Homeschool tips for students with ADHD ~
Written by Colleen Kessler of Raising Lifelong Learners

“He’s an EXTREME thinker,” exclaimed my oldest son’s preschool teacher the first time I met with her for a conference more than thirteen years ago. Since that day, I’ve endured all sorts of similar comments — some judgmental; some tinged with laughter — all of them related to his non. stop. energy.

My son was diagnosed with ADHD by the first of three psychologists we saw beginning when he was five. We’d later discover that his wasn’t truly ADHD, but hyperactivity and impulsivity that mimicked it, a result of his overexcitabilities stemming from profound giftedness.

But as ADHD and psychomotor overexcitabilities tend to need similar adjustments to learning environments and styles, we chose to pull him out of the public school system more than a decade ago so that we could meet those challenging and unique needs.

Homeschooling a child with ADHD can be a great way to adapt learning to their needs, and over the years we’ve found some things that work well as we try to tackle the ever-changing needs ADHD kiddos have.

Homeschool Tips For Students With ADHD

Stick with a regular routine.  While a kiddo with ADHD may struggle with routine, it is an important practice for the future.  Teaching your child about routine will help them to learn to be more focused.  A flexible routine is important, but overall you should have one you try to stick to on a regular basis.

This doesn’t mean you should have your child waking up and sitting at a desk as kids do in public school — for us, that was the kiss of death when we first started homeschooling and I fell back on my public-school-teaching-past. It does, however, mean you need to help your child maintain a sense of control in the daily routine.

Routine trumps a structured schedule every time. When kids know that morning chores come before breakfast, then comes independent work, then group work, then lunch, then free time, then dinner, then bedtime, they know what to expect — regardless of how much time each activity takes.

Create short lessons.  One of the best homeschool tips for teaching a child that has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD is to adjust the activity times to suit their stamina.  In a traditional school environment, most subjects are covered in 30-45 minute increments at a time.  In a homeschool environment, you can focus on shorter class times that will work better for your child and their limited attention span.

Start with 15-minute sessions or activities.  In between each 15-minute time block, give your child (and you!) brain breaks or a chance to stretch their legs. Play outside, grab a snack, take time to dance in the kitchen… any of these things can get you and your kiddo recharged to keep going.

Allow for movement. Like my son, your ADHD child probably needs to move all the time. In a school setting, this was a “behavior” that gets kids in trouble. Remember — homeschooling offers the flexibility to teach how a child needs to learn. Math facts on the trampoline? Absolutely! Reading while upside down on the couch with the dog curled in the lap and feet tap on the wall? Sure, why not!

Kids can also sit on exercise balls, fidget or hum while doing math, or do jumping jacks in between comprehension questions. Pick what works for your child.  You have to think about the struggles your unique child has to determine what will work best for them in this situation.

Get involved in local homeschool groups. This is truly invaluable for most homeschooling parents.  Including local homeschool group meetings into your homeschool schedule can make a huge difference in your productivity and the success of your child.  

There are tons of options for homeschool groups to consider.  Some are strictly co-op situations that are educational.  Others are for field trips and playdates.  Some, in light of the current situation we face during a pandemic, are only meeting online. Search for options in your city, county, and your state so you check out multiple options to see what works best for your kiddo.

Remember as you are adapting your homeschool — consider your child above all, and not just what others are recommending.  Every child diagnosed with ADHD and ADD (or overexcitabilities) will have different struggles.  Some will be physically more active, while others may struggle to concentrate on one subject for long time periods.  The reason most parents choose to homeschool is to truly make education work for their child.

You’ve got this! Enjoy the adventure.

Oh! And that “extreme thinker” is now seventeen, entering his senior year of homeschooling as a fulltime college student, working towards a Bachelor’s in Computer Science. He also has an internship with the college program to develop a VR campus experience for other remote-learning students while running a freelance audio and video editing business from home.

He’s still an extreme thinker — but homeschooling allowed him to think in his own way, and thrive.

* Read more of Colleen’s work on Simple Homeschool here!

Do you have homeschool tips for students with ADHD? I’d love to hear them. Share below.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Homeschooling Neurodivergent Children with Flexibility ~
Written by Colleen Kessler from Raising Lifelong Learners

The day started off well. We had knocked out math and language arts by lunchtime and were getting ready to dive into a science experiment we’d been looking forward to. 

Cue panic attack and subsequent meltdown.

