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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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. ...
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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?...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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. ...
info_outlineIn this week's episode, we talk about the Columbus Group's definition of giftedness as asynchronous development—a combination of advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity that requires modifications in parenting and teaching.
This unique development makes our children particularly vulnerable, demanding that we think outside the box.
So, what does this mean for us as homeschooling parents? It means we have the opportunity to enrich our children's learning experiences far beyond what a traditional school setting can offer. We can customize education to meet our children's individual needs and foster a love for learning that embraces their strengths and supports their weaknesses.
Key Takeaways:
- Adjust Your Expectations: Embrace the fact that your child will excel in some areas and may need additional support in others. Celebrate their unique strengths and work on shoring up their weaknesses using their interests.
- Customize Education: Instead of relying on boxed curricula, consider using placement tests and mixing different curriculum options to suit your child's diverse learning levels.
- Find Intellectual Peers: Intellectual peers are crucial for gifted kids. Seek opportunities for your child to interact with others who share similar interests or intellectual abilities, whether through online classes, gifted programs, or local meetups.
- Support Emotional Growth: Help your child learn emotional regulation skills and teach them how to manage frustration, using their passions to tackle areas of struggle.
- Enhance Executive Function Skills: Structure your child’s day with checklists or planners and break tasks into small, manageable steps. Celebrate progress over perfection.
- Parenting a gifted child isn't always easy, but remember—you are not alone, and your efforts are creating a nurturing environment where your child can thrive.
Get the Book
For a deeper dive into these transformative concepts, don’t forget to grab my new book, The Homeschool Advantage, where you can explore chapter six and beyond. It’s a fantastic resource filled with actionable advice for homeschool educators.
Links and Resources from Today’s Episode
Our sponsor for today’s episode is CTC Math
- The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
- The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Audiobook
- Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community – The Learners Lab
- Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed.
- The Anxiety Toolkit
- Homeschool Curriculum for Your Asynchronous Gifted Learner
- Meeting the Asynchronous Needs of Your Gifted Child
- RLL #77: Asynchronous Development in Gifted Children
- RLL 24: Asynchrony, Intensity, and Motivation | A Listener Question
- Homeschooling Gifted Children | Meeting Asynchronous Abilities
- Asynchronous Development in Gifted Children
- What Does a Gifted Child Look Like?
- Embracing Interest-Led Homeschooling with Lydia Rosado
- Navigating Intensity and Giftedness | Insights from Christine Fonseca
- 100 Hints That Your Child May Be Gifted
Connect with Colleen
You can find Colleen on Twitter @ColleenKessler, Facebook @RaisingLifelongLearners, Instagram @ColleenKessler