Masterly Inactivity

The only way I can think of the describe Masterly Inactivity is with another food metaphor. 

It is NOT structured: A highly planned and structured homeschool is similar to a well thought out meal plan, where they kids receive portions that include all the food groups for every meal.  Children are encouraged to eat and usually directed by saying “take 4 more bites” or given constant reminders to clean their plate.  Babies have a strict schedule instead of nursing “on demand.”  Every meal and every snack is orchestrated by the parents.

It is NOT without rules: The Radical Unschooling approach to eating is to let the kids eat anything they want, anytime they want.  The children decide what and how much they need to eat.  There are no restrictions on their choices or amounts.  The parents probably do not keep track of what the children are eating because the parents trust the child knows what he/she needs to grow.

The Masterly Inactivity approach to food means being aware of what the children are eating.  There are limits on junk foods for which children must ask first.  Children have access to healthy foods (rich environment) and the children decide how much to eat.  After a healthy meal, children can choose how many cookies to eat (this only works with kids who do not eat until they puke).  The parent is confident in knowing that what a child eats in a week is more important that what they eat in a day. Parents have authority but also give plenty of choice and freedom.  Masterly Inactivity allows children to experiment with foods and begin cooking more meals without being asked to do it.  It all depends on their age and abilities to how closely they need to be watched or helped.  

We have noticed that strictly adhering to the first two methods for every meal does not work for our family.  Our kids might not eat many vegetables one day but will eat a bowl full of carrots, a whole cantaloupe and a couple of oranges the next day without a suggestion from us.  If after a several meals they are not eating fruits or vegetables, I will remind them that they need to eat fruits and vegetables in order to be healthy.   Our dinner time sometimes looks more like the structured method as it is a usually a well-balanced meal, they only choose from what is on the table, and on occasion we will say ”take 4 more bites.”  Sometimes for breakfast they can choose and prepare what they want to eat as long as it is healthy.  Lunch is a mixed bag, sometimes a free-for-all-like breakfast or a well-balanced, prepared meal like dinner. 

Masterly Inactivity for homeschooling in our home means we have boundaries in place with limits on television and computer usage, safety rules and they must ask permission before leaving our property.  We also pay close attention to what the kids are doing and learning, as unobtrusively as possible.  They are given freedom to create and experiment within those boundaries.  Being aware of their play and activities tells us which areas they need to work on academically. 

If necessary, we can offer them academics or character training like we offer them fruits and vegetables.  It can be causally offered or achieved with short lessons.  Serious behavioral issues are not handled with Masterly Inactivity.  Of course, we play with our children and spend time with them too.  Even while spending time with our children we can use some ideas from Masterly Inactivity.  We can stay quiet while building or creating with them and avoid directing every step.  We can wait to see if they figure out something on their own.  

The food metaphor is somewhat limited because it is one type of activity.  Masterly Inactivity for homeschooling has unlimited potential for children.  They can learn to be independent with this method. 

At first I thought Masterly Inactivity describes what the child is doing, such as daydreaming and picking daisies.  Now I know Masterly Inactivity rests quietly within the parent or teacher.

A quote from Charlotte Mason and Simply Charlotte Mason’s free book on Masterly Inactivity:

Charlotte described the beauty of the parent-child relationship
and encouraged parents to have confidence in it: “The mere blessed
fact of the parental relationship and of that authority which belongs to
it, by right and by nature, acts upon the children as do sunshine and
shower on a seed in good soil. But the fussy parent, the anxious parent,
the parent who explains overmuch, who commands overmuch, who
excuses overmuch, who restrains overmuch, who interferes overmuch,
even the parent who is with the children overmuch, does away with
the dignity and simplicity of that relationship.”

NOTE:  I love Masterly Inactivity and would like to say we handle it perfectly as described in this post….but we don’t, sometimes we nag and cajole and worry.  This post is a reminder for me.