As I soothed and calmed the anxious kiddo, the others drifted to their own projects and passions, and I knew the experiment would be pushed to another day.

Homeschooling presents a unique set of challenges and joys, especially when you have neurodivergent children. While traditional schools struggle to accommodate diverse learning styles, homeschooling is the perfect alternative.

But one of the hardest things for parents who homeschool is finding the right mix between structure and flexibility in how they teach.

This careful balance can have a big effect on how a neurodivergent child learns. Let’s look at some strategies to navigate this successfully.

Homeschooling Neurodivergent Children with Flexibility

First, we need to remember that kids like my anxious one need the structure that provides a stable and safe environment in which to learn. While they don’t necessarily need a strict schedule, they should know what’s expected from day to day. They also need to know that you, their parent and safe space, are there if things become overwhelming and that you’ll flex both structure and schedule so they can recover. 

Structure provides a sense of predictability and security for neurodivergent children.

Establishing a routine can help manage anxiety and improve focus. It can ease the overwhelm and distractibility that comes with ADHD. It can help a gifted brain stay on-task long enough to complete a project before taking apart the vacuum to see how it works.

However, rigid schedules may stifle creativity and exacerbate resistance to learning. Finding the right balance is key.

Tips for Incorporating Structure

• Establish a Daily Routine: Create a flexible schedule with designated times for learning, meals, breaks, and activities. Be mindful of your child’s energy levels and attention span when planning tasks.
• Visual Aids and Timers: Utilize visual schedules, timers, and calendars to help your child understand and anticipate daily activities. Visual aids can enhance comprehension and reduce stress.
• Clear Expectations: Communicate expectations clearly and consistently. Break tasks into manageable steps and provide positive reinforcement for progress.
• Create a Dedicated Learning Space: Designate a quiet, organized area specifically for homeschooling activities. Minimize distractions and personalize the space to cater to your child’s sensory needs.
• Utilize Adaptive Tools: Explore adaptive tools and technology to accommodate your child’s learning style. Consider audiobooks, interactive apps, or sensory-friendly materials to enhance engagement.

Flexibility is equally vital in accommodating the dynamic nature of neurodivergent learners. While structure provides stability, flexibility allows for individualized learning experiences, exploration of interests, and the need for a break when it’s warranted.

Embracing flexibility empowers children to learn at their own pace and in ways that resonate with them, and it teaches them to advocate for themselves and to be kind when their brains or bodies just crave downtime.

Strategies for Flexibility

• Follow Your Child’s Lead: Pay attention to your child’s interests, strengths, and areas of struggle. Adapt your teaching approach to capitalize on their passions and foster intrinsic motivation.
• Incorporate Multi-Sensory Learning: Engage multiple senses to enrich the learning experience. Incorporate hands-on activities, field trips, and creative projects to stimulate different modes of learning.
• Allow for Breaks and Movement: Recognize the importance of breaks and physical activity in maintaining focus and regulating emotions. Encourage movement breaks and outdoor exploration to support overall well-being.
• Be Open to Unconventional Learning Opportunities: Embrace spontaneous learning opportunities that arise outside of traditional curriculum. Whether it’s cooking, gardening, or birdwatching, every experience can be a valuable learning opportunity.
• Adjust and Adapt: Stay open to adjusting your approach based on your child’s evolving needs and feedback. Flexibility allows for experimentation and refinement to optimize the homeschooling experience

Balancing structure and flexibility is an ongoing journey in homeschooling neurodivergent children. By embracing the unique strengths and challenges of each child, homeschooling parents can create a nurturing environment that promotes growth, confidence, and joy in learning. 

You can always get back to the learning, but ignoring the social, emotional, or heart needs of your kiddo can have long-term negative effects. Being flexible within the structure gives you the framework to meet all the needs of your kiddos, ensuring that homeschooling is the perfect educational choice for your outside-the-box child. 

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Trust your instincts, stay adaptable, and celebrate the remarkable journey of homeschooling your neurodivergent child.

You’ve got this. 

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Am I doing enough in our homeschool?
Written by Shawna Wingert of Different by Design Learning

After ten years of homeschooling, there is one thing I know to be true.

I am most likely to doubt, question and fear my own ability as a homeschool mom in the middle of the night.

Last night was no exception.

Having some trouble getting back to sleep, I began to go through the previous day in my head.

My son’s resistance to writing.

The video we watched on YouTube instead of doing the actual history assignment.

