Raising Lifelong Learners

Links and Resources from Today's Episode

Thank you to our sponsors:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

Curiosity Post – A Snail Mail Club for kids – Real mail; Real life!

The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling gifted/2e & neurodivergent kiddos!

The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos
The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family
The Anxiety Toolkit
Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home
Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids
Overcoming Sleep Struggles: Tips for Neurodiverse Families
This is Why Your Gifted Child Struggles to Fall Asleep
Do Gifted Kids Need Less Sleep? {Establishing Better Sleep Habits}
Colleen's Favorite White Noise Machine

As parents, educators, and advocates for neurodivergent kids, it's crucial to recognize that traditional tests and assessments don't always paint the full picture of a child's abilities. In the newest episode of the podcast, we dive into why performance anxiety can create barriers—and how we can scaffold authentic, strengths-based ways for children to show what they truly know.

 

Key Takeaways:

Performance Anxiety ≠ Knowledge Gap
If a child can demonstrate understanding in low-pressure settings but "freezes" or melts down when assessed, it's not a lack of knowledge—it's the context and perceived safety that need adjusting.
Accommodations Are Powerful, Not Coddling
Thoughtful adaptations—like adjusting the environment, pacing, or method of response—help reveal rather than hide skills. These accommodations build confidence and resilience for future challenges.
Celebrate Wins & Prioritize Safety
Progress isn't always linear. Celebrate small victories and focus more on helping children feel safe and seen. Creating a foundation of trust leads to more voluntary engagement and authentic learning.

If you're educating or supporting a neurodivergent or twice-exceptional child, remember: The goal isn't to recreate school, but to foster an environment where kids can thrive in ways that make sense for them.

 

Links and Resources from Today's Episode

Thank you to our sponsors:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

Curiosity Post – A Snail Mail Club for kids – Real mail; Real life!

The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling gifted/2e & neurodivergent kiddos!

The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos
The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family
The Anxiety Toolkit
Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home
Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids
Sensory Struggles and Clothes: How to Help Your Child Dress Without Tears
Navigating Sensory Overload: Actionable Strategies for Kids in Loud Environments
Building a Sensory Diet Toolbox for Neurodivergent Kids at Home
Playful Sensory Learning at Home: Five Senses Spinner
What Exactly is Deschooling.. and Do I Need to Do It?
Falling Unexpectedly in Love With Homeschooling My Gifted Child
Self-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory Needs
When School Refusal Turns Into a Healing Journey
Picky Eating | Sensory Struggles and Real Solutions for Homeschooling Families
Movement on Bad Weather Days: Meeting Sensory Needs at Home
Loop Ear Plugs
Ear Protection
Disposable Ear Plugs
Digital Voice Recorder
Guided Reading Strips
Colored Overlays for Reading
Angled Footrest
Colleen's Favorite White Noise Machine

If you've ever felt frustrated when your child resists even enjoyable activities, you're not alone. In this week's episode, we dive deep into demand avoidance—why neurodivergent kiddos sometimes just can't do what we ask (even when it's fun!)—and share a toolkit of practical strategies you can start using today.

Whether you're homeschooling a differently wired kiddo or navigating daily learning resistance, this episode is packed with actionable tips, real-life examples, and mindset shifts to help your child build skills in a low-pressure way.

 

Key Takeaways:

Lowering the Demand Doesn't Mean Lowering Expectations: There are ways to keep skill-building alive by focusing on autonomy, shared activities, and embedding learning into interest-driven projects—think Minecraft math or Pokemon writing prompts!
Frameworks That Work: Use the ABC method—Autonomy, Boundaries, and Co-regulation—along with the REI model (Reduce, Invite, Embed) to create a safer, more engaging learning environment for your demand-avoidant child.
Small Wins & Language Swaps: Celebrate tiny, finishable tasks and swap "You need to…" for invitations or curiosity-based questions, making participation more appealing and less threatening to your child's autonomy.

From stealth learning strategies and flexible routines to troubleshooting meltdowns and perfectionism, these insights are a breath of fresh air for parents and educators alike.

