It is a question that can catch a homeschooling parent completely off guard.

Perhaps your child has always been homeschooled but has become curious about school. They see school buses, sporting events, dances, lockers, and groups of friends portrayed in movies and online. From the outside, school may look exciting.

Or perhaps your child attended school before you began homeschooling. They may miss their old friends, familiar routines, extracurricular activities, or the feeling of belonging to a larger group.

When your homeschool child says they want to go to school, you do not need to panic. And you should definitely not assume that homeschooling has failed.

Instead, listen carefully, discover what is really behind the request, and respond with both compassion and parental wisdom.

Don’t miss the big giveaway towards the bottom of this post!

What to Do When Your Homeschool Child Wants to Go to School

Begin by Finding Out Why Your Child Wants to Go to School

The first question to ask is not, “Should I put my child in school?”

The first question is:

“What does my child believe school will give them that they don’t have now?”

Children rarely ask to attend school because they have carefully compared educational philosophies, curriculum quality, classroom structure, and long-term academic outcomes.

More often, they are looking for something else.

They may want:

• More friends
• More time with a particular friend
• Access to sports or activities
• A larger social circle
• Greater independence
• A more predictable routine
• Time away from their parents
• The experience they have seen in movies or on social media
• An opportunity to see a boy or girl they like
• Relief from a homeschool routine that is not currently working

Do not dismiss these desires. Some of them represent legitimate needs. Your child may truly be lonely, bored, discouraged, or craving more independence.

However, recognizing the need does not mean you must accept your child’s proposed solution.

Your child may correctly identify the problem while choosing the wrong way to solve it.

Listen Without Immediately Debating

When children ask to go to school, parents sometimes become defensive.

They may begin listing everything wrong with public school or reminding the child of all the sacrifices the family has made to homeschool.

That response can cause the child to stop talking before you discover what is really happening.

Begin with questions instead:

• “What interests you about going to school?”
• “What do you think school would be like?”
• “What do you feel you are missing?”
• “Is there something about homeschooling that has been difficult lately?”
• “Are you feeling lonely?”
• “Are you hoping to spend more time with someone in particular?”

Listen calmly. You are gathering information, not surrendering your authority.

A child who feels heard will usually be more willing to hear your answer.

Do Not Confuse Listening With Letting the Child Decide

Parents should listen carefully to their children, but listening does not mean handing children the responsibility for major educational decisions.

Children and teenagers can offer valuable insight into their needs. They should be included in age-appropriate conversations about their education. But they do not yet possess the experience, judgment, or long-term perspective necessary to make every decision for themselves.

Parents routinely make decisions children do not completely understand.

We decide what food enters the home. What media they may consume. Which environments are safe. What responsibilities they must fulfill. Which influences should have regular access to them.

Education is no less important.

You may trust your child’s intentions while still questioning the environment they want to enter.

A parent might say:

“This is not about whether I trust you. I trust that you want to make a good choice. But you would not control the curriculum, the classroom, the other students, or the influences surrounding you. It is my responsibility to consider all of those things.”

Your child’s feelings matter. But the final responsibility still belongs to the parent.

Avoid Treating Homeschooling as a Temporary Experiment

One of the most difficult ways to begin homeschooling is to tell your child:

“We will try homeschooling for a little while, and you can always go back to school if you do not like it.”

Although this may sound flexible and reassuring, it can prevent a child from ever fully adjusting to homeschool life.

Every difficult lesson, lonely afternoon, disagreement, or disappointing day becomes evidence that homeschooling “isn’t working.” Going back to school remains an escape route.

The child may resist forming new routines or friendships because they are still waiting to return to their previous life.

Homeschooling inevitably includes difficult seasons. Parents become tired. Children lose motivation. Curriculum needs to be changed. Social needs shift. None of these problems automatically mean that the family should abandon homeschooling.

When parents have thoughtfully decided to homeschool, children need to know that the family is committed to making it work.

You might say:

“We are a homeschooling family, and we are not planning to enroll you in school. But I want to understand what you are missing so we can work together to improve your experience.”

A firm answer is not the same as an uncaring answer.

In fact, removing the uncertainty can help children stop campaigning for school and begin working with their parents to build a better homeschool life.

Address the Need Beneath the Request to Go to School

Once you understand why your child wants to go to school, address that concern directly.

When Your Homeschool Child Wants More Friends

Friendship is one of the most common reasons homeschool children ask to attend school.

It is reasonable for children to desire companionship. Parents should take loneliness seriously. However, placing a child in a building with hundreds of other children does not guarantee close, healthy friendships.

A child can feel deeply lonely in a crowded school.

Rather than treating school as the only source of socialization, help your child develop relationships more intentionally.

Look for:

• Families who share your values
• Homeschool clubs
• Church activities
• Community classes
• Volunteer opportunities
• Sports or physical activities
• Debate, theater, music, art, or photography groups
• Regular gatherings with one or two compatible families
• Online homeschool classes with supervised social opportunities

Do not merely search for children who happen to be the same age. Look for families whose character, priorities, and direction complement your own.

