There Are No “Required” Subjects in Real Life
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If you’ve ever started questioning the point of all the subjects your child “needs” to learn, you’re not alone.
I’ve spent a lot of time in recent years reflecting on this—not just as a parent, but as someone who used to be in the very system that insists these subjects are non-negotiable. I used to print out the worksheets. I used to highlight the standards. I used to tell kids they “had to” learn certain things, even when I could feel in my gut how disconnected that was from what they really needed.
But when you take a step outside the system, you start to see it for what it is: an illusion of importance, neatly divided into boxes that have very little to do with how we actually live and learn in the real world.
And it’s not that things like math or writing or science don’t matter—they absolutely can and do. It’s that the way they’re framed—as isolated, mandatory pillars of childhood learning—isn’t actually reflective of real life. It’s reflective of school life. Which is… not the same thing.
The Myth of “Essential” Subjects
Let’s take a moment and look at what school says is “essential.” Reading. Writing. Math. Science. Social Studies. Maybe a sprinkle of art or music if there’s time left in the day. Each subject is taught separately, measured by benchmarks, and considered mandatory—regardless of whether it connects to a child’s interests, strengths, or needs.
But ask yourself: who decided these were the universal must-haves? Who decided what every child should know by the age of 8, or 13, or 17? (And why does learning stop at 18?)
And more importantly… who benefits from that decision?
Because it’s certainly not the child who struggles with reading but lights up when building elaborate mechanical contraptions in the garage.
It’s not the child who doesn’t care about calculating percentages but can spend hours perfecting a dance routine, managing their own YouTube channel, or designing dream homes on Sims with a keen eye for proportion and aesthetic.
It’s not the child who can’t remember the scientific method but knows every single dinosaur and can explain, in detail, how they evolved and what their environments required.
School’s definition of “important” is narrowly defined and, frankly, outdated. It was built for an industrial model—designed to create compliant workers who could sit still, follow directions, and fill predetermined roles.
We don’t live in that world anymore.
Real Life Isn’t Separated by Subjects
Let’s think about how real learning happens in real life.
When you decide to renovate a room in your house, what are you doing?
You're measuring, budgeting, researching design trends, choosing colors, navigating logistics, maybe even writing emails to contractors or negotiating a deal at the hardware store.
That’s math, art, communication, critical thinking, and planning. All at once.
But you didn’t sit down and think: “Okay, first I’ll do some math, then I’ll transition to language arts, then I’ll schedule 45 minutes for a science segment.”
You just… did the thing. Because that’s what life is.
So why are we still pretending kids need to learn in a way that disconnects knowledge from actual experience?
The “Core Subjects” That Actually Matter
If we were to rewrite the list of “required subjects” for children—ones that truly prepare them for a meaningful life—I’d propose something a little different:
Curiosity: the ability to ask questions and wonder about the world.
Critical Thinking: the skill of analyzing, connecting, and drawing conclusions.
Communication: the power to express yourself clearly and listen deeply.
Self-Trust: the confidence to know what you need and how to go get it.
Empathy: the ability to understand and care for others.
Adaptability: the capacity to try, fail, pivot, and grow.
None of these are taught through worksheets. None are tested with multiple choice questions. And yet, they’re the foundation of real learning and real life.
What Happens When We Let Go of the “Shoulds”
When we stop forcing subjects and start following our children’s lead, amazing things happen.
A child who isn’t pushed to read by a certain age will learn to read when they’re ready—and often, when it finally clicks, they’ll devour books with a love that was never dulled by premature pressure.
A child uninterested in math may suddenly dive deep when planning their own Pokémon tournament, calculating scores and building fair brackets with enthusiasm and precision.
A child who doesn’t care about science class might spend weeks observing the birds outside their window, researching their migration patterns, and creating a field guide of their findings.
They’re still learning. In fact, they’re probably learning more—because it’s self-directed, relevant, and joyful.
And the bonus? When a child learns something because they want to, the knowledge sticks. They don’t need to be tested on it. They own it.
It’s Okay to Let Go
Let go of the timelines. Let go of the subjects that don’t resonate. Let go of the panic that your child will be “behind” if they aren’t covering all the things right now.
Because if the things matter, they’ll come back around. And if they don’t, they were never essential in the first place.
The goal isn’t to prepare kids for school—it’s to prepare them for life. And life is wide, diverse, unpredictable, and beautiful.
It doesn’t come in a workbook.
Curious About a Learning Space That Does It Differently?
If this idea resonates with you—if you’ve been craving a learning environment that respects your child’s individuality while still supporting their growth—Bridge Academy was designed for families like yours. It’s a private K-12 school built on Unschooling principles, offering mentorship, project-based learning, and a deep respect for how learning actually happens.
Because we believe that the most important things your child will learn can’t be boxed into a subject line.
🫶🏼 Leah
