Raising Lifelong Learners

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!

There are so many changes this time of year that affect our intense kiddos.  Our routines are off, there are new or uncomfortable places to visit, we’re managing family members who do not understand our kids, plus all the excitement and anticipation.  Sarah Collins joins Colleen again, this time to talk about ways to meet the sensory needs of our kids and anticipate some of the challenges they may face. Let’s jump in and ready ourselves for the holiday season!   Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs Additional Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners LabRaising Lifelong Learners Facebook GroupMasterclass | Building Family Connections - Raising Lifelong LearnersRaising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. Helping Our Kids Self-Regulate with Sarah CollinsStrengthening Executive Function Skills: A Conversation with Sarah CollinsSelf-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory NeedsManaging Your Child’s Intensity During the HolidaysIntense Children and The Holidays: A Parent’s GuideRLL 33: The Holidays and Your Differently-Wired ChildAutism and the Holidays | Julie’s School Performance Story Connect with Sarah Website: https://www.homeschoolOT.comYou can also find Sarah on Instagram Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, InstagramHow does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Colleen has a delightful conversation with clinical psychologist, Gail Post, Ph.D. in today’s episode.  Gail has years of personal and professional experience with the gifted community and shares so much regarding the emotional and social needs.  Grab your earbuds and get ready for some practical parenting ideas and lived-in advice on raising our intelligent and intense kiddos.   Gail Post, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist, parenting coach/consultant, workshop leader, writer, parent of two gifted young adults, and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In practice for over 35 years, she specializes in intellectual and musical giftedness and twice-exceptionalities. Her writing includes hundreds of articles, several book chapters, a long-standing blog, Gifted Challenges. and her book, The Gifted Parenting Journey.   Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs   Links and Resources from Today's Show The Gifted Parenting Journey by Gail Post, Ph.D. Workshop with Gail Post, Ph.D.| Gifted Parenting Journey Raising Lifelong Learners Community - The Learners Lab Raising Resilient Sons by Colleen Kessler, M.Ed. SENG: Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted Supporting The Social and Emotional Needs Of Gifted And Twice-Exceptional Kids Prioritizing Self-Care is Important for You and Your Kids Finding Community: Building a Support System Online and In-Person Smart Kids Still Need Help When You Just Aren’t Comfortable Getting Help for Your Child Episode 319: Dr. Gail Post on the Journey of Parenting Gifted Children Parent Footprint with Dr. Dan: The Gifted Parenting Journey with Gail Post How Do I Parent My Gifted Kid with Dr. Gail Post Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive: 10th Anniversary Edition RLL LIVE | Q & A – Parenting Differently-Wired Kiddos Connect with ColleenYou can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

We are raising kids who are learning and developing in ways that do not fit in with the typical milestones.  They may be reading at three, yet at ten are still struggling to find meaningful friendships. We, as parents can, often feel isolation when raising neurodivergent children.  They notice that they are outliers, and we feel it, too.  That doesn’t mean making connections is impossible, though! There are steps we can take, to help our family find their tribe and build a community.  In today’s episode, Colleen will be talking about her experiences with co-ops, classes, and helping her neurodivergent family find community. Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs Additional Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Membership Community - The Learners LabRaising Lifelong Learners Facebook GroupMasterclass| If He’s Really So Smart… Why Gifted Kids Struggle and What to Do About It Raising Resilient Sons by Collleen Kessler, M.Ed. Find a Place of Belonging for Your Neurodiverse KidsWhy Join a Gifted Parent Group?Why Community Is So Important For Gifted And Twice Exceptional KidsThe Anxiety Toolkit Nurturing Authenticity | Supporting Neurodivergent Children in Discovering Their True SelvesThe Social Emotional Needs Of Gifted And Neurodiverse Children - Raising Lifelong Learners Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

We have Sarah Collins from Homeschool OT on the podcast again, this time to talk about self-regulation for our kiddos.  Colleen and Sarah will deep dive into the different sensory systems and look for each day.  This episode is full of information on why sensory integration is important, along with practical tips and activities to include in your day to teach your kids to regulate and help them most.   Connect with Sarah Sarah Collins |The Homeschool OT Instagram Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs Additional Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Community - The Learners Lab Masterclass|Finding Peace in a Life Filled with Intensity Raising Resilient Sons by Collleen Kessler, M.Ed. Strengthening Executive Function Skills: A Conversation with Sarah Collins Self-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory Needs How to Integrate the Zones At Home with Guest Writer, Sarah Collins, OTR/L Gifted Children and Sensual Overexcitabilities: A Parent’s Guide Yard Work for Sensory Input - Raising Lifelong Learners Co-regulation - HomeschoolOT Sensory Play for Kids - Raising Lifelong Learners Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Our neurodivergent kids may require extra help finding a peer group where they feel comfortable being themselves and sharing their thoughts and interests.  It’s essential for us to be in tune with our children so that we can find places for them to connect with others.  That may be connecting them with people of all ages who share hobbies, sports, or academic interests.    Today Colleen will discusses ways you can help your gifted, 2e, and neurodivergent kids find belonging in ways that validate who they are. It may not look the same as you thought, but meaningful relationships are possible. Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Community - The Learners Lab Masterclass| Masterclass | Cultivating a Healthy Mindset - Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons by Collleen Kessler, M.Ed. Building Self-Esteem in Kids The Powerful Relationship Between Confidence And Learning In Our Homeschools 5 Tips for Helping Gifted Children Make Friends Why Community Is So Important For Gifted And Twice Exceptional Kids - Raising Lifelong Learners The Best Advice I Can Give You: Become A Student Of Your Child Finding Homeschool Community (for our children and ourselves) Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!

Katie Keene is the host of the top 1% globally rated podcast Her Home and Heart, and host to a membership community of beautiful Christian homeschooling families on the journey to peace at home and generational family success despite the challenges of raising a special needs child.   Her mission is simple: to ensure that no family breaks apart simply due to lack of tools to create a SOLID, peaceful, and joyful family foundation at home.   Katie is most passionate about helping special needs families create strong bonds and deep roots, so they don’t wake up one day to regret.   Learn more about how she teaches moms to build a successful and joyful home, and to grab coupons, freebies, and links to Katie’s best kept secrets go to linktr.ee/FamilySuccess   Our sponsors for today’s episode are CTC Math and Reading Eggs You can find Katie at: The Greater Honor Special Needs Community: https://herhomeandheart.net/tgh Facebook: https://urlgeni.us/facebook/HHAHGroup Her Home and Heart Podcast with Katie Keene Additional Links and Resources Raising Lifelong Learners Community - The Learners Lab Masterclass| Homeschooling Your Gifted and Special Needs Child | Get Started Raising Resilient Sons by Collleen Kessler, M.Ed. RLL #45: Homeschooling Special Needs Kiddos with Faith Berens My Neurodivergent Kiddo Needs So Much Help… Forget the Box | Embracing Your Child’s Otherness Safe Place Fatigue | The Wear and Tear of Being Your Child’s Person RLL #64: What to Do When School Doesn’t Work RLL #60: Raising Differently-Wired Kids with Debbie Reber Homeschooling During Overwhelming Times - Raising Lifelong Learners Connect with Colleen You can find Colleen on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram How does your child learn best? Take the Quiz!