Raising Lifelong Learners

In this episode: Colleen delves into why play isn't just for little ones. Join us as we debunk myths and highlight play's pivotal role in the growth and development of adolescents. Parents -or anyone invested in the wellbeing of teens – this one's for you. Tune in for insights into how shared moments of joy can forge stronger relationships and promote resilience. Here are some takeaways to pique your interest: Skill Building: Play isn't just fun and games; it's key for developing critical skills. It enhances problem-solving abilities, fosters creativity, and improves emotional regulation, setting up our teens for success in all walks of life. Emotional Wellbeing: Through activities like role playing and theater, teens learn to navigate complex emotions and build resilience. Play is therapeutic – it's a stress-buster and a source of endorphin release, contributing to happier, healthier adolescents. Stronger Bonds: Play is a gateway to open, judgment-free communication. By engaging in play that resonates with teens, we demonstrate respect for their evolving personalities, support their growth, and strengthen our connections with them. Whether through board games, theater, sports, or role-playing games, play is essential in raising well-rounded, lifelong learners. Discover more practical tips, compelling stories, and strategies by listening to the full episode, and don't forget to share your own experiences of connecting through play! Listen, learn, and let's raise the bar together for teens' development! Links and Resources from Today's Show: SPONSOR|CTC Math SPONSOR|Night Zookeeper Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Great Games for Teens and Their Families The Importance Of Play For Your Entire Family Why I Still Read Aloud To My Tweens and Teens RLL 04 Amy Milcic: Keeping Things Fun While On-the-Go - Raising Lifelong Learners A Different Kind Of Family Togetherness: Ideas and Encouragement For Connecting With Our Kids Raising Creative Kids: A Collection of Simple Creativity Prompts for Children Les Miserables Movie Study The Social Benefits of Online Gaming Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

In the latest episode, Colleen sits down with the talented Millie Florence, whose literary works are captivating readers of all ages. Prepare to be swept into a world of persistent dreams, sibling dynamics, and the sheer courage of pursuing one's passion – all in the backdrop of historical and high fantasy. In this episode, you'll hear about: The unique process Millie underwent to find a publisher that cherishes the quirky and indefinable genre of her books. The varied paths to getting published and the importance of steadfastness and strategy. The role that familial support plays in fostering creativity and confidence in young authors. Key Takeaways: Learn how to be your child's biggest cheerleader in their creative endeavors. Explore strategies for marketing at events and online to reach a wider audience. Understand the significance of self-education, curiosity, and tailored learning environments in raising lifelong learners. Don't miss out on this enriching discussion – perfect for aspiring writers, parents, and anyone with a love for literature and learning. Links and Resources from Today's Show SPONSOR | CTC Math SPONSOR | Night ZooKeeper Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Find out more about Millie Florence at MillieFlorence.com Millie's latest book The Balter of Ashton Harper Millie's first book Honey Butter Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Create a Custom Homeschool The Learning Game | A Conversation with Ana Lorena Fabrega Interest-Led Learning In The Early Years: Preschool and Beyond Homeschooling Our Gifted Children: The Power Of Artful Questions Why Unit Studies are Ideal for Interest-led Learning Homeschooling Middle School Using Your Own Interest-Based Curriculum Homeschooling Your Gifted Child With Interest-Led Learning RLL #107: Learning as an Unschooling Family with Robyn Robertson Homeschooling High School With Interest-Led Learning RLL #68: Self-Directed Education with Peter Gray, PhD Connect with Millie You can find Millie on Intagram, Facebook, and YouTubeMillie's website: MillieFlorence.comNewsletter Sign Up and Free Gift: millieflorence.com/free Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, InstagramHow does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

