[Blog] Ep 54. Unschooling Explained: Maximising Your Kids' Potential Without Classrooms

ft. Vishruti Shah- Conscious Parenting Coach, Unschooling Mom of 2

Unschooling. A word that often raises eyebrows, evokes skepticism, and yet sparks deep curiosity. In a world where traditional education is often considered the only "safe" path to success, what does it mean to opt out entirely? In a powerful and thought-provoking episode of The Modern Indian Parent Podcast, host Rinie Gupta sits down with conscious parenting coach and unschooling mother Vishruti Shah to unravel this very question.

Through her candid insights and lived experience, Vishruti shares not just why she chose this path, but how she built a life around it with intention, courage, and incredible clarity.

Introduction: Rinie on Why Unschooling Matters

Rinie opens with a question many parents quietly wonder: Is the school system really serving our children? The episode reflects a growing realization that rote learning and one-size-fits-all education can dim a child’s natural curiosity.

Vishruti’s son, who has never stepped into a school, is already building robots and reading hundreds of books by the age of nine. She joins the conversation to explain how unschooling supports a child’s natural abilities and why it may be a better path for some families.

Meet Vishruti Shah: Conscious Parenting Coach and Unschooling Mama of 2

Vishruti introduces herself as someone who was once fully immersed in the academic rat race, topping national entrance exams and studying architecture at one of Asia’s best colleges. But despite her success, she found herself more drawn to the spontaneity and creativity of radio.

“No one taught me radio, yet I thrived. That’s when I realised—learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms.”

This awakening shaped how she would eventually parent: giving her children space to discover their own voice instead of pushing them through the same system.

Why She Never Considered Traditional Schooling

For Vishruti, choosing not to send her children to traditional school wasn't a rebellious act—it was a deeply conscious and intuitive decision rooted in her own life journey. Having grown up as a top-performing student in a highly academic environment, she followed the “ideal” path: good grades, prestigious college, a promising career in architecture. But when she unexpectedly discovered her love for radio, everything shifted.

This revelation made her question the very foundation of our schooling system. If learning could happen so naturally when driven by passion, why was school designed to suppress that?

From the moment she became a mother, Vishruti found herself wondering how to raise a child who could stay connected to their inner voice who wouldn’t be conditioned to chase external validation or fit into predefined molds.

She shares:

• Traditional schooling often prioritizes conformity over self-awareness.

• The system focuses on knowledge acquisition, not self-discovery.

• Children are subjected to competition and pressure before they’re emotionally equipped to handle it.

She viewed unschooling not just as an educational philosophy, but as a way to support her children in truly knowing themselves.

“For me, it’s not about education—it’s about life.”

Unschooling vs. Homeschooling: What’s the Difference?

Vishruti explains that homeschooling often mimics school at home, with parents replacing teachers and following curriculums. Unschooling, on the other hand, is:

• Child-led and interest-based

• Flexible, yet intentional

• Built around the idea of responsibility, not just freedom

In unschooling, the child chooses what, how, when, and from whom they want to learn. The parent’s role is to support, not dictate.

Getting Other Families Onboard for Unschooling

When Vishruti shared her decision with family, she met resistance. But she approached it with empathy and patience. She slowly shared what she had seen in her research, visiting over 200 unschooling families, meeting kids who had never stepped into a classroom, yet were thriving. But what truly shifted opinions wasn’t the data or the travel. It was watching her son.

When her family began seeing how curious, articulate, emotionally aware, and confident her son was becoming, the questions slowly faded.

Vishruti recommends:

• Listening with empathy: Acknowledge where your family’s fears are coming from. Their concern often comes from love.

• Offering exposure: Share stories, articles, and examples of successful unschooled children.

• Letting the child lead the proof: The biggest transformation happens when people witness the child blooming without pressure or comparison.

Over time, it wasn’t Vishruti’s words that shifted mindsets- it was her child’s joy, curiosity, and clarity that made others believe.

A Day in the Life: What Unschooling Looks Like

Every day looks different, but the rhythm is built around awareness, autonomy, and connection.

When her son was younger:

• Daily outdoor time (4–7 PM)

• Visits to shops, parks, and people’s workplaces

• Constant exposure to different real-world experiences

As he’s grown older:

• He plans his own week

• Practices music, reading, writing, and sports

• Family time is used for reflection and discussion

“We live by planning, doing, and reflecting. It’s not a system, it’s a flow.”

Why Children Don’t Need Teachers or Fancy Resources for Learning

Vishruti shares a perspective that turns conventional ideas about learning on their head: children don’t need structured teaching or expensive educational tools to learn. In her experience, learning unfolds naturally when children are given the freedom to explore the world on their terms.

She shares how:

• Her toddler teaches her joy through laughter and presence.

• Her son learned reading and math through life, not textbooks.

• Over-instruction kills curiosity. Children are born learners.

Instead of taking on the role of a teacher, Vishruti chooses to be a facilitator. She supports her son by responding to his interests, researching alongside him, and offering suggestions or connections when needed. She brings in tools and books only if they genuinely support his curiosity, not as a starting point, but as a response to it. Real learning, she feels, doesn’t come from structured lessons, but from living with presence, play, and purpose.

How She Built a Home Full of Learning Resources

In the early days, Vishruti invested heavily in resources:

• Thousands of books, often imported

• Hands-on toys and tools for exploration

• Real-world experiences through travel and visits

“Books were my diamonds. I had a separate monthly budget just for them.”

She also focused on curating a safe, emotionally rich environment:

• Conscious use of space

• Thoughtful choice of what enters the home

• Avoiding over-scheduling or overstimulation

Future Prospects of Open Learners: University & Careers

Vishruti has already met unschooled teens who:

• Work with government agencies at age 17

• Run businesses by 19

• Are confident, self-driven, and capable

If her child wants to pursue university, he can take the NIOS board exams. If not, he can build a portfolio and gain experience through internships.

“We don’t know what the world will look like in 2040. Why are we trying to control it?”

She emphasizes that the goal is not a specific outcome but a self-aware individual who knows how to adapt, learn, and lead.

Where to Begin: Practical Advice for New Unschoolers

If you’re new to the idea of unschooling, Vishruti suggests starting with two simple shifts:

1. Spend Agenda-Free Time With Your Child
   No phonics practice. No worksheets. Just connection.

2. Meet Other Unschooling Families
   Exposure reduces fear. Seeing this life in action builds trust.

She also warns against copying anyone’s method including hers. The goal is not to replace one rigid system with another.

Finding Your Unschooling Community

Back when she started, Vishruti traveled across the country to meet 200+ unschooling families. Today, social media makes this easier.

She recommends:

• Following unschoolers on Instagram

• Reaching out via email or DMs

• Attending workshops and retreats

• Joining community platforms like ROH (Rethinking Our Homeschool)

Vishruti is working on creating more accessible resources to help families find each other and learn from a variety of approaches, not just hers.

Final Thoughts and How to Reach Vishruti

Rinie reflects on how liberating and healing Vishruti’s journey has been, not just for her child, but for herself as a parent.

To connect with Vishruti:

• Instagram: @vishruti.shah

• Email: team.vishruti@gmail.com

She continues to mentor families through her courses, workshops, and growing community initiatives, driven by a single dream:

“One unschooling community in every city of the world.”