Children should not be forced to like someone simply because their parents approve of the family. However, parents can create opportunities for healthy friendships by bringing compatible children together.

Quality matters more than quantity.

One loyal friend who encourages your child toward wisdom, faithfulness, and excellence can be far more valuable than a large social circle built around popularity, rebellion, or constant comparison.

When Your Child Misses Activities

Sometimes children are not asking for school itself. They are asking for something associated with school.

They may want to join a sports team, choir, dance, graduation ceremony, more competitions, or a more regular schedule outside the home.

Once you identify the particular activity, look for ways to provide it without abandoning your educational convictions.

Community organizations, homeschool leagues, private instructors, churches, libraries, museums, online academies, and local businesses may offer many of the same opportunities.

You may not be able to recreate every school experience—and you do not need to. The goal is not to copy school at home. The goal is to meet your child’s genuine developmental needs in a healthier and more purposeful way.

When Your Homeschool Child Wants to Go to School Because They Are Bored or Unmotivated

A request to attend school may reveal that your current homeschool routine needs attention.

Ask yourself:

• Is the curriculum too easy or too difficult?
• Does every day feel exactly the same?
• Is my child working alone for long periods?
• Does my child have meaningful goals?
• Are there opportunities to discuss ideas?
• Is my child learning practical, creative, and challenging subjects?
• Does my child know why their education matters?
• Have family tensions made homeschooling unpleasant?

Homeschooling should not simply be public school worksheets completed at the kitchen table.

Children need books, conversations, projects, responsibilities, challenges, mentorship, beauty, movement, creativity, and opportunities to use what they are learning.

Your child may not need school. Your child may need a more engaging education.

When Your Child Wants Greater Independence

Older children sometimes associate school with freedom.

They imagine having their own schedule, spending time away from their parents, making independent decisions, and participating in a world that belongs to them.

The desire for growing independence is natural. It should not be ignored—but independence must be developed gradually and responsibly.

Consider giving an older child:

• Greater control over the order of assignments
• A role in selecting electives
• Independent projects
• Volunteer work
• A part-time job
• Leadership responsibilities
• Opportunities to teach younger children
• Supervised social time
• Responsibility for planning and completing long-term goals

Children do need room to mature. They do not necessarily need to enter a traditional school environment in order to do so.

Explain Why Your Family Homeschools

Children are more likely to value homeschooling when they understand its purpose.

Do not allow homeschool to feel like the strange thing your family does while everyone else participates in normal life.

Give your child a positive vision.

Explain what homeschooling allows your family to do, like study subjects that schools don’t have, read meaningful books that they enjoy, move at a personalized pace, etc. 

Your explanation should not consist entirely of fear.

Children need to know what you are protecting them from, but they also need to know what you are preparing them for.

Tell them:

“We are not homeschooling because we are afraid of the world. We are homeschooling because your childhood is valuable, your education matters, and we want to prepare you to enter the world with wisdom, courage, character, and useful abilities.”

Give them something worth choosing.

Help Your Child See the Difference Between an Education and a School Experience

Children often assume that going to school and receiving an education are the same thing.

They are not.

A school is one method of organizing children, teachers, lessons, schedules, and activities. An education is the formation of a person’s knowledge, judgment, character, abilities, habits, and understanding.

A child can attend school every day and receive a poor education. A child can also learn at home, through books, mentors, travel, work, service, classes, conversations, and real-world experiences.

Remind your child that youth is brief.

There are only so many years available to prepare for adulthood. Homeschooling provides the opportunity to use those years intentionally rather than simply following the same standardized path as everyone else.

Your child’s education should help them become capable of doing something valuable—not merely help them complete the same assignments as thousands of other students.

Be Willing to Improve Your Homeschool

A commitment to homeschooling should not become an excuse to ignore your child’s concerns.

Parents can maintain a firm boundary while still making meaningful changes.

After listening to your child, you may decide to:

• Join a club
• Schedule more regular outings
• Invite another family over
• Change curriculum
• Add live classes
• Introduce electives
• Create clearer daily routines
• Reduce unnecessary busywork
• Add more physical activity
• Find a mentor
• Give your teenager more responsibility
• Set academic or personal goals together

You do not have to choose between surrendering your convictions and refusing to change anything.

A wise parent can say:

“School is not the answer we are choosing, but I agree that something needs to change. Let’s make a plan.”

Back to Homeschool Giveaway!

To make improving your homeschool a little easier, I’ve joined a special giveaway by homeschoolers for homeschoolers! Enter to win 4, $200 gift cards towards any homeschool company of your choice! Simply use the giveaway widget below!

Abbreviated Terms & Conditions: The 2026 Back to Homeschool Giveaway is hosted by Hope In The Chaos and runs from August 3-12, 2026. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older and currently homeschooling or planning to homeschool a child in their household during the 2026-2027 homeschool year. By entering, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating giveaway partners. Four winners will be selected at random using KingSumo and notified by email no later than August 17, 2026. The complete Official Terms & Conditions are available here. By entering the giveaway, you agree to the full terms & conditions. 

