To document child-led learning, you record observations of what your child is already doing rather than assigning tasks to be completed. This approach, often called "strewing" or "observational logging," provides evidence of progress without creating the demands that often trigger a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) response.
What is PDA Homeschooling Documentation?
PDA homeschooling documentation is the process of translating a child’s natural interests into educational terms. For a child with a Pervasive Drive for Autonomy, traditional workbooks or testing often feel like a threat to their safety. Documentation in this context shifts the burden of "proof" from the child to the parent.
Instead of asking a child to "show what they know," the parent observes and notes the skills being used during autonomous play. This is a common practice in unschooling and low-demand education. It ensures you meet legal requirements while protecting your child's nervous system.
Step-by-Step: How to Document Child-Led Learning
Documenting learning doesn't require long hours. Most families find that 5–10 minutes of reflection at the end of the day is sufficient.
Observe without interfering. Watch what your child gravitates toward when there are no expectations. Note the topics, the tools they use, and how long they stay engaged.
Capture the "Learning in the Wild." Use your phone to take photos of finished projects, Lego builds, or even a paused screen of a complex video game. These serve as visual evidence.
Translate to "Teacher-Speak." Map the activity to a subject area. A child building a complex Minecraft redstone circuit is practicing logic, engineering, and electrical symbols.
Log the date and duration. Keep a simple list of these moments. Consistency over time is more valuable for a homeschool review than the volume of work produced in a single day.
Using Strewing for PDA Children
Strewing is the act of leaving interesting items or resources around the house for a child to discover on their own. For PDA children, this removes the "demand" of a direct suggestion.
When you strew a new book, a science kit, or a specific documentary on the TV, you can document the result. If they engage with it, log the duration and what they explored. If they don't, no record is needed. This method allows for a rich learning environment without verbal prompts that might trigger avoidance.
Examples of Documenting Interest-Led Learning
Concrete examples help when you are unsure if an activity "counts" as school. Use these translations for your records:
Cooking a meal: Practical math (fractions, ratios), chemistry (heat reactions), and life skills.
Watching a history documentary: Social studies, critical thinking, and research.
Modding a video game: Computer science, logic, and reading comprehension.
Role-playing with siblings: Narrative structure, social-emotional processing, and verbal communication.
Researching a specific animal: Biology, ecology, and data collection.
Evidence of Learning in Unschooling
For a formal homeschool review or portfolio, you do not need a stack of worksheets. Most state and local authorities accept diverse forms of evidence.
Commonly accepted evidence includes:
Annotated book lists: A list of books read or listened to (audiobooks count).
Photographic logs: Photos of projects, experiments, or field trips.
Parental summaries: A brief monthly or quarterly narrative describing the skills observed.
Digital portfolios: Links to videos the child made, levels they designed, or digital art.
FAQs: Common Documentation Questions
Does deschooling count as learning?
Deschooling is the period of adjustment when a child leaves traditional school. During this time, the "learning" often looks like rest, play, or deep dives into single interests. In a homeschool report, this is documented as "Social-Emotional Learning" or "Self-Directed Research." It is a necessary phase for nervous system regulation.
How do I document progress without testing?
Progress is documented through "narrative observation." Instead of a test score, you record that a child "moved from basic addition to understanding multiplication through Minecraft trading." This shows a clear upward trajectory in skill level.
What if my child does "nothing" all day?
It is rare for a child to do nothing. Usually, they are consuming media, playing, or resting. Resting is vital for recovery from burnout. Documentation can focus on "Autonomic Regulation" or "Self-Care Skills." If they are watching YouTube, document the specific topics (e.g., "Observed 45 minutes of wildlife biology content").
Do I have to show my child the records?
No. For many PDA children, seeing a record of their "learning" turns their play into a performance or a demand. You can keep these records private for your own peace of mind or for legal compliance.
Creating PDA-Friendly Homeschooling Records
Records for a PDA child should be "anti-surveillance." If a child feels they are being monitored or judged, they may stop engaging with the interest altogether.
To avoid this, keep your documentation private. Do not ask your child to "pose" with their work for a photo if it feels like a demand. Take photos after they have moved on to another task. Use neutral language in your notes, focusing on what was done rather than how "well" it was performed.
One common approach is to keep a "reverse planner." Instead of writing down what you hope will happen, only write down what did happen at the end of the day. This removes the pressure of "falling behind" a pre-set schedule.
If you want a place to keep these notes without thinking about formatting, we built a simple tool for that.