Occupational therapy at home during COVID-19
by Kathy Kuhl — This spring, I’ve been speaking with pediatric occupational therapist Laurie Chuba of Learning Integrations. A veteran homeschooler, she helps children who are homeschooled or in private school. We discussed how COVID-19 was affecting her students with learning challenges and their therapy. But first, Why might my child need an occupational therapist? […]
Music in your homeschool
by Kathy Kuhl Make time for music? If you’re homeschooling a child with learning challenges, you may think you’ve got more urgent business. Maybe not. Music opens minds Music can stir hearts, inspire, and open minds—and mouths. This nine-year-old boy’s awestruck reaction to hearing Mozart last week got me thinking. Ronan Mattin has autism and […]
The Myth of Learning Styles
by Kathy Kuhl “If you teach to your children’s learning styles, they’ll learn better,” they told me. But what if you can’t tell how your child learns best? That was my problem. Learning Styles: Popular Theories One of the most popular theories of learning styles is based on the idea that people prefer different way […]
Something to chew on, for kids that can’t stop
By Kathy Kuhl Do you have children who can’t stop chewing on things? Kids and teens with sensory issues and other issues may struggle with this—or give in to it without a thought. No matter how well they know that pencil has been handled by many people, it pops into their mouths. And […]
Summer Holidays: Fun, fizzle, or flame out?
By Kathy Kuhl For most families, thoughts of a summer holiday–with family picnics, parades, fireworks, and other patriotic celebrations–are happy thoughts. But for some of us with kids who learn differently, they are times of stress. Are you longing for fireworks without emotional fireworks? Cookouts without meltdowns? Parades without panic? Manage your hopes You […]
6 Travel tips for distractible kids
By Kathy Kuhl How do we help our kids when they have to sit and travel? Long times in the car or plane can make anyone restless. It drive kids crazy, especially those who have trouble sitting still. Of course, sitting to travel is not just a summer problem. Children have to sit on the […]
Your child can solve linear equations using beans
By Kathy Kuhl Today we’ll finish looking at bean algebra, a simple way to make algebra concrete. We’ll start using negative numbers with our bean algebra. (This 4-part series began here.) Often we rush our children into abstraction too soon when we teach math. But if our children practice at length with concrete objects, illustrate their discoveries, […]
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 […]
Gifts your child can make
By Kathy Kuhl Our kids are restless with the holidays are upon us. In a world of advertisements, how to do we help our kids grow more generous, and less greedy? One way is to let them make gifts this season. But if you’re like me, you’re busy and a bit tired, and time and money are […]
My Top Ten Holiday Resources & a gift or two
by Kathy Kuhl For a happier, saner, holiday: Instead of Christmas cards, send Easter cards and letters. Enjoy an Advent calendar. I don’t care if it’s a cheap chocolate one from the grocery store, one of the expensive Lego advent sets, or one you make. I’m fond of the traditional cardboard ones from Germany, which […]