What to Say When Your Homeschool Child Wants to Attend School

Every family’s wording will be different, but you might say:

“Thank you for telling me how you feel. I want to understand what interests you about school and what you believe you are missing. Your feelings are important to me, and I am willing to make changes where changes are needed.

At the same time, deciding where and how you are educated is one of my responsibilities as your parent. We chose homeschooling for important reasons, and we are committed to it. Going to school is not the solution we will choose.

That does not mean I am ignoring what you need. If you need more friends, activities, independence, or challenge, we will work on those things together. I want your homeschool experience to prepare you for a meaningful life, and I want you to understand why we believe this education is worth protecting.”

This response accomplishes four things:

1. It acknowledges the child’s feelings.
2. It maintains parental authority.
3. It gives a clear answer.
4. It promises to address the underlying concern.

You Can Be Firm Without Becoming Fearful

Your child’s curiosity about school does not mean you have lost them.

They may simply be looking at the other side of the fence and imagining that the grass is greener there.

Do not allow fear, guilt, exhaustion, or persistent pressure to make the decision for you.

Listen. Ask questions. Revisit your reasons for homeschooling. Strengthen the areas that need improvement. Help your child form healthy friendships and pursue meaningful opportunities.

Then give your child a clear and hopeful vision:

Homeschooling is not a lesser substitute for school. It is an opportunity to provide a more personal, purposeful, and powerful education—one designed to prepare your child not merely to fit into the world, but to enter it with wisdom, confidence, character, and direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I let my child decide whether to homeschool or attend public school?

Children should have opportunities to express their concerns and participate in age-appropriate educational decisions. However, parents remain responsible for evaluating curriculum, environment, influences, safety, and long-term consequences. Listening to your child does not require giving them the final decision.

Why does my homeschool child suddenly want to go to school?

Common reasons include loneliness, curiosity, missing former friends, a desire for activities, romantic interests, boredom, frustration with the curriculum, or a desire for greater independence. Ask specific questions before assuming the request is primarily academic.

What should I do when my homeschool child feels left out?

Acknowledge the feeling rather than dismissing it. Then create intentional opportunities for friendship, activities, celebrations, clubs, field trips, and shared experiences. Your child may need a stronger homeschool community rather than a complete change in educational setting.

Should I let my child try school for one semester?

Before presenting school as a temporary experiment, consider whether doing so will make it harder for your child to commit to homeschooling. If your family has strong reasons for homeschooling, it may be better to address the specific problem, such as loneliness, boredom, or a lack of structure—without making school the default option.

How can I help my teenager enjoy homeschooling?

Include your teenager in choosing electives, projects, goals, activities, and areas of responsibility. Provide meaningful social opportunities, live discussions, mentorship, work experience, volunteering, and increasing independence. Teenagers need purpose and preparation for adulthood, not merely more assignments.

Build a Homeschool Experience Worth Believing In

Blue Manor Academy helps Christian homeschool families provide a purposeful education through a literature-based curriculum, live classes, clubs, discussions, and subjects designed to prepare children for more than just tests and grades.

When children understand where their education is leading and have meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, form friendships, and pursue excellence—they are far less likely to believe they are missing out.

Your child does not need a school imitation. They need an education worthy of their future.

The post Homeschool Child Wants to Go to School? What to Do (Giveaway) first appeared on True Aim.

How to Inspire Creativity in Your Kids

Ditch the Tech

Technology is essential in homeschooling, but sometimes it can hinder creativity. Limiting screen time is a surefire way to encourage your children to be more creative. In addition to allowing your kids to think more freely without endless knowledge and entertainment at their fingertips, instilling screen time limits will also encourage your kids to play freely and use their imagination on a more regular basis.

Make a Mess

Creativity is often messy, so encouraging your kids to make a mess is another simple way to help them be more creative. Whether you pull out the finger paints during art time or conduct a messy science experiment, having a little messy fun once in a while is an easy way to encourage creativity. In addition to allowing your kids to use their imagination, allowing your kids to make a mess once in a while can be a freeing way to encourage your kid’s creativity.

Read Every Day

Books are an easy way to introduce your kids to new places and interesting people, making it simple for them to think creatively on a regular basis. Reading is a great way to help your kids use their imagination to visualize the characters and events in the stories, on top of helping your kids expand their mindset for future creative play.

Inspire Creativity in your Kids – Allow Mistakes

Giving your kids the chance to make mistakes will help them hone their creative thinking skills and allow them to let their imagination run freely. Temper your expectations on your kids’ artwork and craft projects and praise their efforts over perfection. On top of allowing mistakes, it’s also important to give your kids creative latitude. Whether they enjoy drawing purple dogs or painting the sky green, allowing
your kids to create with their imagination is a simple way to encourage their creativity.

Give Them Space

Make it easy for your kids to be creative by providing them with a space especially designed for creative play. Stock the space with everything your kids need to be creative, including paint, crayons, markers, paper, scissors, pipe cleaners, beads, and any other craft supplies your kids enjoy using. Then, make sure the space is easily accessible so your kids can use it any time they feel a creative urge.

