Child-led learning, in short, is allowing a child to choose what he or she learns based on interest. If the child is interested in something, you aid them in pursuing it. If they show disinterest in something, you move on to a different subject.
Child-led learning is the basis for unschooling, but child-led learning can be practiced in many situations with children from all walks of life. Child-led learning can occur at home with children who go to public or private school. Child-led learning is the learning that all children do on their own, naturally.
Child-led learning can be a philosophy or what you practice part-time. For us, child-led learning is a philosophy and it is the only type of learning that we currently practice. For example, I expose my daughter to lots of different things. If she is interested in or likes something, we do it until she tires of it. If she shows obvious dislike or disinterest in it, we immediately move on to something else.
Children learn things very quickly when they are interested. It is extremely difficult to teach something to someone (especially a child) who is disinterested. The practice of unschooling is not ignoring children and letting them do whatever they want, it is gentle guidance in the direction of healthy interests that they want to pursue when they are ready for them.
You don't have to practice unschooling or even homeschooling to have fun with child-led learning. Try exposing your kids to all kinds of things and see where their interests lie. There are limitless things to be fascinated by and allowing kids to do what they like builds their self esteem, their intelligence and their curiosity.
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