The to-do list left undone at the end of the day.

As I tossed and turned, one familiar question haunted me.

Would you rather listen to this post?

Am I doing enough for these children?

I know I am not alone in asking this, nor is this a new question. Over the past decade, I know I have asked it hundreds, if not thousands of times.

It’s a question that comes up at every homeschool get-together and in every homeschool mom Facebook group.

We carefully ask other moms what they think. We worry they don’t really understand our realities when they tell us we are doing well and it will be okay.

We wonder, when we hear about a new curriculum or book list.

We whisper it to ourselves on the days when things don’t go as planned.

Am I doing enough?

One of the most challenging aspects of being a homeschool mom, for me, is feeling like I never really know how well I am doing.

At all my other jobs, I had a boss. I had performance appraisals. I had a sense of what right looked like and how well I was doing.

Homeschooling gives us none of that.

And yet, the longer I educate my own children, the more I am finding ways to answer this question, when it rears its ugly head.

Am I doing enough in our homeschool?

If you struggle with this same sense of not knowing, I want to encourage you today that you are not alone.

In fact, I have never met a homeschool mom who didn’t wonder, at least sometimes, if her efforts would be enough to successfully educate her children.

When this question creeps up, this is what helps me most.

Stop Asking, “Does this count?”

It is so easy to feel like I am not doing enough in our homeschool when I am concerned about what “counts” as learning and what doesn’t.

For example, it’s easy to feel like my son taking a quiz or completing a worksheet “counts,” because it looks more like the public school model that so many of us grew up in.

But what about the Batman graphic novel he was obsessed with all day, or the Geography Now YouTube video we watched, with its tongue in cheek look at what defines the 50 states? Do these count?

While I am still prone to worry, I have learned that if I am asking if something counts, it usually does.

Learning is an element of almost everything we do, in life and in homeschool. It’s easy to see it when I take a step back and really think about the skills my children are practicing.

The graphic novel allowed him to practice reading and think about story. The video sparked an interesting conversation about northern states and political divides.

I could go on and on, but essentially, instead of asking if something counts as learning, I ask, “What did my children learn from this activity?”

Establish a daily minimum.

This has evolved considerably over the past few years, but it is genuinely making a difference in our homeschool.

At the beginning of the school year, I define what I think are the most important things we need to accomplish everyday (and not just academically). This list of no more than five things becomes my minimum expectation for our days.

Below is my “even if nothing else happens, I will consider this enough” daily list for this year for my youngest son.

1. Audiobook and read to mom
2. Sensory activity or rock climbing
3. CTC Math – one 5 minute lesson
4. Current events discussion
5. One item from weekly list

In addition to our daily plan, I create a weekly list of ideas and activities to add to the above. We only add an item from the weekly list if we are in a good place and able to take on more (which, if I’m honest, is about 50% of the days).

Here is a picture of my plans for last week.

The daily list of requirements helps me start the day with a sense of things being doable from the start, instead of behind before we even get started.

Most important, it feels like enough.

Accept that resistance will come.

It is really, really hard to not take my sons’ resistance to learning personally, especially when I have worked hard to prepare an activity or define our plans for the day. Their resistance often triggers guilt and leads to be me being up in the middle of the night asking if I am doing enough.

But the truth is that resistance and not wanting to do something that is required of us is a part of learning. It is a part of homeschooling.

Accepting this reality helps me feel like what we are accomplishing, even in the midst of some resistance, matters.

Know that it all adds up.

I have to remind myself of this over and over again, but I know it to be true.

After all these years, I can see that all the small decisions, the seemingly unfocused afternoons, the audiobooks listened to in the car, the visits to the zoo, the conversations over the dinner table, the rock climbing lessons and yes, the worksheets and math lessons done on the computer – it all adds up.

It all adds up to a well-rounded and effective education.

It adds up to more than enough.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Let Go To Thrive When Homeschooling Neurodiverse Kids ~
Written by Colleen Kessler from Raising Lifelong Learners

Our homeschool year started last week. By Tuesday of this week, I had melted down into a puddle and called my friend crying. I was overwhelmed, burnt out, and sure I was not going to be able to handle doing it again this year.

Folks, I’ve been homeschooling, both typical and neurodiverse kids, for thirteen years. And I was sure (at several points this year) that I was absolutely going to fail and have been messing up my kids all along the way. Sound familiar?

Prefer to listen instead?