Childhood passes by so quickly, as we all know. Give your kids a chance now to exercise their creativity in positive ways so that they can grow up with a lifelong love of learning and ability to think creatively. God created us to follow His example and also be creative, so don’t be afraid to express that and let your kids have fun with it!

Check out all more parenting ideas here!

Sara is a homeschooling mom of three girls. She writes at Heart and Soul Homeschooling, sharing ideas for learning that encourage creativity, curiosity, character, and connection. She is an author, speaker, and homeschool consultant. You can find her on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and her Amazon author page.

The post 5 Ways to Inspire Creativity in Your Kids first appeared on True Aim.

Any parent with more than one child knows that they are all unique individuals with different strengths and weaknesses.  However, there are some traits which are more prevalent in boys than in girls.  And once we’re aware of these typical characteristics, we can use them while teaching our children. Unfortunately, most school systems are currently set up in ways that benefit girls.  They require them to sit still, to read lots of textbooks, and to complete lots of worksheets.

Homeschools in most states aren’t obligated to teach kids the same way that they do in schools.  But because most of us homeschool moms were educated in traditional schools, however, it comes naturally for us to teach our kids in the same ways that we ourselves were taught.

And those teaching methods can be detrimental to our sons.

The good news is that with a little bit of research and effort, we can change our ways and make learning much more appealing for our boys.

Teaching Boys: 7 Ways to Help Boys Love to Learn:

1 – Mix it Up

Most boys don’t like to sit still and read for hours on end. And even boys who enjoy reading, don’t necessarily want to read Shakespeare or Charlotte Bronte. Choose books which are interesting to your son. Try to vary the activities in your homeschool between sedentary ones and those that allow more movement. Make sure your son has ways to burn off extra energy.

2 – Include Food

Remember the saying that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?!? That goes for our sons as well.  If you can keep your son’s belly full, you’ll be more likely to keep his attention on his lessons. Allow him to eat snacks while you’re reading books aloud. Feed him plenty of protein.  If he says he’s hungry, be willing to pause so that he can get something to eat. There’s no sense continuing on with lessons if your son’s mind is distracted by his hunger.

3 – Include Interests

If someone told you to read a book about the best ways to lubricate the motor inside a refrigerator, or listen to a lesson about the digestive system of a dung beetle, or have a hands-on lesson in sumo wrestling, you might be less than enthused.  (At least I would be.)

When we ask our sons to diagram sentences, read girlie books, or learn about algebraic equations, they also have a tendency to be unenthusiastic. The traditional school topics don’t always interest our children. We can’t ditch everything but we can be intentional about including subjects which DO interest our boys.

When studying history, be sure to include information about the battles, the weapons, the intrigue. When studying science, throw in a few gross facts about the animals you’re discussing. If your son absolutely loves designing video games, be sure he has ample time to design video games. This is an integral part of helping our boys love to learn!

4 – Give Him Some Control

Men love being in charge and our sons are men in training. They love to have at least some control in their day. Allow them to choose what time they start their lessons, or the order of their subjects, or different ways that they will learn. Ask him what he enjoys the most about school and listen to what he says. When you find things he dislikes about learning, try to come up with alternative ways to learn that information.

Consider changing curriculum, reading a different book, watching a movie or listening to an audio book rather than requiring him to read the textbook.

5 – Use Humor

Boys love the unexpected. They find humor in the strangest topics, such as bodily functions.  When your son comes up with a goofy joke, be sure to laugh. Try to surprise him with humorous information from time to time.

When my boys were younger, I remember asking them to answer some questions about their lesson. And if they got the answer right, I threw one of those candy circus peanuts into their mouths. They were totally surprised and it made the whole process fun.

6 – Let Them Sleep

Our kids NEED their sleep. Most of them need much more sleep than they’re getting.  Rather than waking them up at the crack of dawn, consider allowing them to sleep in a bit longer.

Delay starting homeschool lessons until they’ve had a chance to wake up. And some boys also appreciate having some time to exercise or do something more physical before having to sit down and concentrate.

7 – Accommodate Learning Style

We often think that reading, writing, and arithmetic are the most important parts of our child’s education. But what makes reading information more valuable than hearing it, seeing it, or discussing it? What makes writing what you child has learned more important than giving a speech about it, creating a video about it, designing a Minecraft world which gives an example of it, drawing an illustration of it, snapping a photo of it, creating a blog about it, etc?

There are MANY ways our kids can learn the same information. Rather than sticking with teaching techniques which are emphasized in most school settings, consider adding in some less traditional methods. Try a variety of activities and see how your child responds.

It isn’t always easy to go off the beaten path to explore different ways of presenting information to our kids. But it’s certainly worth it. With a few small tweaks, we can help in teaching boys how to love to learn. And once their curiosity has been peaked, they are much more likely to find what they’re passionate about and to eventually pursue it.

The post 7 Ways to Help Boys Love to Learn first appeared on True Aim.

I’ve potty trained 3 children now. Each kid was different, but I’ve found that having a potty training routine is key to success. It helps me be consistent and it teaches my child what to expect when it comes to going on the potty.

