MAKING HOME

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LIVING LARGE IN SMALL AND UNIQUE SPACES q BY ANDIE POWERS @ANDIEGWPOWERS

>>MakingHome

Yasmin Ravard-Andresen with Kavinder, left, and Anjali, have created a backyard “urban food forest” for learning.

Their own way

THIS HILLMAN CITY FAMILY TRANSFORMED THEIR LIVING SPACE INTO A “SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS”

The well-trod traditional path isn’t

always the best for every family. So when Yasmin Ravard-Andresen and her husband Dave, who works in digital marketing, were considering schooling options for their children, they decided to make the bold leap into homeschooling. According to Yasmin, they were interested in an “alternative learning environment and a very different education diet,” with a delayed academic schedule to focus on art, movement, nature and more. After finding public preschool too traditional and tied down, and private options too privileged, costly, and with fewer faces of color, they chose to create their own educational pathway for their son Kavinder, 7, and daughter Anjali, 5.

Re-creating the traditional classroom was never their intention, and with their current layout, the learning experiences extend well beyond their physical house. To CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >

< Their own way CONTINUED

carve out the 350 square feet in their home in the South Seattle neighborhood of Hillman City, one they designated for educational use, they knocked down some walls to open up the floor plan, and replaced the back door with a full window door, allowing for more natural light. They keep things as natural as possible, filling the space with plants, wood, wool, rocks and shells. They invest in long-lasting wood toys that won’t break quickly. There are an assortment of musical instruments, including an upright piano. A fun addition is the indoor swing, encouraging movement for the kids during inclement weather. Or any weather. Yasmin describes their educating philosophy as “school without walls.” They’ve spent hours gardening, planting trees, constructing a playhouse and welcoming chickens, bees and composting worms into their “little urban food forest.” Their nature-oriented curriculum is supplemented with martial arts, music education, weekly wilderness school on Vashon Island, dance classes, and participation in their faith community, Valley and Mountain, along with lots of free art and play.

Yasmin loves being able to witness her children’s learning milestones, and have fun right alongside them, but she and Dave admit they are open to change.

Ravard-Andresen has created a space for her kids to pursue their own educational pathways.

“If they are interested in pursuing something within conventional society, going to a high school building and getting ready for college might be a shrewd choice,” she says. “If they are going to make music and run a pedal-powered music festival or be a poet or a dancer or a mystic healer, they might not choose to go to college.”

Regardless of what path will be just right for Kavinder and Anjali, the family will be flexible. “We’ll know when we know,” says Yasmin.

„ Is your family living in a unique space? We want to hear about it! Email us at makinghome@seattleschild.com

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A portion of the proceeds from each birth certificate helps children grow, thrive and learn in safe and loving environments.

This official birth certificate is personally signed by the Governor and State Registrar. Certificate is 8 1/2 x 11 and includes the name, date and place of birth, as well as the name and birthplace of the parent(s).

Framable keepsake

For each $40 purchase of an Heirloom Birth Certificate, $25 is tax deductible.

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To find out more information on Children’s Trust and child abuse prevention in Washington State visit https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/about/ government-community/communityengagement or visit Department of Health to order your own Heirloom Birth Certificate.