A Better Way Of Strewing (Easier And Less Wasteful)

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Are you tired of setting up strewing activities that your kids ignore? I felt the same way when I first started strewing! But I’ve found a better way to strew that keeps it fun and low-pressure for everyone.

In this post, I’m going to go over my strategy for strewing so you don’t waste time and materials on planning activities no one cares about.

And I will also give you suggestions for collecting amazing strewing items for many strewing possibilities.

Table of Contents

What is Strewing in Unschooling?

Strewing is simple: place interesting objects, books, or materials where your child can find them. The idea is to create a space full of learning opportunities without pushing your child to use them.

Strewing encourages kids to explore and learn naturally. It’s not about making your child learn something specific. It’s about giving them the chance to get curious. This method builds trust, showing your child that you won’t force them into learning.

Strewing is popular in unschooling because it supports child-led learning. But you can find it in preschools, kindergartens, and even summer camps.

Why Strewing Matters in Child-Led Learning

Strewing helps kids stay curious and independent. It allows them to take charge of their learning, leading to deeper and more meaningful experiences. Kids learn best when they’re interested, not when they feel pressured.

It’s not always easy though! This hands-off approach can be challenging for parents who are used to more traditional, outcome-based educational methods.

Unschooling and child-led education requires a shift in mindset to trust the natural learning process. But this trust is key to fostering a love for learning.

What’s the Problem with Strewing?

Strewing is a great way to introduce kids to new ideas, concepts, materials, topics, etc. But there are two problems in my experience:

1 – It’s hard not to care about the results when you’ve invested time or money in strewing materials. When kids ignore a carefully chosen book or science kit, it can be frustrating. But this attachment can go against the principles of strewing.

2 – Some kids need encouragement to try new things. While strewing is the lowest-pressure way to offer new things to a child, some children still struggle to open up to new possibilities. In my experience, this resistance usually stems from either sensing that I have some attachment to them liking the material (which brings us back to the first point), or they have preconceived ideas about a material and need help giving it a chance.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? Don’t worry, I have solutions!

A Better Way to Strew

When I first started strewing, I planned elaborate activities. But when my kids weren’t interested, it was frustrating. I realized I needed a different approach. Here’s what I do now:

Keep Strewing Materials Simple

Instead of spending a lot of time planning cool activities and purchasing materials for them, I keep strewing really simple by focusing on these kinds of materials:

Items We Already Have

One of the simplest ways to start strewing is to use materials you already have at home. Look around your house for books, toys, games, or art supplies that haven’t been touched in a while. Often, children will find renewed interest in items they haven’t seen in some time, and you don’t need to spend any extra money.

Things That Are Free

There are a lot of amazing ways to strew without investing a lot of money. Free community events, library resources, and hand-me-downs are great ways to offer new learning opportunities without overinvestment.

I also browse thrift stores and free tables at the transfer station for things that might be interesting. This helps keep the financial investment low, which makes it easier to let go of expectations and allows kids to explore without pressure.

Items That Are Borrowed

Borrowing items from friends, family, or the library is another excellent way to introduce new materials without a long-term commitment.

This could be a science kit, book of jokes, musical instrument, costume, or something else. Borrowing allows for experimentation without worrying about whether the item will capture your child’s interest.

Whenever we go to the library, I casually grab books I think one or both of my kids will like and just leave them in the library book basket we have. Sometimes I point them out to my girls, but other times I just leave the items there for them to find.

Items That I Use for a Hobby or Interest

Consider strewing items that align with your own hobbies or interests. For example, if you enjoy painting, leave out some of your art supplies for your children to explore.

If they aren’t interested, the materials won’t go to waste because they are still useful to you. It’s also a great way to share your passions and potentially spark a new interest in your child.

My oldest is interested in gardening and homesteading because that’s something we’ve always done together as a family.

My youngest loves music, which happens to be one of my hobbies too. Sharing interests with my kids is so fun, but if they lose interest in those hobbies, my gardening books and musical instruments won’t go to waste!

Nature

Nature provides endless opportunities for strewing that are completely free. Collecting rocks, leaves, or shells can lead to fascinating discussions about geology, biology, and ecology.

A simple walk outside can turn into an adventure in identifying plants and animals, encouraging observational skills and a love for the natural world.

I love pointing out cool things I see on a nature walk. Sometimes the girls will get interested, and other times they couldn’t care less. But nature will be there any time we decide to go back, so none of those items will be wasted either!

Items That Can Be Used in More Than One Way

Versatile items are fantastic for strewing because they offer multiple uses and appeal to different interests.

For example, a set of colored pencils can be used for art (my youngest loves drawing), but they can also be sorted by color (my oldest loves creating order!).

This flexibility ensures that even if your child isn’t interested in one type of activity, the material can still be used in another way.

People

I also strew people! If I have a friend or family member who has expertise in a topic one of the kids is interested in, I will ask them to chat with her about the topic.

My dad (their Pop) will often discuss politics, American History, and Government topics with the girls.

My friends who are musicians chat with my youngest about music all the time. It’s so fun!

