When families join Embark Center for Self-Directed Education, they expect freedom — but they may not expect the emotional work that comes with it. Here’s how encountering different family rules helps kids grow in empathy, resilience, and self-awareness.

We trust toddlers and adults to learn through curiosity and self-direction — so why not school-age kids? This post explores the school-age paradox, showing how free play, autonomy, and self-directed learning for kids prepare them not just for college and work, but for life itself. Discover why rigid curriculum is a poor predictor of the future — and why trusting children’s natural drive to learn matters more than ever.