If I could send my younger self a letter
By Kathy Kuhl If I could send a letter back to my younger self in 1997, when I started to homeschool, here’s what I’d write: Dear younger me, Greetings from eighteen years from now. Since I remember how anxious we were in 1997, I thought I’d write. (I’m thinking of your shelves of homeschool catalogs–the […]
How to read faces: a vital skill for your child
By Kathy Kuhl Some children with learning challenges are highly attuned to emotion and can read faces with ease. For other children (and adults, for that matter), faces speak in a code they cannot break. But almost all of us—adults, teens, and children—can improve our ability to read faces. Teens in particular struggle to read […]
Distractibility, the Christmas tree, and me
By Kathy Kuhl [Note below about last week’s prize winners.] Who isn’t distracted this time of year? Lovely ornaments, music, delicious foods—but more to do, too. It’s an especially tough time for our children and teens who are distractible or who have sensory processing difficulties: the intensity can be overwhelming. When he was small, my […]
Thankful to whom?
Everyone talks about feeling grateful this time of year, that is, when we aren’t talking about feasting, football, and all the holiday and food preparation. I’m a Christian, so I appreciate the holiday’s roots, going back to thanking God for our many blessings. I encourage you, and myself, to thank God. There are millions of gifts […]
How a psychologist can help
By Kathy Kuhl Sometimes our children struggle with learning, behavior, or emotional problems. Here’s more from my interview with psychologist Dr. Richard Ruth about taking a child to a psychologist. Part 1 is here. KK: How do I know whether to take my child to a psychologist or a neuropsychologist? RR: They offer different points of […]
Finding support as you homeschool kids who learn differently
by Kathy Kuhl Preparing to homeschool children with special needs? It can be scary. Before we start, we plan special curriculum, therapy, and accommodations for our child’s special needs; draft a schedule, and work out logistics. Whew! But don’t overlook a vital part of your homeschool plan: taking care of yourself. Some of us already […]
Strangers: how should your child respond?
By Kathy Kuhl A scary video on Facebook launched a good conversation, for once. It showed an experiment repeated with several children. A stranger with puppy approached a child at a playground, chatted, let the child pet the puppy, and invited the child “to come see the other puppies.” In each case, the parents had […]
Secrets of Social Success
(Part 3 on finding the right extra-curricular activities) By Kathy Kuhl Last time, I wrote about helping your child with learning challenges get ready for their new group (a club, scouts, choir, or the like.) But for some kids, getting the work done and getting the gear together is the easy part. It’s the social […]
Tools to fight burnout
Avoiding Burnout, Part II by Kathy Kuhl [Adapted from Staying Sane as You Homeschool by Kathy Kuhl.] Last time we talked about how to nurture our love for our kids when we are feeling weary. Watching for growth and small steps can help us; looking back a few years can help you see character growing. […]
When Mom wants to drop out
Avoiding Burnout Part 1 by Kathy Kuhl [Adapted from Staying Sane as You Homeschool by Kathy Kuhl.] Ever feel like running away from home—when you’re the mom? Some days I felt like quitting. A pathetic parent, a tedious teacher, and, as for housekeeping, don’t even ask! Sometimes it is hard to keep homeschooling. Illness puts […]