Most homeschool parents face this meltdown point at one time or another — many cycle through it again and again. And, if you’re homeschooling neurodiverse children, you probably cycle through it more often than most.

Parenting and homeschooling differently-wired kiddos is exhausting. 

Sometimes the hardest part can be letting go of our own expectations. The reality is, though, that it can be one of the very best things we can do for our atypical child.

There are five areas where letting go can set us on the path to freedom and joy when homeschooling neurodiverse kids.

How to Thrive When Homeschooling Neurodiverse Kids

1. Educational Expectations

If you have homeschooled your child for any length of time, this one likely doesn’t surprise you. When our atypical children progress on their own timelines and learn in atypical ways, it becomes essential to let go of any formal educational expectations we may have had for children.

The good news is, once we let go, our children are free to learn in the ways that work best for their unique needs.

2. Social Expectations

Neurotypical kiddos have a way of upending our social expectations as well. Friendships often look much different for our children than we imagined. In fact, many atypical kids find peers that are much younger or much older to be better fits.

For one of my children, one of the best social relationships was an older mentor-type figure.

Letting go of preconceived notions of what a social life looks like for our children takes the pressure off of us and allows our kids to thrive in relationships that make sense for their needs.

3. Parenting Expectations

You may let things slide that other parents would never dream of letting their kids “get away with.” 

Read that again. 

You may find that you allow more screen time, books to be read, language that you never imagined being a part of your dinner conversation, and have so many more parenting expectations completely upended than you ever expected.

I am here to encourage you be okay with that. Let go of the guilt or fear that comes from comparing ourselves to other parents, and instead create boundaries and rules in your family that make sense for your particular children.

4. Nutritional Expectations

Restricted or obsessive eating is often a part of the puzzle that we are putting together in an effort to support our children. This means that nutritional expectations might look completely different for your family.

My friend Shawna used to allow her son, who had extremely restricted eating due to sensory issues, have ice cream in the morning before school. It gave him a little bit of protein, calmed down the flight or fight he experienced each meal time, and made the day progress more smoothly. On more than one occasion, she was accused of spoiling him.

He turned out just fine – healthy and eventually, able to handle a more traditional breakfast. She has no regrets.

5. Personal Expectations

This one can be the most difficult of all. The truth is, many of our children simply require more care. This means less time for our own pursuits and relaxation.

I want to encourage you to do what you can, when you can, and remember that you are a person too! Your health and care matters just as much as your child’s. After all, you are their parent. 

They need you to be healthy and happy.

So remember, when you’re melting down on Tuesday of your second week of school — and then again every few weeks all year long — you’re not alone.

Parenting and homeschooling neurodiverse kids is tough. You’ve got this, friend. I promise.

What’s Your Child’s Learning Style? Take Jamie’s new quiz now and set yourself up for homeschooling success by understanding the way they learn best!

Originally published on September 20, 2022.

Planning a High School Homeschool Year for a Teen with Learning Differences – by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholar

Summer is in full swing, meaning ice cream cones, s’mores, campfires, sleeping under the stars, and planning for the upcoming school year. It seems like we finished our school year only last week, but I am, diligently plodding through curriculum ideas, books, and videos. Jotting down notes and objectives.

I actually enjoy the planning stages of homeschooling high school. As new books and planners arrive, things always seem fresh and full of unique purpose. There’s nothing I love more than getting new books! Unless, of course, it’s used books!

So, how am I planning high school for a kiddo with learning differences such as ADHD, Dysgraphia, and slow processing speed, to name a few? A teen with learning challenges sometimes requires a different approach to school.

Planning a High School Homeschool Year

I start by looking at what has worked in the past. Eleven years ago, we started homeschooling, and I had no idea what worked. But now I’ve got some inclinations.

I get my son in on the planning process. After all, it’s his education. He’s requested more books this year and to study Ancient History.

Think about how your children learn best. For my upcoming sophomore, that means books, videos, audiobooks, and hands-on activities.

What didn’t work? Writing is the bane of his existence. What assistive technology can be used to help?

Consider all these thoughts and others more specific to your teen’s needs as you plan your next school year and make it what you and your teen want it to be.

Setting Goals and Priorities

Next, set the goals and priorities based on what may or may not be required by your state or umbrella school, or maybe you have no regulations, and mom gets to decide what everything looks like.

We are planning my son’s high school year and are looking at the credits needed to graduate per our umbrella school.