There are some signs that my kids are ready to use the potty. It was different for everyone of my children. For my first child, it was her verbal capabilities. She had a great vocabulary and loved talking about opposites; hot, cold; light, dark; dry, wet. She has a squirrel training personality and was always very busy. With some of my other children, it was a desire to use the potty like their siblings. That is the case with my 4th child that I am potty training. He asked to used the potty one day and so I put him on it. Although he didn’t go the first time, I knew it was good for him to see that there was nothing to be afraid of. He is like a turtle, slow to change and has a will of steel! Find out which type potty training character your child is at this link.

After a few times of asking to use the potty, he finally went #2. Although, he seems to be weary of going pee for some reason! So I decided to start my easy potty training routine to get him comfortable with the whole idea of going pee on the potty.

Beginning Potty Training Routine

Before I start potty training, I always have a few supplies on hand to make it a little easier for everyone and a little bit more fun. Some of my supplies are; a new toy or book; salty snacks for rewards; juice; potty seat; Pull-Ups® Learning Designs®. Some people like to use underwear right away, but I don’t like the mess.

My son loves cars so I got him the Pixar’s Cars Lightning McQueen characters at Walmart. Each diaper has a fun design that will disappear when wet. I love the easy open sides that don’t tear. That way I can reuse the diaper if it isn’t wet and we can pull it off quickly without having to worry. Plus, they are now 10% stretchier to help my son pull them on all by himself, which he is determined to do, every time. Learn more about Pull-Ups® Learning Designs® available at Walmart.

Our potty training routine starts when I have 3 solid days to work with my child without trips or interruptions like guests or appointments. It goes something like this:

1. In the morning, I wake my child up to go on the potty. This is important because that is the most common time for my child to go pee. If my son wakes up before me, he usually goes in his diaper.
2. When he is on the potty, he gets a special toy or book that he doesn’t normally get to use. I buy a new one just for the occasion. This helps keep his attention so he sits longer and is more likely to go. Sometimes we sing songs, or play his favorite app on my phone. Whatever it takes to get him to sit on the potty for at least 5 minutes. After I think he is done or he asks to be all done, he gets to wipe and flush and we celebrate. It doesn’t matter if he goes or not. The potty should be a fun time and so I’m always grateful and excited for him.
3. He doesn’t get a special snack or treat for going. During the day, I check his diaper, and give him a treat for being dry. I set the alarm on my phone for 45 minutes to check him and try to go on the potty. Throughout the day, I’m always asking him if he is dry or if he needs to go on the potty. Staying consistent is the key!

Potty Training Tips

If you think your child is having a hard time understanding what is wet and what is dry, you can do a simple experiment. Grab some cotton balls and get a few wet. Give them to your child in two piles and take their hand to show them which pile is dry and which is wet. See if they can point or touch which pile is which.

Give them a treat if you need to. If they have used the potty before, but now you are seeing resistance, give them a special treat after using the potty one time even if they don’t go. After that, explain that they don’t get a treat until they pee on the potty. No pee, no treat.

Other activities to do on the potty: If the book or the new toy wasn’t enough, you can sing songs, blow bubbles, make sticker art, color, or even get some silly puddy!

If you try your potty training routine for 3 days, making sure you’re consistent, but your child is still not going in the potty, take a break for a few weeks and then try again.

What does your potty training routine look like? Find more potty training tips from Pull-Ups® here.

The post Easy Beginning Potty Training Routine first appeared on True Aim.

Over the past few years I have purchased an assortment of these “Make Learning Fun” products.  Yes, my kids really enjoyed them, but I wasn’t convinced that very much learning was actually taking place.

My daughter could watch a whole Sesame Street episode on the letter J and by the end of the show she could repeat everything but the actual letter.  It seemed that the theatrics of the shows were outshining the lessons they were intended to teach.

Then I made an amazing discovery.  Without spending a single dime, I found a tool that works for every child – every time.  It has never failed me.  I use it almost everyday, and like a charm, it captivates my children’s attention while enhancing the learning process.

Make Learning Fun!

Before I reveal this tool let me ask you a simple question, “How many times can Daddy pretend to fall down before young children (1-8 yrs. old) don’t think its funny anymore?”  That’s right – infinite.  Daddy can pretend to fall an infinite amount of times and toddlers will respond with an infinite amount of laughter.  It never gets old – its never “not funny”.

Well, the tool I discovered applies the same logic.  The tool is called “Tease-Tickle-Taunt” and I consider it the ultimate teaching tool.  Here is how it works:

Before I begin teaching or quizzing my daughter I employ the “Tease.”

Mom:  “I don’t know if we should do school today.  I think it’s too hard for you.”

Daughter:  “No it’s not.  I can do it!”

Mom:  “Well, we will see about that.  Let’s see if you can find Italy.”

Daughter:  (Proudly pointing)  “Here it is.  See, I can do it Mom.”

Mom:  “You better not get this one right or I’m going to tickle you!  It’s very hard!  Where is Japan?”

Daughter:  “Ha ha, Here it is!”

Now I employ the “Tickle”.  Kid’s loved to be tickled.  It is one of those hits that never grow old.