Here’s the Best Part…

When one of these strewn items is a hit, I can then feel confident in investing in an activity or expensive resource around that topic, knowing it is much more likely to be enjoyed!

Including Kids in Strewing (When They’re Resistant to New Things)

Another thing I do differently is include my kids in decisions about strewing items.

Most people suggest leaving strewing items around the house for kids to find. But for us, this sometimes made my kids suspicious. They felt like I was trying to push learning on them whenever they found something new. (I think their brief time in public school in the South made them wary of this.)

So, when I strew, I often involve my kids in choosing the items or materials. I might ask if they want me to print out a crossword puzzle, a coloring sheet, or something similar. Or I’ll ask if they’re interested in trying a new game from our Unbored book. I always add, “You don’t have to, it’s just an idea.”

For example, I once left out printed comic book pages for them to fill in with their own drawings and story. At first, they ignored them because they didn’t know what they were. But when I explained what they were and how they could use them, my youngest got excited to create her own graphic novel!

I’ve learned that a little encouragement and a simple explanation can help my kids get past their initial hesitation. Involving them in the decision-making also gives them a sense of ownership over their learning. This approach makes them feel empowered and motivated.

Choose Strewing Items To Cover All Subjects

Unschoolers don’t worry about school subjects very much because we know that all interests will lead you to all of those subjects at some point.

But when I’m choosing strewing items, I do consider what area of education they may cover because, well, that’s how our schooly brains work!

For example, when we go to the library, I will take out at least one book related to each subject: math, science, language, and social studies.

If I feel like the girls aren’t getting enough exposure to a certain subject, I’ll think about what resources or activities could offer that exposure.

For example, if I feel like we’re light on math, I’ll get more books covering math topics, look for YouTube videos that may be interesting, and consider what field trips we could take.

Low Effort Strewing Ideas (So You Don’t Waste Time and Resources)

Now that my girls are older (10 and 13) I mostly strew with books, board games, and other things we talk about together first.

But when they were smaller, I created some collections of interesting items that can be used in lots of different ways for my strewing. Here are 3 collections you can create that will help you provide endless exploration opportunities:

Nature Item Collection

Gather a variety of rocks, leaves, pinecones, shells, twigs, flowers, dead bugs, etc. when you go on hikes and nature walks. Store them in a nice basket or container. Here are some ways to use them to strew:

Investigation: Offer your nature basket and a magnifying glass for close-up observation or a field guide for older kids to encourage identification.

Crafts: Leave your nature items on a table with string, glue, paper, markers, or other craft supplies (use whatever you have!).

Sensory Exploration: Offer a variety of nature items in a shallow bin or tray, and let kids explore different textures, shapes, and colors. You could add sand, water, or dirt to create a mini sensory play area.

Odds and Ends Building Material Collection

Collect clean recycling and secondhand odds and ends for building. You can leave them out together or pick and choose just a few different materials at a time. Here are some ideas for things to collect:

Milk jugs
Yogurt cups
Cereal boxes
Cardboard tubes (like from paper towels)
Cardboard boxes
Pebbles
Buttons
Bottle caps
Blocks or planks
Clothespins
Popsicle sticks

Once you collect these building materials, you can make various strewing invitations by pairing them with other items, such as:

string and scissors
Little people(you can find little figures at secondhand stores or grab some inexpensive wooden people)
A book on Rube Goldberg Machines
A picture of a marble run tower

If your kids like a bit more structure, try these:

Building Challenges: Set up building challenges using the collected materials. For instance, challenge them to build the tallest tower, a bridge that can hold weight, or a boat that can float.

Makerspace: Offer a mini makerspace with a selection of odds and ends, tools, and some simple electronics like LED lights or small motors. Encourage kids to invent and build their own gadgets.

Theme-Based Creations: Provide themes for building, such as “Create a futuristic city” or “Design a new animal species using these materials.” This adds a narrative element and encourages creativity.

Arts and Crafts Collection

Collect interesting items that can be used for arts and crafts. Here are some ideas:

Old wallpaper samples
Old magazines
Scrapbook paper
Yarn
String
Fabric scraps
Felt sheets
Buttons
Ribbon
Washi tape
Popsicle sticks
Pipe cleaners
Beads
Empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls
Cardboard pieces
Egg cartons
Old magazines and newspapers
Pom-poms
Feathers
Craft foam sheets
Corks
Beads
Clothespins
Paper plates
Bottle caps
Cotton balls
Old greeting cards
Aluminum foil
Stickers
Sponges

Crafting: Choose a few items from your crafting supplies and offer them with paper and glue for an art station.

Fine motor activities: Offer a combination of these art materials with a set of tweezers, chop sticks, spoons, and dishes or cups for sorting.

Final Thoughts

Strewing can be a powerful tool for unschooling when done with the right mindset. Keep it simple and focus on materials that spark genuine interest. This way, you can create a rich learning environment without frustration.

And you can do this without getting frustrated that you’ve wasted your time and resources on things no one wants to use!

A Better Way of Strewing (Easier and Less Wasteful)

What is Strewing in Unschooling?

Why Strewing Matters in Child-Led Learning

What’s the Problem with Strewing?