Here’s what that looks like so far for my out-of-the-box sophomore:

• English II with a selection of books he and I have decided on, along with WriteShop I & II. We spent one day reading the synopsis of over 30 books to help us narrow down to 10 we felt were a good fit.
• Geometry with Denison Success Geometry because Denison Success Algebra worked so well for him last year. This kid struggles with attention and math, so the Success version works best for him.
• Italian I with a tutor on Outschool, helping craft an Italian course specific to my son’s needs, along with short videos and Duolingo as a supplement. This Outschool tutor has previously offered Italian courses, and my son adored them. I reached out to her and told her about what we needed. She recommends the Ciao Italian book (afflink) to go along with his tutoring with her.
• Biology with a standard Holt biology textbook, four living science books on audible, Crash Course videos, teachers pay teachers worksheets to coincide with the Crash Course videos, and Kristin Moon’s self-paced biology lab videos. We will also incorporate hands-on activities as needed.
• History with a collection of prehistory and ancient history encyclopedias, living books, plus hands-on activities.
• Home Economics – My son wants to learn more about cooking, sewing a button onto his shirt, mending a sock, etc. So, we are going to explore all things home ec this year!
• P.E. with Taekwondo five nights per week. He’s been taking Taekwondo for two years and only has one year left before he tests for his blackbelt!

Don’t forget as you start planning your homeschool year to use what you already have on hand when possible!

Eek, I know; the new curriculum sounds so much better and is so pretty. But there is something to be said for using books and curriculum that you already have. I have several encyclopedias on ancient history that we’ll re-use. There are several others I would like, but this saves me time and money.

Remember to be flexible and pivot when need be. Even as he ages, a multisensory approach has been critical for my teen.

Yes, he did create a Lego model of an animal cell last week. I find that various options for each subject work better than having a single curriculum straight out of the box.

When it comes to planning a high school homeschool year, learning differences are not a one size fits all, and neither are the ways in which we should approach them.

Do what works best for your family and your out-of-the-box teen. Get them in on the planning process and watch as you both come together to create a dynamic team and a memorable homeschool year!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Homeschooling: Unleashing the Potential of Kids with Executive Function Challenges ~ 
Written by Colleen Kessler from Raising Lifelong Learners

We all know that executive function skills are super important for our children’s success in organizing, planning, managing time, and more. But what about those kids who struggle with these skills? Here’s some great news: homeschooling can be a game-changer for them!

There are so many ways homeschooling can benefit children with executive function challenges, giving them the chance to develop and strengthen these skills in a supportive and personalized environment.

Personalized Learning

Picture this: instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, homeschooling allows us to tailor our teaching to our child’s specific needs. We can create lesson plans that are perfect for them, using teaching strategies that work best for their learning style.  Unit studies and project-based learning can be a great motivator for kiddos who love diving down rabbit holes and following their own interests

This individualized attention helps them truly understand and retain what they’re learning, and they can progress at their own pace. We can also meet their asynchronous needs — whatever they are. How awesome is that?

Flexibility is Key

Time management and organization can be tough for kids with executive function challenges. I have one talented kiddo who can lose her sheet music right after her voice teacher gives it to her — before she’s ever left her teacher’s tiny office! 

But with homeschooling, we can create flexible schedules that fit our kids’ unique needs. We can design routines that include breaks, time management techniques, and self-regulation strategies. By allowing our kids to set their own pace and adapt their schedules when necessary, we empower them to take charge of their learning and build those crucial executive function skills.

Building Skills Every Day

Executive function skills get better with practice, right? Well, homeschooling gives us plenty of opportunities to help our kids develop these skills in real-life situations. We can involve them in household chores, set up projects that require planning and organization, and encourage them to participate in community activities.

Inside our membership community, The Learner’s Lab, we equip families to work on these skills throughout the month by completing multi-age social-emotional and learning challenges together. These experiences allow our children to apply their executive function skills in everyday life, making the learning stick.

No Distractions

Distractions, distractions everywhere! But wait, not in our homeschooling environment! Traditional schools can be overwhelming for kids with executive function challenges due to all the stimuli.

However, homeschooling provides a controlled setting with fewer distractions, allowing our kids to focus better. We can create a peaceful, organized workspace that supports their learning and minimizes external distractions. It’s all about optimizing their ability to tackle tasks that require executive function skills.

Emotional Rock Stars

Remember, emotional well-being plays a huge role in developing executive function skills. Homeschooling allows us to give our kids the individual emotional support they need. We can create a nurturing and understanding learning environment where they feel safe to grow.

