One of the more controversial ideas in education seems to be unschooling. While there isn’t a formal definition for it, unschooling is generally an approach that lets children follow their interests when it comes to learning.

The concept of unschooling is radical to many people who are accustomed to our current school system. But looking beyond the current K‑12 system, it’s clear the ideas behind unschooling have a long history, even if the term does not.

From their earliest days, children are learning. They learn to roll over, sit, stand, walk, talk, eat, and drink without spending a moment in a classroom with a teacher. They’re in a constant quest to learn about their surroundings, how things work, and what happens if they touch something.

As they get older, this natural curiosity can prompt all sorts of learning—if they have the freedom to pursue it. This is especially true in the internet age when we can research anything with the click of a button. Children can become nature explorers by venturing to their backyard, a local park, or a nearby forest. They can dig deeper (with the help of an adult as needed) using the library, the internet, or a variety of apps.

Historically, much of learning happened at home from parents or a tutor, prior to the modern school system. Children learned needed life skills, such as farming, cooking, hunting, and preserving food, from their families. They learned a trade by becoming an apprentice. Reading and writing were often learned at home and became a gateway to further learning. Rather than formal instruction, children learned mostly by doing.

Too often today, kids’ natural curiosity is squelched by our modern school system. A ringing bell, rather than a readiness to move on, halts children’s inquiries. Kids who are ready to move to a new topic must waste time waiting for others to catch up. Kids who need extra time must move on without full understanding. Kids learn from an early age that success in school is about following rules, checking the right boxes, and successfully cramming for a test. Learning is often an afterthought at best.

Unschooling offers another way for children to learn—one that retains and fuels their natural curiosity. It doesn’t mean no rules, no parenting, or no teachers. It just means following a child’s interests rather than dictating what they learn.

For example, unschooling mom Kerry McDonald’s daughter got interested in the Korean language and culture after studying martial arts. She now takes an intense and highly structured Korean language class that follows a rigorous curriculum. The difference, Kerry says in her book Unschooled, is that her daughter chose to study Korean; her parents didn’t require it.

Helping your children follow their interests can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, there are unschooling resource centers and even full-time unschooling “schools” that can help. You can find these online through homeschool and other education-related groups. Unschooled has several chapters that include examples and how to find more. Or, if there are none in your area, you can even start your own. With the growing interest in child-directed learning, there are exciting business opportunities available for budding entrepreneurs.

Like any education method, unschooling may not be for everyone. Some children flourish with it, but some don’t. For my own kids, I found it worked for some subjects better than others—possibly because we had better resources available for some. But it’s worth looking into if you want to re-ignite a spark in your children and encourage their curiosity.