Why Play Matters | Unleashing Lifelong Learning Through Play

Release Date: 10/17/2024

Busting the Biggest Myths About Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kids

Raising Lifelong Learners

Today's episode is an extra special pep talk for anyone homeschooling—or considering homeschooling—neurodivergent kids. If you’ve ever felt doubtful, heard wild myths, or just wanted some validation, this one is for you! Episode Spotlight: Myth Busting Neurodivergent Homeschooling Have you heard these before? “Neurodivergent kids need experts, not parents.” “Homeschooled kids won’t be socialized.” “They’ll have too many gaps or fall behind.” “Homeschooling will make anxiety or emotional struggles worse.” “You have to do it alone.” We'll tackle...

Why Family Connection Matters Most as Kids Grow Up

Raising Lifelong Learners

Today's episode of the podcast, is all about building meaningful connections with your preteens and teens—especially as they start finding their independence. Colleen gets real about the challenges of staying connected as kids grow older and shares practical, heartfelt tips on how to keep those important bonds strong (even when everyone’s schedule is packed and the house is chaos!). Whether you’re navigating parenting differences with your partner, homeschooling neurodivergent kiddos, or just trying to carve out some quality time with your teen, this episode is filled with...

How Adventuring Together Grows Confidence, Curiosity, and Executive Function

Raising Lifelong Learners

On today's episode of the podcast, we dive deep into the power of adventure—not the mountain-climbing kind, but the small, everyday moments that shape our children into confident, resilient learners. As homeschooling parents, especially with neurodivergent kiddos, it’s easy to get caught up in structure and routine. Remember that adventure is everywhere: in our backyards, kitchens, and local parks. Key Takeaways: Adventure Builds Resilience & Confidence: Trying new things (even small ones!) helps kids learn to fail, adjust, try again, and discover real-world bravery. Stronger...

Celebrating Wins: Why Noticing the Small Stuff Is a Gamechanger in Your Homeschool

Raising Lifelong Learners

This week on the podcast, we’re diving into something that might seem small at first glance but can create a massive ripple effect in your child’s life—celebrating wins! Whether your kiddo is neurodivergent, gifted, twice-exceptional, or simply working hard on any kind of challenge, recognizing their progress is a simple and powerful tool to build confidence, resilience, and deeper connection. Key Takeaways: Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection: Focus on your child’s effort and growth—academically, emotionally, or socially—rather than on flawless outcomes or test scores....

Helping Neurodivergent Kids Manage Big Emotions in the Homeschool

Raising Lifelong Learners

As parents—especially when raising neurodivergent, gifted, or twice-exceptional learners—we are on the frontlines of navigating intense emotions every day. In the latest episode of the podcast, we dive deep into practical strategies for supporting kids’ emotional health and building regulation skills that last a lifetime. Key Takeaways: Connection Over Correction: Before jumping into discipline, prioritize building strong, trust-based connections with your kids. A safe and validating environment empowers children to openly share feelings and seek help when things get tough. ...

Homeschooling to Celebrate and Nurture Your Child’s Spark

Raising Lifelong Learners

This week’s episode of the podcast is truly close to my heart. We dove deep into what it means to truly embrace our kiddos’ unique sparks and passions, especially for our neurodivergent learners. If you sometimes worry about your child being “too focused” on one thing, or wonder how to support their big interests when the world doesn’t always get it, you’re not alone—and this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: Why Intensity is a Feature, Not a Bug: It can feel overwhelming when your child hyper-focuses on trains, bugs, Minecraft, or musical theater. But that intensity?...

The Power of Connection in Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kids

Raising Lifelong Learners

In this episode, we dive deep into the power of connection and how it can transform your homeschool and family life. Homeschooling, especially with differently wired kiddos, comes with its set of challenges, and prioritizing connection over perfection is the key to a thriving environment where your children feel safe, seen, and valued. Key Takeaways: The 'Why' Behind Connection: It's not just a nice-to-have; it's neurologically necessary, especially for our neurodivergent kiddos. Real-Life Connection Strategies: From morning cuddles to evening debriefs, we're sharing practical...

