RLL #43: Getting Your Kids Outside with Justin Wren

RLL #43: Getting Your Kids Outside with Justin Wren

Sometimes it seems difficult to get our kids outside when all they want to do is lounge around inside the house. But, studies show that time outside increases creativity and cognitive functions, so it’s important to get kids outside as much as we can. Today...
Fix It Yourself | Think Outside Boxes

Fix It Yourself | Think Outside Boxes

“You can’t use up creativity: The more you use, the more you have. Make sewing and fixing things your new superpower!” This month’s Think Outside Boxes Repair Box might just be the best one yet. I keep saying that, but I’m not sure how...
All Tied Up in Knots | Anxiety and Think Outside Boxes

All Tied Up in Knots | Anxiety and Think Outside Boxes

Has your child ever told you that she feels like her tummy is all tied up in knots when she’s feeling anxious about something? Childhood anxiety is real, valid, and so, so tough for kids — and their parents, and I loved that our Think Outside Boxes...
RLL 41: Homeschooling “Fringy Kids” with Heather Boorman

RLL 41: Homeschooling “Fringy Kids” with Heather Boorman

Raising kids “on the fringes,” or gifted, 2e, etc can be isolating and confusing. Therapist and author Heather Boorman joins Colleen on today’s episode to talk about how helping kids see their differences can help them be the amazing people...
The Secret to Homeschooling THAT Kid Successfully

The Secret to Homeschooling THAT Kid Successfully

Earlier this school year we made drastic changes in our 10th grader’s schooling. He’s been homeschooled since the February of his first grade year, so we should have had things pretty well in hand as we’d been doing it awhile. Right?  Wrong....
RLL 39 Sara Hall: Trusting Your Child’s Lead

RLL 39 Sara Hall: Trusting Your Child’s Lead

  It can be scary to homeschool an outside-the-box learner. Differently-wired kids beat to the tune of their own drummers, and that can be problematic when we go into it with a set expectation for how things will be. It is hard to trust our kids AND ourselves...
Strewing in Your Homeschool to Spark Curiosity

Strewing in Your Homeschool to Spark Curiosity

I walked into the kitchen to find my youngest two kiddos (9 and 6) deep in concentration at the table. Glancing at the pile of tiny clay food, it was clear that they’d been up awhile. These two are early risers. I’m not. For my own sanity, and to keep them...
Is Homeschooling Ruining Your Differently-Wired Kiddos?

Is Homeschooling Ruining Your Differently-Wired Kiddos?

The laptop was fired up, art tutorial queued, four canvases and easels stood in their places on the table, and soft music played on the bluetooth speaker in the kitchen. I set out some snacks — everything was always more fun with pretzels, veggie sticks, and...
RLL 38: Happy New Year

RLL 38: Happy New Year

  It’s a new year and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to tackle it head on and enjoy my kiddos and our new puppy, all while making this podcast and site the place where you can find all you need to help you parent and homeschool those...
The Anxious Parent of the Anxious Child | Using Social Stories

The Anxious Parent of the Anxious Child | Using Social Stories

You know that old saying about apples and trees and how they don’t fall far? As the parent of an anxious child you are most likely looking in a mirror as you watch them tense up, explode, or collapse under the weight of their very overwhelming feelings. You...
Embracing Art and Its History for Kids With Sensory Issues

Embracing Art and Its History for Kids With Sensory Issues

Gifted kids, while they share real estate on the far right side of the IQ bell curve, don’t tend to share much else. “If you’ve met one gifted kid, you’ve met one gifted kid,” right? Some love math and science, some love music and...
Homeschooling Because of Mental Illness

Homeschooling Because of Mental Illness

It’s no secret – homeschooling is on the rise. It’s becoming wildly more popular, accommodating, varied, and even – dare I say? – mainstream. Gone are the days of stereotypes and denim jumpers, homeschoolers are as different as they are...
The Gift of Giftedness

The Gift of Giftedness

If you’re the parent of a gifted child, then you already know about the difficulties that come along with raising outliers. Maybe your child is intense, struggles with anxiety, has trouble making friends, or is a bit overexcitable. The challenge is real, and it’s...
Nurturing Your Gifted Toddler

Nurturing Your Gifted Toddler

The pediatrician looked up from his checklist and asked, “how many words can she say?” and I kind of looked at him funny. “It’s okay if she’s not saying a lot right now. She’s only 18 months, so don’t panic. Language will...
The Lies Anxiety Tells You

The Lies Anxiety Tells You

I’ve written quite a bit about anxiety, and to be honest, I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. It’s a topic that’s very close to my (rapidly beating) heart and very present in my home. I am an anxious parent of an anxious child. I face...
Homeschoooling a Kid Who Is Smarter Than I am

Homeschoooling a Kid Who Is Smarter Than I am

It’s happened often enough that I don’t take offense anymore – person discovers I’m homeschooling only one of my kiddos, person inquires as to why, person discovers my kiddo is classified as profoundly gifted, person is either wildly interested...
RLL 37 Connie Albers: Finishing Strong

RLL 37 Connie Albers: Finishing Strong

  Ever worry that you’re not going to be able to do this homeschool thing all the way through high school? Me too. Colleen is talking today with Connie Albers — homeschool mom of five adult children. All of those kiddos have homeschooled, gone through...
Tracks in the Snow | Think Outside Boxes

Tracks in the Snow | Think Outside Boxes

“What made those tracks in the snow, Mom?” Isaac, my five year old, peered intently at the ground near his feet. The footprint was likely made by one of the many stray cats that roam our neighborhood at night, but his simple question reminded me that there...
Star Wars Gifts That Are Out of This World

Star Wars Gifts That Are Out of This World

Do you have Star Wars fans in your home? We do. Lots of little Star Wars fans… I’m always on the look out for cool gifts to give them that they’ll love. Check out these amazing Star Wars gifts I found. There are so many unique toys, games, and...
RLL 35: What This Homeschool Mom Doesn’t Do

RLL 35: What This Homeschool Mom Doesn’t Do

People ask often how I do it all. I try to tell them that I simply don’t — that there are balls I drop regularly, but I’m not sure they completely believe me. In today’s episode, I tell you all the things I don’t do. The home and...
Great Books to Read With Your Kids in December

Great Books to Read With Your Kids in December

December brings the holidays, snowy days, and thanks to some time off, the opportunity to read a pile of amazing books. To help fill that time, take a look at these great books to read with your kids in December. There are fun books on this list as well as...