Podcast
The Raising Lifelong Learners podcast helps parents — especially homeschooling parents — encourage their differently-wired kids to learn, explore passions, cultivate creativity, and become fascinated by the world around them. Join host Colleen Kessler — educational consultant, gifted specialist, author, and speaker — for interviews, audioblogs, tips, and encouragement to help your differently-wired kiddos become lifelong learners — children who know that they can find the answers to anything they want to know if they can just view their world with play, passion, and fascination.
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Gifted and Distractible with Julie Skolnick
Homeschooling is an incredibly personal and varied experience, and when it comes to understanding gifted children, sometimes even the most well-equipped parents can find themselves searching for answers. “But… what’s wrong with him?” is a question you’ve probably asked yourself as you faced certain behaviors that seemed out of place or misunderstood. When Giftedness Looks…
Cultivating Commitment and Follow Through
Commitment is a virtue that invariably separates the successful from the rest. As parents, educators, and caretakers, our foremost job is to embed the value of commitment within our children, transforming them into resilient and passionate lifelong learners. It’s important to think about the nuances of nurturing commitment. Shifting to Intrinsic Motivation The initial approach…
How a Return to Outside Play Will Help Our Kids Thrive with Ginny Yurich
In our fast-paced, digitally-driven world, the enchantments of screens often lure both children and adults indoors, disconnecting us from the wonders of the natural world. Ginny Yurich, the visionary behind the “1000 Hours Outside” movement, seeks to restore this balance, offering profound insights into the impact of nature on child development and homeschooling. Inspired by…
Nurturing a Strength-Based Approach to Learning in Homeschooling
Strengths-based learning can play a crucial role in crafting your child’s educational journey. Understanding the distinctions between a strengths-based and a deficits-based approach to education is important, underscoring the importance of acknowledging and fostering your child’s unique strengths, talents, and abilities. Understanding Strengths-Based Learning So what are the fundamental distinctions between a strengths-based approach and…
Building Social-Emotional Skills While Helping Others
Parenting is a journey filled with opportunities to shape the character and values of our children. One aspect that deserves our attention, particularly when raising neurodivergent kids, is cultivating empathy and a sense of service. Understanding Empathy Empathy is a cornerstone of emotional and social development in children. It’s about understanding and sharing the feelings…
Managing the Holidays with Sensory Kids with Sarah Collins
The holiday season can be an exciting and magical time for many families, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful for neurodivergent kids. The bright lights, crowded stores, and festive music can all trigger sensory overload. As a parent, it’s important to understand your child’s unique sensory needs and provide them with the support…