By fostering resilience, teaching stress management, and encouraging effective coping strategies, we set our children up for success. Homeschooling removes the anxiety and pressure that sometimes comes with traditional schooling, letting them focus on their academic and personal growth. It can be a real game-changer for children who struggle with executive function skills.

With personalized learning, flexible schedules, skill-building opportunities, reduced distractions, and emotional support, we can create an environment that caters to our child’s unique needs. Homeschooling empowers our kids to develop those essential executive function skills, equipping them with the tools they need to succeed academically and flourish in their personal lives. With the right support and resources, homeschooling opens up a world of possibilities for our children, giving them the bright future they deserve.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

How hard do I push my hesitant child? ~ Written by Kari Patterson

As I typed this title tears sprang to my eyes. Wow, what a journey it’s been.

If I had to sum up what it’s been like the last 16 years with an Asperger’s child, this question is what comes to mind. How hard do I push my hesitant child? I’ve erred on both sides of pushing — too much, not enough — at times, so I write this not as someone who’s nailed it, but as someone who’s experimented a lot and has a few thoughts to share.

I remember when Dutch was a toddler we joked that his favorite thing to do was whatever he was already doing. It didn’t matter what, he just didn’t want to do something else. Even now, we joke that he’s a bit of a hobbit — he loves home, favorite foods, familiar comforts, he even has wide, flat feet.

Years ago I talked to a seasoned mom who had raised an Asperger’s son. She said she would’ve pushed him a little more to try new things like sending him into the store by himself to buy milk. Her son is grown and thriving, so obviously it wasn’t detrimental to his development, but I appreciate her honest reflection.

I’ve constantly felt this tension. The very thing I love about homeschooling is the gentle, unhurried pace. But I also love that it affords me the freedom to do whatever is best for my unique child, and some children do indeed need a little nudge.

How hard do I push my hesitant child?

Let’s look at three questions to help guide: To push or not to push?

1. Is my own unhealthy fear motivating this push?

There is healthy fear, of course: Will I overindulge his timid tendencies in such a way that he’ll be unprepared for real life? Will I push too hard in such a way that he’s scarred and therefore equally unprepared for real life?

I think a touch of that is healthy. We recognize the weight of our responsibility as parents. We’re not flippant.

Unhealthy fears come into play when we’re worrying about what other people think,  trying to make our children into something that satisfies our own egos, constantly trying to keep up with so-and-so’s kids, and thinking our children’s performance is some sort of report card that proves we’re doing well as homeschool parents.

 The question is: What’s best for him?

2. Is it something in line with how he or she is already wired? 

I see healthy parental pushing as the strategic placement of pressure in order to empower a child to do what you’re pretty sure they’ll end up loving. Of course “pretty sure” is the key. This whole parenting thing is a risk from start to finish. 

Over the years we’ve watched Dutch closely and tried to nudge his natural gifts. Piano and baseball were early ones that we thought he’d love. Alas, he did not.

When he was young I made him go outside every single day for a nature walk, Charlotte Mason style, and he hated it. But at 12 we enrolled him in a school for homeschool teens, which was a huge step as he’d never learned away from home. He LOVED it and is still going strong. 

This year we encouraged him to run Cross-Country at our local high school. This was a huge stretch for him, and at first he decided he didn’t want to, but the coach wrote him an email that inspired him, he agreed to run and ended up loving it.  Now he’s running track as well and plans to do both through his high school career.

He’s looking forward to college and handles most new situations with confidence. 

3. Am I willing to stay close when he struggles through the push? 

Helping a reluctant child try something new requires a lot of us as parents. Honestly, it’s often easier not to try the new thing, whatever it is. Just last week there were two separate instances where I needed to push our older two kids a bit. It meant a significant time commitment for me in both situations.

As a parent, I need to be ready to absorb the time and emotional cost of being beside them and helping them navigate that hard thing.

In my instance, it was so worth it! They both passed the “test” of the situation with flying colors and felt more confident and encouraged as a result of doing the hard thing.

Oh friends, I’ve done this poorly so many times. But I’m also so grateful for the times these nudges have been exactly what our kids have needed. You may not like the word push. Feel free to term it however you’re comfortable — a nudge, a strong encouragement, a joyful steady force.

Whatever we call it, let’s help our hesitant children be all they can be!

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your type needs most!

