Raising Lifelong Learners
The Raising Lifelong Learners podcast helps 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.
Episodes
This week on the podcast, we dive into a topic close to the hearts of many parents and educators: helping neurodivergent kids build flexible thinking skills.
Whether you’re parenting or teaching gifted, 2e, ADHD, autistic, or otherwise wonderfully-wired kiddos, you know that rigid thinking can turn even minor changes into big challenges. You’ll hear real-life storie...
This week on the podcast, we’re diving deep into a topic that comes up all the time in our community: helping our neurodivergent kids make decisions.
If you’ve ever watched your creative, outside-the-box thinker freeze up over choosing a research topic or panic trying to pick a co-op class, you’re not alone. Decision-making—something that seems so simple—can sometim...
Summer is here, and with it comes the perfect chance to hit pause on the box-checking frenzy and really connect with our kids. In this week’s episode of the podcast, we dive into one of my favorite topics: creating joyful, low-pressure family memories (without overloading your plate—or your calendar).
Why Fun Matters (Even for Year-Round Homeschoolers!) Remember, wh...
This week on the podcast, we get real about something we ALL feel at some point (or every day): OVERWHELM. If you’re juggling year-round homeschooling, multiple ages, neurodivergent needs, big summer transitions, and the regular chaos of life, this episode is for you.
Here are some highlights and takeaways:
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Today's episode dives deep into the heart of something that’s foundational for our kids (and us too)—emotional intelligence, or EQ. Whether you’re raising a neurodivergent kiddo, a gifted learner, or just want smoother sailing at home, this episode is packed with actionable ideas you can use right away.
Why EQ Matters Emotional intelligence is all about recognizing,...
Today's episode is an extra special pep talk for anyone homeschooling—or considering homeschooling—neurodivergent kids. If you’ve ever felt doubtful, heard wild myths, or just wanted some validation, this one is for you!
Episode Spotlight: Myth Busting Neurodivergent Homeschooling
Have you heard thes...
Today's episode of the podcast, is all about building meaningful connections with your preteens and teens—especially as they start finding their independence. Colleen gets real about the challenges of staying connected as kids grow older and shares practical, heartfelt tips on how to keep those important bonds strong (even when everyone’s schedule is packed and the house is chaos!).
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On today's episode of the podcast, we dive deep into the power of adventure—not the mountain-climbing kind, but the small, everyday moments that shape our children into confident, resilient learners.
As homeschooling parents, especially with neurodivergent kiddos, it’s easy to get caught up in structure and routine. Remember that adventure is everywhere: in our back...
This week on the podcast, we’re diving into something that might seem small at first glance but can create a massive ripple effect in your child’s life—celebrating wins! Whether your kiddo is neurodivergent, gifted, twice-exceptional, or simply working hard on any kind of challenge, recognizing their progress is a simple and powerful tool to build confidence, resilience, and deeper connection.
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As parents—especially when raising neurodivergent, gifted, or twice-exceptional learners—we are on the frontlines of navigating intense emotions every day. In the latest episode of the podcast, we dive deep into practical strategies for supporting kids’ emotional health and building regulation skills that last a lifetime.
Key Takeaways:
This week’s episode of the podcast is truly close to my heart. We dove deep into what it means to truly embrace our kiddos’ unique sparks and passions, especially for our neurodivergent learners.
If you sometimes worry about your child being “too focused” on one thing, or wonder how to support their big interests when the world doesn’t always get it, you’re not alon...
In this episode, we dive deep into the power of connection and how it can transform your homeschool and family life. Homeschooling, especially with differently wired kiddos, comes with its set of challenges, and prioritizing connection over perfection is the key to a thriving environment where your children feel safe, seen, and valued.
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This week's episode is all about cultivating leadership skills in our kiddos, especially those amazing outside-the-box thinkers.
We dive into a type of leadership that’s less about rallying a group and more about creativity, kindness, and empathy. We go over ways to nurture these qualities in your homeschool environment and everyday family life. This is part of our ...
We're diving into an essential topic in this week's podcast episode that's sure to resonate with many of you—developing impulse control in our neurodivergent kids.
As we know, impulse control can be particularly challenging for gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent kiddos. Let's break down why our unique learners face these challenges and talk practical stra...
In today's episode, we dive into the concept of nurturing a lifelong love of learning for our children. It's all about cultivating curiosity, encouraging them to ask questions, and guiding them through self-directed projects. You'll hear personal stories of fostering self-discovery and adaptability in kids, emphasizing the power of modeling this mindset ourselves. We explored practical ways to inspire an atmos...
In this episode of the podcast, we dive into what executive function skills actually are, likening them to a control center or the CEO of your body. These skills encompass planning, organization, time management, task initiation, working memory, and self-regulation, among others. But why do so many gifted and neurodivergent kids struggle with them?
The answer often ...
In this week's episode, we talk about the Columbus Group's definition of giftedness as asynchronous development—a combination of advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity that requires modifications in parenting and teaching.
This unique development makes our children particularly vulnerable, demanding that we think outside the box.
...
This week, we wrap up our series on the 6 Cs of Homeschooling Success from Colleen's new book, The Homeschool Advantage. In this final episode, we dive deep into the power of Confidence and how to nurture it in our kiddos.
Key Takeaways:
Encourage the Willingness to Try:
- Confidence begins with the courage to take risks and step out of comfort zones.
- Emphasizing the effort over instant understanding e...
In this week's episode, we dive deep into a favorite topic—creativity. This episode is all about how to nurture and develop creativity in your children, teaching them to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions to everyday problems.
Here's a snapshot of what to expect in this episode:
Key Takeaways:
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