Mom:  “That’s it!  I am going to tickle you!”  (Tickle, Tickle)

Daughter:  (Laughing and squealing)

Then, I follow through with the “Taunt”.

Mom:  “Well, those ones were too easy.  You will never get these next ones!”

Daughter:  “Yes I will!”

That is really all there is to it.  I can continue to cycle through various versions of the “Tease-Tickle-Taunt” and I lose interest long before my children do.  That is why at my house learning time is a privilege.  I never have to nag or fuss.

The opposite is true.  My kids beg me to do school.  People are always telling me how lucky I am that my children sit still long enough to be taught.  They tell me their own children just won’t sit still and listen.

If luck is involved it is the luck that I stumbled upon this great tool.  My children are no different than anyone else’s.  Utilizing the “Tease, Tickle, Taunt” I have nearly covered the whole alphabet in the same time it takes Sesame Street to cover a single letter.  So, the next time you find yourself struggling to teach – don’t hesitate to whip out a little “Tease, Tickle, Taunt”.

The post Tease, Tickle, Taunt…Teach? first appeared on True Aim.

It’s easy to say, “I love you”, to your kids, but how do you show them the truth behind those three little words? Many times parents think that showing their love for their kids involves expensive vacations and toys, dinners out on the town, sleepovers with friends,etc. While these may be things that your kids (and maybe you) enjoy, they don’t show your kids that you truly love them.

There are two things that are key to showing your love to your kids. You. and. Time. 

In order to show your kids that you love them, you must be willing to give of yourself, by giving them time with you. It doesn’t cost a dime to show your kids how much you love them. The question is, will you take the time to show your kids that you love them?

Taking time to show your kids that you love them is an important part of parenting and it should be done frequently.

Spend Time with Your Kids

All too often parents get lost in everything that they have to get done every day, so it is best if we set up a weekly or monthly schedule for spending quality time with our kids. There are many ways to spend time with our kids without leaving our home or spending more than a few dollars, below are just a few ideas to get started!

• Movie nights are a lot of fun! Pop some popcorn, choose a movie together (or surprise them with one from Netflix or Redbox), and enjoy the snuggles and laughs!
• Game nights can provide a fun and often learning experience for you and your child! Take turns picking games that you both enjoy and throw in a couple that you’ve never played together too!
• Craft or Lego® nights allow you to be creative together while having quality conversation and more with your kids!

Listen to Your Kids

Another important way to show our kids that you love them is to listen to them. As parents we can’t expect our children to truly listen to us if we aren’t listening to our children as well. We need to ensure that we take time to listen to what our kids are saying, listening is one of the best ways to strengthen and deepen our relationship with our kids!

We need to make sure that we are looking at them when they are talking to us, kids will stop talking when they can tell we aren’t actually listening to what they have to say. Below you’ll find a few simple ways to consistently take time to listen to what our kids have to say.

• Get them up to bed 30 minutes before lights out and spend time cuddling and talking with them about their day. Be ready to just listen, you never know when they will just open up!
• Some kids may have a hard time talking period or about certain topics, correspondence notebooks are a great way to encourage your kids to “talk” to you.
• After dinner don’t rush off from the dinner table, the dishes will wait, I promise. Enjoy listening to your kids tell you about their day, a new game or book and anything else that may come to their minds.

Talk to Your Kids

Notice that listening to your kids came before talking to them. In order for our kids to truly listen to what we have to say, we have to know what they are thinking and listen to what they are saying. Parents often think that their kids don’t listen, but if we listen to them, more often than not we’ll either hear them repeating what we say or agreeing with it. An important point to remember is that talking to our kids shouldn’t always be to discipline or instruct, we need to take steps to build quality conversation and relationships with our kids.

• Sit down with a cup of hot tea or coffee and just listen to what your kids have to say. Somehow sitting down and enjoying a hot beverage with our kids opens them up and we can have great conversations with them!
• Cook together! Spending time together in the kitchen is a great way to create both memories and conversation with our kids!
• Take a walk (or a hike if you are adventurous!) Getting out away from electronics and into nature is freeing for parents and for kids

I encourage you to make it a goal to truly show your kids that you love them this year by spending quality time with them! Remember, it is not about the money you spend on them, but the time you spend with them! 

How do you show your kids that you love them?

The post Simple Ways to Show Love to Your Kids first appeared on True Aim.

When our kids are wound up, it’s hard for them to focus on their lessons.  It can also be hard to keep their attitudes in check and to act appropriately.  We’re setting our kids up for failure when we don’t give them opportunities to burn off their extra energy.  This is true for all kids but it is especially true for boys!

