Posts by Erin Archives - Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

5 Ideas for Summer Fun with Kids

June 30, 2020 By Erin Vincent

Are you looking for creative ways to add some fun to your summer? Check out Erin’s five ideas to create summer fun and lasting memories with your kids!

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

If your family is stuck at home this year, you may be wondering what you can do to facilitate some at-home summer fun. Try these fun and creative ideas to build lasting memories with your kids!

This year has definitely been one for the record books, folks. It is nothing like anyone planned or expected, and neither are normal summer activities. You may find many summer camps and popular recreational areas have limited accessibility or are even canceled this year. But just because it’s different doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable and memorable. Today I’m sharing some at-home activities and ideas that are sure to provide loads of summer fun! [Read more…]

Online Piano Lessons for Kids: A Pianosaur Review

April 7, 2020 By Erin Vincent

Did you know that there are now online piano lessons for kids? With Pianosaur, your elementary child can easily learn the basics of the piano. And, thanks to technology, you can make it work for your busy schedule! Your little one will love learning the essence of the piano from the comforts of your own home.

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

My daughter has been begging for piano lessons for some time now. But I just wasn’t ready to commit to formal lessons yet. As parents, we want to be sure that our kiddos aren’t going to beg and plead for an activity only to want to quit two lessons in after you’ve spent the money.

I wondered if there was an affordable online piano option that could help me gauge my daughter’s interest without the hassle of driving all over town to another weekly lesson. When I heard about Pianosaur, I was ecstatic!

Online Piano Lessons for Kids: A Pianosaur Review

Pianosaur is exactly what I’ve been looking for, folks! It’s a way for my daughter to experience the joys of playing music that’s affordable and doesn’t require leaving home. My daughter nearly burst with excitement when I asked her if she’d be interested in these online piano lessons. [Read more…]

Why I’m Glad to Be Homeschooling

March 17, 2020 By Erin Vincent

On those tough homeschooling days, Erin suggests playing the “Glad Game” to focus on the many reasons you’re glad to be homeschooling.

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

There is a culmination of experiences that make me glad to be homeschooling my children. And while I know it’s not the best for everyone, I can’t help but love the way that homeschooling allows me to be there for all my children’s firsts while also learning alongside them every day.

But sometimes I get stuck in the trenches of parenthood and homeschool. I find myself hiding in the bathroom with my stash of chocolate.

Math gets hard. Handwriting gets frustrating. Parenting gets exhausting.

That’s when I could really use a dose of Pollyanna and her glad game.

Pollyanna and the Glad Game

Last weekend our family was a part of the ballet production, Pollyanna. What began as auditions five months ago became a beautiful and moving performance on stage at the local university.

My children were wayward orphans.

I helped corral some of the younger ballet students backstage (which I akin to herding feral cats).

One of the things I love about our local ballet theater is how they always promote a positive message from every ballet they produce. This year it was “The Glad Game.”

In Pollyanna, the glad game was all about finding something to be happy about in every situation. Pollyanna helps the entire town find happiness with her upbeat and positive attitude.

The five months we worked on this ballet truly helped to change my mindset. Some days we may grumble about math facts and history lessons other days we can choose to play the glad game! [Read more…]

How and Why You Should Celebrate Homeschool Milestones

January 14, 2020 By Erin Vincent

Do you celebrate homeschool milestones? Our kids work hard learning every day. Try Erin’s tips for recognizing and celebrating their accomplishments.

Written by Erin Vincent of Nourishing My Scholars.

Do you celebrate homeschool milestones? Our kiddos work hard on their education every day, and their accomplishments should be recognized. It’s easy to start some lovely traditions that involve engaging and meaningful fun for those special days.

Think about it. Kids in public and private schools get an end of year awards ceremony and acknowledgments during each term. But it can be easy to overlook homeschoolers because, well, they’re homeschooled.

How and Why You Should Celebrate Homeschool Milestones

Acknowledging Homeschool Accomplishments

When my son completed his 4th-grade math, we threw a pizza party. He had genuinely struggled with learning the multiplication tables that year, so this was a significant accomplishment for him. My husband and I agreed that some merrymaking was in order.

I think that was when I realized the need to celebrate overcoming tough things, and my son appreciated having all his hard work acknowledged. [Read more…]

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…]