Cultivating Leadership Skills in Homeschooling

Raising Lifelong Learners

This week's episode is all about cultivating leadership skills in our kiddos, especially those amazing outside-the-box thinkers. We dive into a type of leadership that’s less about rallying a group and more about creativity, kindness, and empathy. We go over ways to nurture these qualities in your homeschool environment and everyday family life. This is part of our focus for the month in the Learner's Lab, where leadership takes center stage. Key Takeaways: Why Leadership Matters: Discover how leadership skills enhance problem-solving, empathy, and adaptability, crucial for every...

Understanding Impulse Control in Gifted and Neurodivergent Kids

Raising Lifelong Learners

We're diving into an essential topic in this week's podcast episode that's sure to resonate with many of you—developing impulse control in our neurodivergent kids. As we know, impulse control can be particularly challenging for gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent kiddos. Let's break down why our unique learners face these challenges and talk practical strategies to support them in everyday scenarios. Key Takeaways: Create a Flexible Learning Environment: Shorter lessons with frequent breaks help cater to brains seeking novelty. Role-Playing Social Situations: Practice...

Inspire a Love for Learning at Home

Raising Lifelong Learners

In today's episode, we dive into the concept of nurturing a lifelong love of learning for our children. It's all about cultivating curiosity, encouraging them to ask questions, and guiding them through self-directed projects. You'll hear personal stories of fostering self-discovery and adaptability in kids, emphasizing the power of modeling this mindset ourselves. We explored practical ways to inspire an atmosphere of learning at home and how to balance structure and freedom. Remember, it's the process of learning that truly matters. Keep that curiosity alive! Tune in for more insights. ...

More Episodes

In this episode, we dive deep into the power of play and why it matters at every stage of childhood! Whether you're homeschooling or just juggling parenting, incorporating play can ignite a lifelong love of learning and create magical moments of discovery.

From mealworm mazes to Viking bread, we explore how playful learning leads to unexpected adventures and lasting knowledge. So, gather your kids, embrace the fun, and let's make learning an exciting journey together!

Tune in now and discover practical tips and heartwarming stories that will inspire you to add more play into your routine.

Key Takeaways:

Importance of Play: Play is crucial at all stages of development, not just early childhood. It supports critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving, and social and emotional development, which are essential for both neurotypical and neurodivergent children.
Incorporating Play into Homeschooling: Play should be integrated into homeschooling to make learning enjoyable and effective. This can range from using building blocks and sensory bins for younger children to strategy games and creative projects for older kids.
Adaptation of Play with Age: Play evolves as children grow. For young children, it might involve sensory play and role-playing. For older kids and teens, it can include activities like strategy games, creative hobbies, and physical activities.
Educational Benefits of Play: Research indicates that playful learning is more effective than passive instruction. It allows kids to retain more information through hands-on, engaging activities.
Social and Emotional Learning: Play enhances emotional intelligence and social skills. It helps children manage emotions, develop empathy, and understand different perspectives, which is especially beneficial for neurodivergent children.
Unstructured vs. Structured Play: Both unstructured play (imaginative play, free play) and structured play (board games, organized sports) have unique educational benefits. Unstructured play fosters creativity and imagination, while structured play helps reinforce concepts and critical thinking.
Play as a Gateway for Neurodivergent Kids: Playful learning can help neurodivergent children grasp difficult concepts more easily. For instance, kids with dyslexia might benefit from interactive word games, while children with dysgraphia could engage in playful handwriting exercises.
Family Bonding through Play: Engaging in playful activities as a family strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories. This could be through family game nights, outdoor adventures, or creative projects done together.
Resilience and Perseverance: Embracing play, even when it deviates from expectations, models resilience and perseverance for children. It demonstrates that it's okay to enjoy the learning process and adapt to different situations.
Continual Offering of Play: For children who resist play, it's important to keep offering and introducing new playful activities. Over time, they may find something that resonates with them, making learning more engaging and enjoyable.

Here's a challenge for you -- reflect on your week’s learning adventures and share them on social media (don’t forget to tag us!) or with us directly through the Learner's Lab. Let's celebrate curiosity and lifelong learning together!

Links and Resources from Today’s Episode

Our sponsor for today’s episode is CTC Math

Connect with Colleen
You can find Colleen on Twitter @ColleenKessler, Facebook @RaisingLifelongLearners, Instagram @ColleenKessler

Key Takeaways:

Links and Resources from Today’s Episode

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