Natural Life's Digital Edition Natural Life Magazine Natural Life's Green & Healthy Homes book

Subscribe

Renew

Subscriber Services

Back Issues

Advertise

Contribute

Editor's Blog

Register for Life Media Email Updates
Stay informed with
a free e-letter from
Natural Life's publisher
Life Media



Marketplace
Glad Rags
Food and Fellowship book - how-to for batch cooking and food buying club
Natural Child Magazine
Free Range Learning by Laura Grace Weldon
Happy Healthy Child DVD
A Home Business Start-Up Guide by Wendy Priesnitz
chiropractic for children
Life Learning book
What Really Matters
Challenging Assumptions in Education
Life Learning Magazine provides help for unschooling, homeschooling, home-based education, natural learning with editor Wendy Priesnitz
School Free: The Homeschooling Handbook
Thirty-five years of leading-edge, inspiring articles about green family living.
Green Living Article Index
Green
Living
Sustainable Homes Article Index
Sustainable
Homes
Frugal Living Article Index
Frugal
Living
Natural Parenting Article Index
Natural
Parenting
Crafts and Art Article Index
Hand
Made
Organic Gardening Article Index
Organic
Gardening

Healthy Living Article Index
Healthy
Living

from Natural Life magazine, September/October 2008
Leaf Jumpers
A Journey from Home to School and Back Again
by Nikki Schaefer

“Mom, there’s just seven more days until the first day of fall!” My six year old son announced, giving me the usual morning fall countdown. “How are we going to celebrate? Can we jump in the leaves?”

“You bet!” I responded. “How about jumping in the leaves and making caramel apples?”

“Hurray!!!” He cheered, with his younger sisters jumping in on the excitement…

That was autumn – two years ago.

This was autumn last year….

“Look, Ben,” I said. We just raked the first pile of leaves. Would you like to jump with us?”

“No. I don’t want to jump in the leaves.” My son responded flatly, barely looking up at us or the giant leaf pile. His sisters and I played while he just looked at his feet. My heart broke to see a boy of such enthusiasm and spirit become a boy filled with disinterest.

What happened? Is the age jump from six to seven so drastic that a boy who once got so excited about jumping in the leaves with his sisters, no longer cares? I doubt it. In my opinion, what happened was school....

To read the rest of this article, please subscribe to Natural Life Magazine's digital edition, which includes back issue access.

Nikki Schaefer is a wife and mother to four life learning children ages 8, 7, 4, and 8 months. She is also a licensed clinical social worker and former art therapist. Currently, in between doing loads of laundry, diaper changing, song singing and park playing, Nikki writes and illustrates articles and stories. She has written for several parenting and homeschooling publications, illustrated for authors, and has five picture books of her own that she is seeking a publisher for. To view Nikki’s work or read her home schooling blog, go to www.nikkischaefer.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscribe to Natural Life Magazine's online edition

Food and Fellowship - Projects and Recipes to Feed a Community

Life Learning: learning without schooling

For the Sake of Our Children

Natural Life Books

Advertise with Natural Life Magazine

Copyright © 1976 - 2012 Life Media

About Us  |  Contact  |  Subscribe  |  Advertise  |  Contribute  |
|  Sustainability Statement  |  Ethics Statement  |  Privacy Policy  |

Natural Life Magazine January/February 2012
January/February 2012

Natural Life Magazine November/December 2011
November/December 2011

Natural Life Magazine September/October 2011
September/October 2011

Natural Life Magazine July/August 2011
July/August 2011

Natural Life Magazine May/June 2011
May/June 2011

Natural Life Magazine March/April 2011
March/April 2011

Natural Life Magazine January/February 2011
January/February 2011

Natural Life Magazine November/December 2010
November/December 2010

Natural Life Magazine September/October 2010
September/October 2010

Natural Life Magazine July/August 2010
July/August 2010