7 Ways to Help Kids Use Up Their Energy

1. Outside Time – Spending time outside is an excellent way to let kids burn off their extra energy.  Kids should spend time outdoors every day, if possible.  We all need Vitamin D from the sun!  And fresh air is good for us as well.  If the weather is cold, bundle them up!  Try to have fun things to do in your yard so that they’ll want to go outside.  If you don’t have much of a yard, take them to the park or go on a walk with them.  You can even use school playgrounds during their off hours!
2. Extra Chores – When our kids are antsy, sometimes it’s because they’ve been sitting still too long.  Get them up and moving.  Ask them to help out with chores around the house.  It’s especially helpful to get your boys doing chores which include hard manual labor.  These tasks tire them out and help them to get their angst out in productive ways.
3. Time with Friends – When our kids spend time with their friends, they burn off a ton of energy and have a blast.  Invite another family over that has kids close in age to yours.  Or invite just a few friends over to play with your kids.  Make sure they spend at least part of their time with all electronics turned off for maximum effect!  And if you can get them to play outside together that’s even better.
4. Allow Messes/Noise – When our kids are filled with extra energy they’re going to be noisier.  Try to be patient.  If you expect them to sit quietly during these times, they may explode!  Encourage them to attempt something adventurous.  Help them to explore something they’re passionate about.
5. Exercise – Obviously exercise is a great way to burn off energy.  Put in an exercise DVD and do it with your child.  Have your son or daughter run laps around the house.  Challenge everyone to do a certain number of sit ups or push ups.  Ask your child to run down to the basement to get you an item.
   
6. Indoor Activities – You don’t have to go outside to burn off energy.  Help your kids to build forts with blankets and chairs, play active games with them such as hide and seek or Twister, have a dance party, make a car track with washi tape, let them swim in your tub, have a snowball fight with scrap paper, allow them to skate indoors by putting their feet inside tissue boxes, have an epic Nerf gun war… the possibilities are endless.
7. Creative Pursuits – Sometimes kids don’t need their bodies to be active as much as they need their brains to get some exercise.  Encourage them to write, direct, and star in a movie.  Gather various sized cardboard boxes so that they can make a rocket ship or a castle.  Dream with your kids about what they could do.  The sky is the limit in this category!

This winter, as your kids get antsy, try some of the above activities.  When we give our kids opportunities to burn off their extra energy, it is a win-win for the entire family.

Question:  Do you notice your kids have extra energy to burn this time of year?  Do you have any other ways to expend this energy that have worked well for for your family?  Please leave a comment below.

The post 7 Ways to Help Kids Use Up Their Energy first appeared on True Aim.

He has two younger sisters as well, but they do not have the same larger-than-life personality. People say, “You must be exhausted!” The truth is, there are some days when bedtime cannot come soon enough. However, I have learned what works and what doesn’t with him. Every child is different, but these tips have allowed me to embrace his energy without becoming overwhelmed and exhausted myself.

I don’t want my son to lose his energy and enthusiasm for life as he grows up. He might lose exactly that if all I ever do is tell him to stop, be quiet, sit still, etc. I don’t want him to be a crazy lunatic, of course, but he’s not usually being bad, just energetic. Discipline is obviously necessary and a crucial part of parenting, but constantly nagging him to quit this or that would crush his spirit and steal his enthusiasm over time.

Most of the time, he really just wants me to share that enthusiasm with him! So, instead of selfishly quashing that joy, I use these tips to help direct his energy in a way that allows him to be himself without completely draining my own energy supply. I need to conserve what I have left, especially with a newborn in the house right now!

Tips for Raising Very Active Children

Remember, your energetic child is not necessarily being bad, just energetic! The trick is to channel that energy and get them to burn as much as possible in positive, productive ways. My son was a bit rambunctious when he was littler, but I see his energy and big personality becoming more and more of a blessing as he grows, develops, and matures.

Exercise

Incorporate exercise time into each day. Whether it be actual exercise activities or simply active games, exercise is so important for them. It helps all of us to release stress and burn energy. Not to mention, it is an important health habit to form early in life. HERE are some great, unique ideas for burning energy inside the house when weather does not permit the kids to go outdoors.

Age-appropriate responsibilities

This could be a post all on its own, but people often rise to the challenge of the standards and expectations placed on them! Show your young child that you trust them with little responsibilities (such as taking care of garden plants or helping with the family pets), and odds are that they will be excited about those “jobs,” feel like an important part of the family, and beam with confidence when you express that you are proud of them. They will burn energy, and your house will be cleaner!

Natural consequences teach great lessons as well, especially if they are ever NOT successful with a responsibility (i.e. a plant dies if it is not watered regularly), so either way, they are better for it. Of course, the key is to make sure that they are supervised and given age-appropriate tasks. This is the time to allow consequences to do the teaching while you can control them, and they are not life-threatening!

Busy Bags and Crafts

Rather than leaving things to chance and the possibility of idle hands, keep a collection of busy bags, easy crafts, etc. on hand that your child can play with and use their hands to create and build things with.

Sports

Get your child involved in an active, hands-on hobby or sport. I am not advocating a family putting sports first and becoming so busy that they never have dinner together, but these types of activities can burn energy and help with cognitive and physical development in younger children. They oftentimes teach discipline and teamwork as well as an added bonus!

Limit Television

This may seem obvious, but do not allow your child to watch too much television. I have noticed that my son does not obey as well and is more antsy if he watches too much tv, so we keep shows short and to a minimum.

Choices

Give your child choices as often as possible when both choices are appropriate and suit both your needs and the needs of your child. I know that choices really help with my son because he is very independent, and they allow him to feel independent while accepting my parental influence with a cheerful heart.

