Students from a homeschooling co-op test water quality at a dam in Mulligans Flat during an outdoor science lesson. Photo: Ilaria Catizone.
It’s 8 pm as the teenager listens to elaborate lute music, discusses the English renaissance and removes her Elizabethan era-inspired makeup. Her mother searches “roaring 20s” on Spotify, ready for the next lesson.
It’s another day – or night – in the life of a homeschooler.
“She is a night owl, so our learning sometimes happens after hours – not everyone’s ideal time, but it works for her,” says Ilaria Catizone, a former science communicator born in northern Italy.
“She loves makeup and at first I was a bit puzzled about what the learning opportunity was. But it ended up teaching her a lot – particularly about art and history.
“She would sit with a mirror and her makeup while I pulled up looks, music and events from a specific decade. As she recreated styles, we’d talk about the art, science, history of the time. Eventually, we started making connections across decades, so that’s how we learn.”
Ilaria shares a hands-on life of learning on 30 acres in Bywong, NSW, with her partner and their two daughters.
Five years ago, as the eldest daughter approached high school, they researched their options – from traditional public and private schools to Steiner and Montessori, and eventually homeschooling and “unschooling”.
A child-led approach to education, unschooling follows a student’s interests. More unstructured than traditional homeschooling, it encourages learning through real-world experiences over formal lessons.
“Once I started researching it, it really resonated with me,” Ilaria says.
“I loved the idea that it fostered curiosity and lifelong learning.”
A straight-A student herself, Ilaria believes this is mostly down to memorising facts – most of which she’s now forgotten. Today, she sees critical thinking and the ability to understand information sources and their bias as more important than ever.
“Nowadays, all of that information is at our fingertips. What we really need are research skills and analytical thinking.”
When Ilaria and her family decided to start homeschooling, they knew it would require preparation.
“We began by researching – books, podcasts and connecting with the local homeschooling community,” Ilaria says.
This research helped them understand the practicalities involved, such as registration and reporting requirements with the relevant educational authorities.
“It’s not difficult, but it does require planning and intention,” she says.
Finally, to make the transition smoother, they eased in with a gradual approach.
“We essentially went on school holidays – doing all the usual activities like museum visits, outdoor excursions, and family trips – and just continued that, weaving learning into those experiences.”
Ilaria also runs a homeschooling co-operative where families meet to run activities, offer classes, or simply have “free play”, allowing kids to engage in group learning.
We all want to nurture a lifelong love for learning, but which method works best for our child? Photo: Ilaria Catizone.
“The homeschooling community in Canberra is very active,” she says.
“Right now, at our co-operative, we’re exploring the Neolithic period – how people shifted from hunter-gatherers to agriculture. Next, we’ve invited an Indigenous educator to help us with a bush tucker garden and deepen our understanding of Indigenous culture.
“We also do excursions to local institutions, just like school groups do.”
For International Women’s Day, children were encouraged to research a famous woman from history, dress up, give presentations or create posters.
“My youngest child chose a trail-blazing Mongolian eagle hunter, so we researched life in Mongolia and put together a presentation,” Ilaria says.
“This one project turned into a rich, cross-disciplinary experience covering geography, history, art, English and public speaking.”
Another key part of homeschooling for Ilaria’s family has been working with each child to set their own learning goals, moving at their own pace.
“We cover the curriculum, but not in a linear way. We follow the kids’ interests,” Ilaria says. “At one point when I was running a science club, my eldest was in year 7 and we were doing year 12-level work – because that’s what the students were interested in.”
Homeschooling – and the unschooling approach – has also reshaped how llaria and her partner parent relate to their kids, describing it as a partnership that offers resources and support, without forcing anything.
“Of course, when they apply critical thinking to your requests it can be annoying,” Ilaria says. “But nonetheless, in the grand scheme of things, I think it’s a more valuable skill than just doing what you’re told.
“Are they better or worse than school kids? I’m not sure. Most days, I’m happy with where they’re at. Like any parent, I have moments of doubt and worry, but that has nothing to do with homeschooling – that is just parenting.”
Her advice to parents starting out is simple: “Don’t get discouraged. Commit to at least six months, find a method that works, and adjust as needed. Collaborate with your kids as their engagement can make all the difference. And remember, public school is always an option if it’s not working.”
As families consider the best education pathway for their child, Ilaria’s story shows learning doesn’t need to be contained by four walls or set hours.
“It might look a little different from a traditional classroom. But we’re learning every day – often in ways I never expected.”
For more information or to connect with Ilaria, follow on Instagram or visit www.homeschoolopendaycanberra.weebly.com.