In today's episode, we talk about managing expectations and fostering an environment where your children's uniqueness can thrive. There are incredible benefits to prioritizing and nurturing your child's creative spirit—benefits that extend far beyond the canvas. They have an impact on cognitive, emotional, and social development. Get ready to explore how open-ended play and critical thinking are key to raising problem solvers and innovative thinkers. Fostering artistic talents in various forms can enhance your child's problem-solving skills and confidence to tackle life's hurdles. Whether it's through journaling, imaginative play, or academic endeavors, creativity is a window to self-expression, emotional processing, and personal growth. So, let's get comfortable with creative messes and remember to trust in our children's natural drive to explore and innovate. You don't want to miss today's conversation. So settle in, grab your watercolor pencils, and start sketching out your thoughts as we discuss how to weave creativity into the tapestry of your daily learning adventures. ➡️ Our sponsors for today's episode are CTC Math and Night Zookeeper ⬅️ Links and Resources from Today's Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. The Different Faces of Giftedness: Understanding Your Child Raising Creative Kids: A Collection of Simple Creativity Prompts for Children Real-Life Science Mysteries Book Falling Unexpectedly in Love With Homeschooling My Gifted Child The Best Advice I Can Give You: Become A Student Of Your Child Inspiring Creativity in Kids Sparking Creativity with Dragons and Netflix Hands-On Art History–Discovery through Creativity Learning with Spielgaben | Play-Based Problem-Solving Inspire Creativity with LEGO and Netflix Creativity Means Dreaming Big Raising Problem Solvers Creative Thinking Activities for Kids How to Encourage Innovative Thinking in Your Kids Q-Tip Snowflake STEM Snowflake STEM Bundle Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Today we are talking with Ana Lorena Fábrega about interest-led, project based learning. Ana is an author, edupreneur, and Chief Evangelist at Synthesis. Growing up, she attended ten schools in seven different countries. She then earned her BS in Childhood Education and Special Education from New York University and taught elementary school in New York, Boston, and Panama. Today, Ana Lorena writes online to over 200,000 readers about the promise of alternative education. If you need some encouragement to continue, or even start taking a more interest-based focus in your homeschool, then pop in your earbuds and listen in! Our sponsors for today's episode are CTC Math and Night Zookeeper Links and Resources from Today's Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab The Learning Game by Ana Lorena Fábrega Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. The Power Of Inquiry Based Learning For Gifted Children Interest Led Homeschooling: Helping Your Child Find Their Interests Create a Multimodal Learning Environment Nurturing a Strength-Based Approach to Learning in Homeschooling Project Based Learning And Your Gifted Child: A Guide For Parents RLL #96: Finding Learning Opportunities with Dennis DeNoia RLL #68: Self-Directed Education with Peter Gray, PhD RLL #64: What to Do When School Doesn't Work Homeschooling Your Gifted Child With Interest-Led Learning Homeschooling High School With Interest-Led Learning Synthesis Review For Gifted Children: Everything You Need To Know Connect with Ana You can find Ana on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube Learn more about The Learning Game at https://afabrega.com/ Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

In today's episode, Colleen tackles the important topic of managing worry in your homeschool. She shares the nature of stress, its impact on children and teens, and how it manifests in their behaviors. From emotional outbursts to academic challenges, she covers the signs of stress that parents should watch for. She also shares practical strategies for parents, such as establishing routines, encouraging reengagement, promoting healthy habits, and practicing deep breathing. By fostering a positive and resilient environment, we can empower our kids to tackle challenges and develop lifelong learning skills. Join us as we navigate the intricacies of homeschooling and discover effective ways to support our children through stressful times. Our sponsor for today's episode is CTC Math Links and Resources from Today's Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Original Article on Homeschooling Today Magazine Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Masterclass | Helping Your Child Manage Worry If He's Really So Smart… Why Gifted Kids Struggle and What to Do About It Anxiety vs. Stress vs. Perfectionism: Helping Our Children Cope Prioritizing Self-Care is Important for You and Your Kids The Power of Connecting with Your Kids in Homeschooling Taming the Worry Dragon at GHC Books to Help Kids Who Worry Helping Our Kids Self-Regulate with Sarah Collins When the World Overwhelms Your Anxious Child | How You Can Help How a Return to Outside Play Will Help Our Kids Thrive with Ginny Yurich Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, InstagramHow does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