Understanding the Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Children ~
Written by Colleen Kessler

Gifted children have characteristics that can often cause them to struggle socially and emotionally. In fact, academic challenges are often much easier to deal with than emotional ones.

To give your gifted child the support he or she needs to be successful, it’s important that you understand how that giftedness impacts his or her emotions.

So, what are some of these challenges?

Asynchronous Development

Simply put, asynchronous development means that gifted children grow physically, emotionally, and intellectually at varying rates. This discrepancy can cause some challenges. A gifted child may have visions of how he or she wants a project to turn out, but lacks the motor skills or physical ability to complete his or her vision.

Gifted children may understand abstract concepts like death and war, but often can’t deal with the emotional ramifications of that understanding. They may experience fear and anxiety that can be debilitating.  

One minute your gifted eight-year-old may be having a passionate debate with another adult, defending human rights with strong, research-based arguments, and the next minute he’s hitting his sister because he saw her playing with one of his toys.

Advanced Reasoning & Verbal Ability

While it may seem cute and even amazing when your eighteen-month-old rolls out paragraphs instead of two- and three-word sentences, this skill may be used against you when that sweetheart gets a bit older.

Advanced verbal ability can make gifted kids be argumentative. In fact, many argue about every little thing that happens in their day. It can completely exhaust both the parent and the child.

Gifted kids can try to manipulate parents and other adults, or attempt to “pull one over” on them from young ages. A gifted child’s advanced sense of humor can get them into trouble with adults or cause them to be misunderstood, making it difficult to get along with people.

Intensity

Gifted children often struggle with emotional intensity and perfectionism. They fear failure and react in unusually intense ways when they don’t get their way or are disappointed.

Sometimes perfectionism can be paralyzing to a gifted child, keeping them from trying something new for fear of failing at it.

Gifted children may hold back in situations, waiting to assess all implications before acting, which can make them seem socially inept or shy. Intensity can manifest itself in extreme outbursts toward others — especially in situations that do not normally warrant strong reactions. Extreme sensitivity can cause intense kids to take things too personally.

So what can parents do to help their gifted children deal appropriately with their social and emotional differences?

Find Intellectual Peers

It’s tough for gifted children to be around same-age peers exclusively. While most kids want to play with other children their own age, gifted children need to play with, talk with, and find mentors in older children and adults.

Use your child’s passions to help find him or her adults or other children to talk to.

Try to find other gifted kids in your area, and form a play or study group. Get your child involved in situations that make the most of his or her giftedness and where the differences don’t seem so different.

Control Your Own Reactions

Even though a gifted child wants to argue with the things you say and do, you are still the parent, and it’s important to maintain that balance. It’s okay — and even encouraged — to give your child credit for innovative and logical thinking. That’s a gift that can be beneficial to their future.

But, a child still needs proper discipline in order to learn to get along with others. It’s a challenging line to walk as parents of gifted children.

These are, admittedly, just a few ways to cope with your gifted child’s social and emotional needs. The most important thing is to be aware that your child is different and has specific needs that must be met.

As you continue your journey of homeschooling your child, you’ll be able to protect his or her gifts while continue to nurture the parts that need extra care and time to mature.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

6 Tips for Success When Homeschooling a Child With ADHD
~ Written by Colleen Kessler from Raising Lifelong Learners

Homeschooling a child with ADHD (Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder) can be difficult, heartbreaking, and lonely:

“I just don’t think our group is the best fit for your family. If you want to consider leaving [your oldest] at home and just coming with the younger kids, we’d love to have you. Otherwise, I think it’s best if you found a new homeschool group.”

Mine wasn’t a bad kid, nor did he act out at these meet-ups. It was a field trip and homeschool PLAY group, for goodness sake!

He was simply immature, impulsive, and often lacked a filter.

So when the world seems to be against our kids (and us) when we’re living with and homeschooling a child with ADHD, what can we do?

Here are 6 tips for success when homeschooling a child with ADHD:

1. Focus on the Positive

It’s easy to think of ADHD as a negative — the terms deficit and disorder denote that, after all. But, it’s important to remember that there are MANY positives to ADHD.

These include such traits as:

• Creativity
• Sensitivity, including empathy for others
• Keen observation of one’s environment
• Deep emotions
• Perceptivity
• Imagination
• Curiosity
• Inventiveness
• Spontaneity
• Proficiency in sports and athletics
• Passion
• Resilience
• Charisma

I just love the passion, intensity, and fervor with which my ADHD son approaches the world. Life around here would be pretty dull without him.