 

Links and Resources from Today's Episode

Thank you to our sponsors:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

Curiosity Post – A Snail Mail Club for kids – Real mail; Real life!

The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling gifted/2e & neurodivergent kiddos!

The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos
The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family
The Anxiety Toolkit
Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home
Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids
Sensory Struggles and Clothes: How to Help Your Child Dress Without Tears
Navigating Sensory Overload: Actionable Strategies for Kids in Loud Environments
Building a Sensory Diet Toolbox for Neurodivergent Kids at Home
Playful Sensory Learning at Home: Five Senses Spinner
What Exactly is Deschooling.. and Do I Need to Do It?
Falling Unexpectedly in Love With Homeschooling My Gifted Child
Self-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory Needs
When School Refusal Turns Into a Healing Journey
Picky Eating | Sensory Struggles and Real Solutions for Homeschooling Families
Movement on Bad Weather Days: Meeting Sensory Needs at Home

In this week's episode of the podcast, we dive deep into the signs, strategies, and real-life tips for helping your differently wired kids (and yourself!) navigate emotional storms.

Key Takeaways:

Practical tools to spot the early cues of meltdowns vs. shutdowns
Simple, effective co-regulation ideas you can use right now—no fancy equipment needed
How to repair, reflect, and reset after those tough moments, and so much more

Perfect for homeschool families, parents of neurodivergent kiddos, or anyone wanting to better understand and support big feelings at home. Save this episode and share with a friend who might need these strategies, too!

 

Links and Resources from Today's Episode

Thank you to our sponsors:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

Curiosity Post – A Snail Mail Club for kids – Real mail; Real life!

The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling gifted/2e & neurodivergent kiddos!

The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos
The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family
The Anxiety Toolkit
Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home
Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids
Sensory Struggles and Clothes: How to Help Your Child Dress Without Tears
Navigating Sensory Overload: Actionable Strategies for Kids in Loud Environments
Building a Sensory Diet Toolbox for Neurodivergent Kids at Home
Playful Sensory Learning at Home: Five Senses Spinner
What Exactly is Deschooling.. and Do I Need to Do It?
Falling Unexpectedly in Love With Homeschooling My Gifted Child
Self-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory Needs
When School Refusal Turns Into a Healing Journey
Picky Eating | Sensory Struggles and Real Solutions for Homeschooling Families
Movement on Bad Weather Days: Meeting Sensory Needs at Home

In this week's episode of the podcast, we talk candidly about what school refusal really means for children and their families, and how homeschooling can offer a path toward healing, connection, and growth. Whether you're considering pulling your child out of school or you're already homeschooling but feeling stuck after a tough season, this conversation is for you.

Here are three key takeaways for parents facing this challenge:

School refusal is communication, not a character flaw. When a child can't attend school, it's their nervous system asking for safety, not a sign of failure.
Healing comes before academics. Focus on rebuilding connection, trust, and emotional safety—academics can (and will) follow once these foundations are strong.
Small, intentional changes add up. Shifting your daily routine, setting gentle non-negotiables, and celebrating even the smallest progress can move families from burnout to breakthrough.

You are the best teacher and advocate for your child. If you need more support, resources, or simply community, know you're not alone on this path.

Let's keep learning and growing—together.

 

Links and Resources from Today's Episode

Thank you to our sponsors:

CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family!

Curiosity Post – A Snail Mail Club for kids – Real mail; Real life!

The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling gifted/2e & neurodivergent kiddos!

The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos
The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners
Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family
The Anxiety Toolkit
Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home
Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids
Sensory Struggles and Clothes: How to Help Your Child Dress Without Tears
Navigating Sensory Overload: Actionable Strategies for Kids in Loud Environments
Building a Sensory Diet Toolbox for Neurodivergent Kids at Home
Playful Sensory Learning at Home: Five Senses Spinner
What Exactly is Deschooling.. and Do I Need to Do It?
Falling Unexpectedly in Love With Homeschooling My Gifted Child