In today's episode, Colleen has the privilege to talk with Julie Skolnick about raising and providing the best environment for gifted and 2e children. Julie F. Rosenbaum Skolnick, M.A., J.D., Founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC, passionately guides parents of gifted and distractible children, mentors 2e adults, trains educators and advises professionals on how to bring out the best and raise self-confidence in their 2e students and clients. A prolific writer and beloved speaker, Julie hosts "The Haystack 2e Adult Membership Group" which welcomes all '2e adult needles,' hosts Let's Talk 2e! Parent Empowerment Groups, produces virtual conferences, and publishes "Gifted & Distractible," a free weekly newsletter. Her book, Gifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child, was released in October 2023. Located in Maryland, USA, Julie's clients, and audience hale from all four corners of the globe. Our sponsor for today's episode is CTC Math Links and Resources from Today's Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Julie's website: With Understanding Comes Calm Gifted anGifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child by Julie Skolnick Parent Empowerment Group - With Understanding Comes Calm The 2e Toolbox for Parents - With Understanding Comes Calm Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Guide Your Kids on the Path to Self-Discovery Nurturing Authenticity | Supporting Neurodivergent Children in Discovering Their True Selves Twice Exceptional Children And Homeschooling: What It's Really Like - Raising Lifelong Learners Parenting and Teaching a Twice Exceptional Child Seeking Support for 2e Children and Adults: When Is It Too Early or Too Late? - With Understanding Comes Calm Building Understanding and Trust with Twice Exceptional Loved Ones Homeschooling Twice Exceptional Kids Nurturing a Strength-Based Approach to Learning in Homeschooling Being a Detective Allows Parents and Educators of 2e Children to Identify Triggers and Focus on Strengths - With Understanding Comes Calm Emotional Regulation Free Gift from Julie Skolnick The Different Faces of Giftedness: Understanding Your Child Connect with Julie Julie's website: https://www.WithUnderstandingComesCalm.com You can find Julie on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Today we are delighted to have Ginny Yurich share with us how spending time outside will help our kids thrive. Ginny is a Michigan homeschooling mother of five and the founder of 1000 Hours Outside, a global movement, media company and lifestyle brand meant to bring back balance between virtual life and real life. She is a thought-leader in the world of nature-based play and its benefits for children, and one of her top priorities is to inspire parents to invest in spending time in God's creation with their children. Her 1000 Hours Outside Challenge spans the globe and many people from all walks of life look to her for inspiration as well as practical tips on how to put down the screens and get outside. Our sponsor for today's episode is CTC Math Links and Resources from Today's Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab 1000 Hours Outside - Prioritize Nature, Reclaim Childhood and Experience A Fuller Life by Ginny Yurich Until The Streetlights Come On by Ginny Yurich 1000 Hours Outside Activity Book by Ginny Yurich Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. 100 Backyard Activities That Are the Dirtiest, Coolest, Creepy-Crawliest Ever! by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Hands-On Ecology: Authentic Learning Experiences That Engage Students in STEM by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Free to Learn by Peter Gray Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children by Angela J. Hanscom Ready or Not: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Uncertain and Rapidly Changing World by Madeline Levine, PhD Moms, You Are Doing A Great Job RLL #68: Self-Directed Education with Peter Gray, PhD Surviving Different Weather Conditions | Think Outside Boxes Surviving the Elements | Think Outside Boxes RLL #43: Getting Your Kids Outside with Justin Wren 5 Great Outdoor Activities for Kids Fabulous Outdoor Play Spaces Connect with Ginny You can find Ginny here on Instagram For her blog, podcast, and books check out 1000 Hours Outside Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

A strengths-based approach to learning is exactly what our asynchronous kids need. We may be tempted to focus on remediation in areas where they are "behind," but remember there is no behind; our kids learn every day. It is so important to teach our children to use their strengths to help them overcome their weaknesses instead of allowing them to feel behind, always trying to catch up. In today's episode, Colleen talks specifically about why we should implement a strengths-based approach with our kids, and let go of the traditional, deficit-based model. Our sponsor for today's episode is CTC Math Links and Resources from Today's Show Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Masterclass | Raising Resilient Families Bundle | Smart Boy Characters Movie Studies - Raising Lifelong Learners Bundle | Smart Girl Characters Movie Studies - Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. What's The Difference Between Interest-Led and Strength Based Learning? RLL #67: Ideas for Nurturing Our Kids' Strengths RLL #66: Strength-Based Learning for Differently-Wired Kids with Shawna Wingert RLL 17 Shawna Wingert: Building on Your Child's Strengths Strength Finder Worksheet (free download) The Powerful Relationship Between Confidence And Learning In Our Homeschools Building Self-Esteem in Kids RLL 30 Andrew Peterson: Being Students of Our Children RLL #40: Self-Directed Homeschooling High School with Trevor Kessler Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Building social-emotional skills, nurturing generosity, and increasing confidence in our kids is important all year long, but can be great to focus on during the holiday season. In this episode of Raising Lifelong Learners, host Colleen Kessler discusses teaching kids to be empathetic and to help others, and emphasizes the benefits of nurturing empathy in children, especially those who are neurodivergent. Listen to learn practical tips for fostering a sense of service in kids, along with understanding the emotional and psychological benefits of doing so. The episode also explores age-appropriate ways for children to get involved in serving their communities and encourages parents to prioritize safety and trust when seeking volunteering opportunities for their kids. The episode is a heartfelt reminder of the impact of spreading kindness and its role in raising emotionally intelligent and compassionate adults. Our sponsor for today's episode is CTC Math Additional Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners Lab Masterclass | Cultivating a Healthy Mindset Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Teaching Kids to Help Others Random Acts of Kindness: An Advent Tradition The Ultimate Guide to Random Acts of Kindness RLL #93: 7 Tips and Strategies for Boosting Emotional Resilience in Your Kids Random Acts of Kindness for Kids Raising Kind Kids: Acts of Kindness for Kids Books to Inspire Kindness and Thankfulness Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!