RLL LIVE | Survival Mode for Parents of Quirky Kids
Sometimes parenting differently-wired kiddos is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. Gifted and twice-exceptional children think differently, process differently, and have different levels of intensity. And it means that sometimes we’re just in survival mode....
Games to Help Improve Your Kid’s Emotional Intelligence
We all want our kids to develop a strong emotional intelligence. Let’s give them a hand by using play to strengthen their skills. Since we know that emotions can be overwhelming for kids, it’s our job to give them the tools they need to cope with the ups...
RLL 25: Fall Plans for Eclectic Homeschooling
It’s back to school time, and all over the internet — in your Instagram feeds, on your favorite bloggers’ sites, and on Facebook — you’re faced with a peek into what everyone’s doing to get ready for back to school. And,...
Code Your World | 4-H National Youth Science Day
My daughter was asking me the other day about 4-H — a few friends of hers participate in various activities and she was interested in learning more. Truthfully, I didn’t know much about 4-H when she asked me about it, and like so many people out there, assumed that...
Using Drawing to Promote Learning in Your Home
“Mom! Can I read you the book I wrote?” My daughter came running towards me, waving a once-blank book in the air, a huge smile on her face. This kiddo struggles to read, but has been a writer for years. She’s forever sketching out the things she...
Let’s Talk About Emotional Overexcitability
One of my favorite movies will forever be Mean Girls. I had no idea when I was quoting it as a teenager that I’d still be quoting it as an adult, but here we are. Glen Coco and fetch and grool – they all have their place in my daily speech, but the line...
The Best Books for Teaching About Executive Functions Skills
It is incredibly difficult to watch your child struggle when it comes to planning, staying organized, and regulating their emotions. When we witness this struggle, as parents, we know there has to be a way to help them find not only tools, but tools that really work....
What Makes the Best Umbrella STEM Challenge
STEM activities are a lot of fun and educational, but the best kind of STEM activities are open-ended, allowing children to think for themselves. In this umbrella STEM challenge, kids are challenged to make an umbrella from household supplies. They must follow all...
The Self-Driven Child Book Club
“Mom! I’ve read about book clubs — you know, where a group of people get together after reading the same book, and then talk about the book. Doesn’t it sound amazing? My friends and I were over there talking and we want to start one. May...
Getting Away with the Girls | Visiting Frankenmuth, MI
“Oh! You just made my night,” my husband’s aunt exclaimed as I answered her call. “I heard your message while I waited in the ER.” It had been a rough night for her, ending with a trip to the emergency room because she’d cut herself...
Make a Paperclip Float Science Experiment
Surface tension is an interesting scientific concept that is difficult for most kids to understand. But with this paperclip experiment, it becomes much easier for kids to understand as they can see it work right before their eyes! The floating paperclip science...
RLL 24: Asynchrony, Intensity, and Motivation | A Listener Question
Today, Tiffany asks about asynchronous development in gifted kiddos, how to help manage intensity, and tips for motivating gifted kids. It’s a jam-packed half hour and there are loads of resources to sift through in the show notes. You’re going to need...
Marshmallow Shape Towers STEM Challenge
STEM activities are a lot of fun and educational, but the best kind of STEM activities are open-ended, allowing children to think for themselves. In this marshmallow shape towers STEM challenge, kids are challenged to make a marshmallow tower, but not only make a...
RLL 23 Mahayla West: Trusting Your Kids
It’s so easy for homeschool moms to doubt. We’re in the thick of things, right? Doing it all… worrying about it all… and not able to see what will happen on the other side. There are no guarantees in parenting, nor are there in...
What You Won’t Find at a Homeschool Convention
It’s no secret that I love Great Homeschool Conventions. I’ve had the privilege of attending and partnering with them for years now and I am always impressed with how GHC cares about homeschool families, how they respond to needs and bring in speakers to...
RLL 22: Finding a Homeschool Co-op and Creating Killer Classes | A Listener Question
As homeschooling parents of outliers, we sometimes feel isolated, and co-ops can fill a need for both our children and ourselves. In this episode, Colleen tackles a question about creating an amazing co-op class from listener, Wendy, but also dives into the different...
Make a Paper Plate Maze STEM Challenge
STEM activities are a lot of fun and educational, but the best kind of STEM activities are open-ended, allowing children to think for themselves. In this paper plate maze STEM challenge, kids are challenged to make a marble maze using household materials. They must...
RLL 21 Kaylene George: Embracing Autism
“Autism is NOT the Big Bad Wolf… Your child is going to have joy. Your child is going to have a life…” This inspiring episode challenges all of us to rethink autism and how we interact with autistic friends and family members. Kaylene...
Attending a Homeschool Convention for Your Differently-Wired Kiddo
Ah, homeschool convention season. The chance to peruse the newest curricula, hear your favorite speakers, spend time with like-minded parents, and buy too many books. A weekend at a Great Homeschool Convention always promises to excite and inspire homeschool families...
RLL 20: Helping Your Kiddo with Executive Function Skills Struggles | A Listener Question
Gifted and creative kiddos can often struggle with their executive function skills, and we parents are left scratching our heads, and trying to figure out how to get them to be functioning adults who can manage their own lives. In this episode we’ll talk about...
Mislabeled Behavior And Undiagnosed Giftedness
“But… what’s wrong with him?” I was sitting across from the counselor we’d been seeing every week for six months, desperation leaking from my eyes and filling the small room with a heaviness we both felt. On the walls were graduate...
RLL 19 Luke Gilkerson: Using Astronomy to Foster an Integrative Approach to Learning
Science — particularly the study of astronomy — can be a great way to integrate your kiddos’ subjects so that they’re incorporating many different areas like literature, writing, and the content areas in one fell swoop… A deep dive into...
RLL LIVE | Gifted Teens and Tweens
Join Colleen for a casual conversation about raising and homeschooling gifted teens and tweens. We’ll talk twice-exceptional kids, puberty, and challenging behaviors. Don’t forget that you can leave additional questions in the comments! We might tackle...
Guess that Scent Science Experiment
Preschoolers and kindergarten kids love learning about their physical senses. One sense that they never get tired of using is their sense of smell. This fun scent science experiment allows kids to use their nose to find out just how well they can identify common...Welcome!
Hi! I'm Colleen, gifted specialist, educational consultant, author, speaker, and homeschool mom of four gifted/twice-exceptional kids.
Grab a cup of coffee, some of that chocolate you're hiding from the kids, and join me as I learn, experiment, and explore with my kiddos -- and hopefully inspire you a little in your journey alongside smart, quirky, creative kids, too!
Inspire Creativity… Effortlessly!
We Love These Resources!
Connect With Us on Instagram
Join the Community!
Resources You’ll Love
