Moms are letting kids teach themselves in controversial 'unschooling' trend — what do experts say?

Social media has a remarkable knack for making any lifestyle look approachable, and unschooling is the latest trend catching on across platforms like TikTok. This has been voiced out by several creators, and one of them in this space is a creator known as Mami Onami (mami.onami) who, in a widely shared video, sits before the camera and talks about her family’s decision to forgo sending her six-year-old child to school. She describes her approach, saying,  “We don’t teach children anything. Everything they learn is in response to either their interests or their questions. We have no curriculum, we have no school hours; we just respond whenever they want to know something.”

Her initial worries were that her kids might avoid learning essentials like reading or math, but she now proudly shares how her son picks up words on his own, copying them down, asking questions, and investigating numbers when curiosity strikes. “It will come at the right time,” she says, advising parents to trust the process rather than measure progress against conventional milestones or others’ expectations.

Unschooling, as a term and philosophy, surfaced in the 1970s. It leans on the idea that kids will learn organically when inspired by genuine interest, rather than through scheduled lessons or homework. A day of ‘learning’ might come from a child’s fascination with the stars, prompting documentaries, drawings of constellations, and late-night sky-gazing, all far removed from classroom worksheets. 

Experts acknowledge that unschooling can build confidence, foster creativity, and instill a deep love of learning. As reported by Purewow, Leah McDermott, an unschooling advocate and founder of Bridge Academy, points out that the pandemic upended ideas about where and how effective learning happens; for many, school from home just made more sense. McDermott believes the future will favor adaptability and emotional intelligence as much as grades, noting, “Learning becomes joyful and meaningful because it’s relevant. They learn how to learn, not just what to learn.”

Still, even the most enthusiastic unschoolers admit the model isn’t for everyone, and experts see substantial challenges. Without structure, some worry children could miss out on critical groundwork in reading, writing, and math skills that are tough to catch up on later. “Young children benefit from a predictable routine and intentional planning,” says education specialist Schweikert, according to PureWow, warning of potential learning gaps if parents aren’t vigilant. There’s also the burden placed on the parent: unschooling works best when an adult can dedicate constant attention to guiding and nurturing the child, which isn’t always possible.

Socialization, too, can suffer outside the bustle of a classroom, with fewer chances for children to build friendships and navigate group dynamics. And, crucially, learning difficulties may be missed without trained educators watching for early signs. As unschooling gains traction on platforms like TikTok, it’s easy to see its appeal,  freedom, curiosity, and a gentler pace, especially at a time when many question the relevance of traditional education. But experts stress parents should weigh these freedoms with the demands and risks, searching for an approach that truly fits their child, as much as their social feed. 

To see more videos like this, you can follow @mami.onami on TikTok!