Podcasts
Want to raise your kids to love learning? To become lifelong learners — children who know that they can find the answers to anything they’re curious about? This is the podcast about all of that and more! Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and listen to how others help inspire kids to view their world with play and passion and fascination…
RLL 31: Should I Test My Child for Giftedness? | A Listener Question
The testing question... it comes up often in conversation and consults, but as a listener asked again recently, Colleen thought it worth revisiting in a podcast episode. Testing your child for giftedness is a personal choice and everyone has different reasons for...
RLL 30 Andrew Peterson: Being Students of Our Children
Amazing things can happen when we trust our children, become students of them and their interests, and encourage them to follow those passions. In this episode, Colleen talks to Andrew Peterson -- Christian music artist, author, speaker, and Founder of The Rabbit...
RLL 29: Giving Your Kids the Attention They Each Need | A Listener Question
Sometimes it's a challenge to give each of your kiddos the attention they need individually when you're raising more than one. When one or more of those kids has special needs or demands more attention than others, though, it can feel impossible to give each of your...
RLL 28 Sarita Holzmann: Using Books to Make Learning Come to Life
Books can be a great way to get kids excited about learning. GREAT literature can go even further and make learning come alive for the whole family. Today, Colleen talks to Sarita Holzman, founder of the Sonlight Curriculum all about using books to ignite a love of...
RLL 27: Challenging Gifted Kids vs. Pushing Them | A Listener Question
Parents of gifted kiddos often worry whether they're challenging their kids enough or pushing them too hard. In this episode we examine the difference between pushing and appropriately challenging our kids, while acknowledging that those who aren't raising gifted kids...
RLL LIVE | Anxiety and Gifted/2e Kids
Gifted and twice-exceptional kiddos often struggle with anxiety. Join us as we chat about what that might look like and how we can help our kids out. This video was originally recorded on Facebook Live. To see real-time comments, watch it here. Links and Resources...
RLL 26 Tiffany Dahle: Cooking with Your Kids
There are so many wonderful benefits to getting kids in the kitchen early on, but have you ever thought about cooking as a way to build confidence and combat perfectionism? Really! Today, Colleen talks to Tiffany Dahle, author of The Ultimate Kids' Cookbook, and...
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, while I always hesitate to share what we've...
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 time to digest...
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 homeschooling. BUT, there are so...
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...
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 George is an autism...
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 what...
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 an area for an extended...
RLL 18: How to Lure the Kids Away From Screens | A Listener Question
Cristy asks how lure her kiddo away from the screens -- her sweet daughter just wants to play video games. This is a challenging question that comes up in homeschool circles often. Colleen tackles it from a few different perspectives. What about you? Do you limit...
RLL 17 Shawna Wingert: Building on Your Child’s Strengths
Homeschooling special needs children can be really tough. When your child has several special needs and is very asynchronous, too, things get even more challenging. One of our absolute favorite moms of special needs kids is Shawna Wingert from Not the Former Things....
RLL 16: Homeschooling Gifted Kids on a Budget | A Listener Question
Maleeha is concerned. Following a student-led, self-directed model of homeschooling can definitely add up, cost-wise, and when you're homeschooling insatiable gifted learners, it can be even more costly. These kids seem to eat programs and materials for breakfast....
RLL 15 Dayna Abraham: Calming Chaos and Raising Superkids
Whether you homeschool your quirky kiddo, send him or her to school, or change it up depending on the year and the situation, you're doing exactly what you need to do for your child when he or she needs it most. In today's episode, Colleen talks to Dayna Abraham all...
RLL 14: What if I Fall Behind | A Listener Question
Connie worries that her kids will fall behind if they follow an unconventional homeschooling schedule. Her family finds themselves out of the house several days a week, and they're all exhausted by the time they get home. Is it possible to make a three-day homeschool...
RLL 13 Misty Bailey: Homeschooling, Finding Joy, and ADHD
Parenting and homeschooling differently-wired kids can be a challenge, and it's even harder when faced with choices about medication, therapies, and following one's parenting gut. In this episode, Misty and Colleen talk about homeschooling, finding the great...
RLL 12: What About Relaxed and Interest-Led Homeschooling for Gifted Kids? | A Listener Question
Angie worries that she's not doing enought to challenge her gifted kids because of something a well-meaning pedatrician said to her at a well-visit. Her family enjoys a relaxed and interest-driven, self-directed type of homeschool environment, but she's concerned...
RLL 11 Kara Anderson: Doing Things for You… Even if it Means a Cleaning Challenge
Conversations with friends who get you, understand (and still love) your quirky kids, and are honest and real are so important in life -- especially when you're homeschooling. Chatting with Kara Anderson is always a chance to be loved for who you are. She's real,...
RLL 10 Sarah MacKenzie: Building Connections Through Books
Want to make the most out of your parenting -- in just ten minutes a day? Listen in to find out the super (not so) secret way Sarah MacKenzie connects with her kids, builds meaningful relationships with all six(!) of them, and cultivates a passionate love of...
RLL 09 Pam Barnhill: Better Together
Strengthening your family, simplifying your homeschool, and savoring the subjects that matter most is a piece of cake when you take a moment to soak in the wisdom of today's guest, my friend Pam Barnhill. She has a knack for putting things into perspective and...
Have a Question?
Got a question for Colleen that you hope she answers on an episode of the podcast, a post, or a live video? Maybe you’ve got a story about how you encourage a love of learning in your kids. Or maybe your kiddos want to share what THEY love to learn about and the cool things they’re doing right now. Now is your chance to share!