition of the term 'unschooling' you would find that it refers to an unstructured, interest led form of education rather than the rigid, hands-off approach you all subject your children to. How do you think children were educated prior to the industrial age? Appreciate these photos for what they are, a beautiful depiction of a wondrous childhood, or piss-off with your key-board warrior negativity.
I quite agree. And of course, the main thing she is teaching them is not to be little group of mobile-phone addicted sheep. However these kids grow up, the one thing I guarantee is that they won't be boring! Good luck to them, I say. I wish I had grown up like that - complete with the mud!
Well said Peter.
You've said it nicely "how do you think children were educated prior to the industrial age". Well, I'm sorry, this is post-industrial age. The question is - are her children going to be well equipped to survive and succeed in today's world?
They will be far better off then most millenials will be. Stupid, spoiled brats that don't know how to do anything for themselves.
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I agree, but what do you think would happen if they get dropped off into the real world? They won't have the slightest idea what is going on
First off, the 'real world' you refer to sux. So why wouldn't you want to give your kids the best chance to develop a connection with their home and the planet they inhabit. Develop their personalities, ideals and values prior to exposing them to your 'real world'. Hopefully then we might all stand a chance of reversing the devastation we have allowed to be wreaked upon it.
I agree about that, I respect her choice for unschooling them, and it's great they won't grow up with their noses on tv or smartphones... But will it be enough after that ? I mean, they are not going to stay children forever ! When it will be time to find a job, how do you think employers will react to the unschooling thing ? Even with a diploma they want someone who is 22 yo, with a phd and 5 years of experience...
Those here who denigrate homeschooling speak from ignorance. Most homeschooled kids surpass their peers on college entrance exams, and easily win admittance (including scholarships for academic excellence) to the best schools in the country. All of the statistics bear this out. Not only this, but as a professor myself, I can honestly say that such kids generally make better students: with longer attention spans, a greater sense of responsibility when it comes to completing assignments, and they are far more active in classroom discussions than most of their peers. Not only that, they also bring a more interesting perspective into those discussions. These are only a few of the reasons why homeschooled children succeed in higher education and beyond.
RickFitz homeschoooling and unschooling are two different things. Some intertwine them. They are different
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NOTHING here says homeschooling- they are "unschooled". Maybe it is just a term and they are being taught- but- no technology? Really? When that is 99% of our everyday life? Sure get them off the net and outside- but this is ridiculous if the story is to be accepted at face value.
Google unschooling and educate yourself rather than commenting from ignorance if this subject line really means that much to you.
Unschooled is just a term for homeschooling
Unschooled is ok if they can/will be happy to make a living off the land and continue living there and I'm sure, as all mothers do, she knows what is best for her children - they certainly seem happy bar the odd scraped knee! But I do wonder, what if one of them wants to leave and get into a certain profession? They'll have no academic record, which whilst isn't everything to a person, is everything to an employer!
You don't need an academic record to get into college or any testing scores. However, the same sort of testing is available to any home schooling family if they so choose to use it later on. So either way her kids will be successful whoever and whatever they choose to do.
I went to school up until I was 16 then dropped out. I went to go get my GED and had to relearn everything in college. Started at basic math, I'm a horrible speller, and it takes my brain a long time to do school work. My entire childhood was being shy, depressed, hating school. I remember in middle school staying up until 1am to finish projects. Very sleep deprived. I struggled with fitting in and often thought about suicide. At the end of it all, once I got into college, I had retained little information from being in school as a child that I had to completely start over. If I had my own house with lots of land I'd probably consider home schooling my kids teaching them the basics. I sort of like this woman's idea ;)
I am 18 and have been unschooled my whole life until I started going to college a few months ago, and I would just like to say that while her type of unschooling is totally awesome, it isn't the only type. While I have done volunteer work on a farm, I have had a very technologically immersed unschooling education. I learned math and coding on Khan Academy, history and astronomy watching Crash Course videos on Youtube and read probably at least 2h a day with Ebooks on my iPad. Not that there is anything wrong with her method of unschooling, just giving an example of another way. Like Perter has said, unschooling is all about having a life-long love of learning, and if her kids decide they want to do something, then they will do it.
Technically, they can't be unhappy with how they're living, because they haven't lived any other way. I agree with you though.
So she /he will go on to find the 'right' employer or the 'right' kind of work - unlikely to become a Trump-style billionaire , but quite possibly rather fulfilled and 'happy' ... we do - in the end - all live our own individual lifes , and have to sort out what & how we get on with it . My guess is they will fare not too badly ; i certainly wish all of them well , and thank their mother / parents for giving them such unique chance(s) towards a 'good' life !
Funny thing, she uses a digital camera, a computer and the internet to show the world how she took technology out of her children lifes...beacause humans....
My parents didn't allow me to use the internet until I was 18 and I thank them for it. I actually went outside and did kid stuff. Who cares if it's hypocritical. She's the parent and they are children. Children are happy as long as they have the outdoors and they have the energy to have fun outside. Once they get hooked on technology there is no getting them outside of the house.
I dont agree. I think there is a middle way as well. My sister has this smart, i mean super smart, kid who loves books and computers but he also loves roll games so every Saturday this super brainy, not really strong socially child runs around the Forrest playing with a bunch of other kids. And when they are with my parents they spend a lot of time fishing, shooting bow and arrow etc etc. My sisters holiday house doesnt have much in terms of electronics so when they are there they play outside almost all the time. I think we should give kids more credit.