Encouragement Archives - Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

The Best Way To Navigate Boredom With Kids

October 17, 2019 By Erin Vincent

Boredom is an emotion we all experience. It’s not something to be punished or fixed. Instead, try this one simple trick Erin has discovered for helping kids alleviate boredom.

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Do you ever feel guilty when your kids say they are bored? Do you try to fill their days with endless activities to avoid the complaints? Maybe boredom isn’t something to be avoided. Perhaps it can be a gateway to connection, discoveries, and natural curiosity.

The Best Way To Navigate Boredom With Kids

Boredom Can Be a Path to Connection

There I was standing at the kitchen sink with my hair in my face and my elbows deep in hot sudsy water when I heard the phrase, “Mama, I’m bored!”

What’s a mom to do? Give them more chores? Tell them to go outside?

Maybe those ideas have their place in different circumstances. Yet, my approach wasn’t to find my kids something to do or punish them for being bored. [Read more…]

20 Reasons to Homeschool That People Don’t Think About

August 1, 2019 By Erin Vincent

Of all the reasons to homeschool, some are pretty obvious, but there may be dozens more reasons that people don’t think about. Here, Erin shares 20 of them!

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Deciding to homeschool your child is a personal decision that only you can make. While there are oodles of great and obvious reasons to homeschool, today I’m sharing twenty that people may not think about!

20 Reasons to Homeschool That People Don’t Think About

1. Nutritional needs are easier to manage at home, especially for kids with severe allergies or the need for sensory diets.

2. Medical requirements for children with chronic illnesses and health problems are somewhat easier to coordinate. Plus, it’s easier to maintain a sense of peace and normalcy when the parent doesn’t have to worry about school absences. [Read more…]

Strength-Based Homeschooling: 5 Reasons Why It Really Works

June 13, 2019 By Shawna Wingert

Working to your child’s strengths can improve retention and build a love of learning. Discover the benefits of strength-based homeschooling.

Written by Shawna Wingert of Not the Former Things.

Before I was a homeschooling mom, I worked in corporate training and development. My job was to help companies identify talented individuals within their organization and teach them to leverage an individual’s strengths for better performance.

One year, I was asked to attend a training session at Gallup. This multi-day intensive was all about using individual strengths to improve overall ability and performance. Based on their book StrengthsFinder 2.0 and a ton of Gallup research, the key takeaway was: Teaching to an individual’s strengths exponentially increases productivity and learner satisfaction.

Surprisingly, I also learned that when a person is allowed to progress in a way that is ‘strengths-based,’ her overall capabilities and performance increased, even in the areas that were weaknesses.

5 Reasons Why Strength-Based Homeschooling Really Works

After completing the training, I saw the research prove itself again and again in a corporate setting.

Then, I started homeschooling my boys. [Read more…]

How to Find Homeschool Community and Support

June 6, 2019 By Erin Vincent

Homeschooling can be lonely without a strong support system. That’s why it’s so important to find your homeschool community. If you’ve ever struggled to find your tribe, you’ll appreciate the tips Erin shares.

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Have you had trouble finding a supportive homeschool community? You are not alone! I am right there with you! Finding supportive homeschool groups can be hard, especially if you’re an introverted homeschool mom like me.

We homeschool parents carry loads of pressure to be perfect and to do this homeschool thing right. We need allies, cheerleaders, and friends to support us on this educational journey. But finding our homeschool community and support system is frequently easier said than done.

How to Find Homeschool Community and Support

Finding A Homeschool Community

To find your homeschool tribe, you’ve got to put yourself out there. Repeatedly! That’s hard. So is rejection or feeling like you don’t belong. It may take a while to find your tribe, but when you do, it is so worth it! [Read more…]

Yes, You Can Homeschool Your Child With Special Needs

May 16, 2019 By Shawna Wingert

If your child has learning challenges, homeschooling may seem intimidating, but you can homeschool special needs! In fact, it may be the ideal setting.

Written by Shawna Wingert of Not the Former Things.

Seven years ago, my son was diagnosed with autism. We had already been homeschooling for more than a year. That was a decision that we made based on many of the same reasons that ultimately led to his diagnosis.

As a former special education teacher, I was confident in our decision to withdraw him from public school. So, I was surprised that almost everyone else saw it differently.

“When will you be putting him back in school?” his doctor asked as if it were a given.

“You’ll need the services only the school system provides,” a well-meaning therapist repeatedly told me.

“Maybe this is just too much for you to take on,” my family said, worried about my son and me.

Seven years later, I am grateful to say that homeschooling was one of the best decisions we ever made for my son’s development and education. [Read more…]