2. Try Therapy

Too often we think of family or child therapy as an admission of failure when, in reality, it’s a sign of bravery.

A good psychologist, counselor, or therapist can help your family find the tools they need to grow and mature together as you help your child develop self-regulation skills.

And when everyone is in on the therapy, you’re all on the same page with what’s going on and how to handle things.

3. Create Consistent Routines

Children with ADHD need routine more than other kids. It’s comforting when things are predictable.

They don’t need a rigid schedule, but having a predictable routine can foster a sense of security in a kiddo with ADHD, who is often very sensitive to changes in his or her environment.

Simple things like knowing that chores come after breakfast and math comes after chores, then the family gathers for some time to work on projects together while having a snack, can make all the difference in an ADHD kiddo’s day.

4. Identify the Good Behaviors

Sometimes it feels like I’ve corrected my ADHD kiddo about a hundred times before I’ve even had my first sip of coffee in the morning.

If it’s frustrating for me, can you even imagine how it feels for him?

Psychologists estimate that it takes between seven and ten positive interactions to offset one negative interaction in our brains so with our kids with ADHD, we need to be extra aware of how we talk to them.

It’s important to look for the good things they’re doing and saying and tell them what we’re seeing.

5. Avoid Blame

Resist the temptation to beat yourself up about your child’s ADHD or blame other family members. Think about it this way: God doesn’t make mistakes. Your child is yours for a reason.

Perhaps that reason is that you are the perfect parent to understand and help him with his ADHD.

Neurodiversities just are. They’re not something anyone caused, they’re just how our kids’ brains are wired.

6. Find Your People

In addition to therapy, it helps to find a support group for families with ADHD and otherwise neurodiverse homeschooled children. You can get ideas from other parents and share your own breakthroughs and challenges.

In a world where ADHD is thought to be just a discipline issue, families get stressed when they constantly feel misunderstood.

Support groups can help. There are many online groups for families with quirky and neurodiverse kiddos. Some of our favorites are Raising Poppies (on FB), Homeschooling Poppies (on FB), and the Learner’s Lab (a paid membership community for parents AND kids).

Remember, no matter what others think, even if they ask you and your kids to leave a group because it’s “not a fit” for them or you, your kids are perfectly and wonderfully made.

They are who they are and how they are for a purpose. Look for the good, build them up, and be confident that you are the perfect parent for your perfect kiddo.

You’re not alone in this journey. I promise.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!

Once I Was a Homeschool Influencer ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool and Introverted Moms

Once upon a time I was a homeschool influencer.

I wrote posts that were often shared by thousands, sometimes by tens or hundreds of thousands. This probably won’t be one of them.

Prefer to listen instead?

Those posts, written about a decade ago, described a new (to us) way to educate, one that revolved around home. Books, cooking, nature, family.

As a mom with young kids, I discovered this lifestyle right alongside my readers. I shared not as an expert, but a fellow sojourner.

Together we found that learning didn’t always have to look like school, that even the path to reading fluency could be less painful, more holistic. Some children wouldn’t even need to be taught to read, the research suggested, but would learn on their own or with minimal help.

Those words were a lifeline. After all, learning to read is the starting line of the home education marathon, one early proof that you’re not ruining your children.

For two of my kids, the research proved true. But for my youngest, with a long list of adoption-related special needs, it hasn’t.

I’ve been actively teaching this child to read for NINE years. My son, who just turned 17, is still not a fluent reader. He may never be.

At this point the research goes silent. These aren’t the kind of posts that go viral, I can assure you. We won’t be posing as the poster family for homeschooling success anytime soon.

Yet if I could go back, the only thing I’d really change are my expectations.

The philosophy of relationship-centered homeschooling holds up, because it’s virtually the same for a child of any ability, whether they’re headed to Harvard or Home Depot.

It’s one of unconditional love and lifelong support, and how can that ever steer you wrong?

As parents we don’t call the shots, can’t determine outcomes. We sacrifice, day by day, year after year. We believe our unseen efforts will bear fruit, even when we can’t currently see any.

It may not make us glamorous or enviable influencers, but it will make us humble and faithful.

Maybe that’s the exact fruit God intended all along.

What’s Your Homeschool Mom Personality? Take Jamie’s quiz now and receive a free personality report to help you organize your homeschool based on what your personality type needs most!