There are times when choices are not an option, but when those situations arise, his excess energy does not become an enemy that I enter into a combat zone with because he has previously been able to make some small decisions himself. I do not support bribing or manipulating children, but rather setting them up for success.

Get Active Kids Outdoors and Dirty

Get those kids outdoors! Not every kid likes to get dirty, but allow (and even encourage!) them to get messy every once in awhile. Life is too short! Digging in the dirt and exploring are great ways to burn energy and develop physical and cognitive skills.

Of course, your child should ask permission first and probably go outside, but if they don’t, be sure to get the camera out quietly before dealing with the situation! It will be much funnier a few years later…

Even better, get outdoors and be active as a family! It is important to model what we want our children to value once they become adults.

Routine

There is a time for spontaneity, and kids do need to learn to be flexible. However, they thrive when they have routines as well, especially when you are dealing with a ball of energy. We have a bedtime routine that the kids go through once we say that it is bedtime. There is no battle, and they are not allowed to be “crazy” because it is time to calm down and prepare for family prayer time and going to sleep afterward.

Short Bits of School

Again, this could be a post all on its own, but part of the reason why so many children are diagnosed with ADHD today is because of unreasonable expectations. You cannot take an overly energetic young child and expect them to sit still and pay attention for 6+ hours a day almost straight. I can’t imagine having to do that myself!

So for you homeschoolers out there, make sure that you have short spurts of school throughout the day with active activities and play in between. (Routine plays a role in this as well.)

Kinesthetic Learning

This is also a tip for homeschoolers. Whenever possible, incorporate movement and hands-on activities into your lessons. Your child will love it and pay attention for a longer amount of time. He or she will probably retain the information better anyway!

One-on-One Time for an Active Child

I have noticed that when my husband or I make sure to consistently spend quality one-on-one time with our son, his behavior is better on average. He craves it! If he doesn’t get it for some time, his excess energy and behavior seem to get worse. So, date night is important for both your spouse and your child!

Avoid Sugar

Again, this is probably another more obvious one, but avoid feeding your child excess sugar and processed foods. We really are what we eat, and sugar is just empty calories and does not set your child up for success when it comes to their behavior and activity levels.

Consistent Discipline

This goes right along with children knowing what is expected of them. It is important that children, especially a very energetic child, know their limits and what consequences will result from their actions. A child should not be surprised by discipline they receive if their parents have a consistent discipline system in effect in their home.

Visual, Hands-On Reward System

This may not work for everyone, but my son does really well when he can see the fruits of his behavior visually and use his hands to manipulate consequences. Check out Janine’s simple, hands-on reward system HERE! She also describes the popsicle stick reward system that we personally use HERE.

Imaginative Play

Let your energetic child be the superhero who saves your family from the bad guys or the firefighter putting out huge “fires” or the princess dancing for her king. Join in on the fun when you can!

One good thing is that because Superman works so hard, he sleeps hard, too…

An Active Child Can Be a Big Helper

Let them be your big helper, even if what you are doing takes longer. At this age, they want to be just like you! Enjoy it! These memories will be the ones they do not forget, and these times have the same affect on their energy level and behavior as those one-on-one date nights. Plus, they learn how to do whatever you are doing!

My boy is becoming a polite, respectful young man with such a positive, upbeat outlook on life, and I pray that he never loses his energetic enthusiasm. I know and pray that the Lord will use it to further His kingdom!

So, within reason, embrace your child’s energy and allow them to be “that” kid who jumps off fire hydrants, rides a bike wearing a motorcycle helmet, runs around with the goats at your uncle’s farm, and treats the famous FAO Schwarz piano in NYC like a slip and slide while the rest of the kids are playing it normally… One day, you will miss these times!

I hope some of these tips will leave you a little less overwhelmed and help with your energetic little ones. Please comment below with any tips that have helped you that are not mentioned in this list! Let us know how these tips work in your home as well.

The post 16 Tips for Parenting a Very Active Child first appeared on True Aim.

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Welcome to Mom’s Library!

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6 Teaching Tools Every Parent Needs!

Whether you are homeschooling or not, every parent can use any of these tools to help them teach. From potty training to cooking, the method is the same. Keep your techniques interesting and motivating by making it simple and trying new ideas!

1. Hands-on Activities 

Everything can be learned through hands-on activities because everyone learns quickly though doing. It takes a little creativity to teach some things this way, but here are some great ideas to teach basic math facts.

2. Story Making

Your child will learn anything if they can turn what they need to learn into their own story. Here are some ideas for making books with your kids. I especially like this idea when you’re trying to explain moral or social issues to children. Talking about it isn’t enough. If you have them explain it in their own words and draw examples, they will internalize the concepts so much better.

3. Themes

Do your children love Frozen, Coyboys, Kittens, or Pirates? Developing a theme around what you want to teach motivates and excites even the eldest child. Even as an adult, if someone put physics lessons into a Shark Tank themed class, I would actually be interested! I really need to come up with a Hawaiian themed Laundry folding party. Lol.

4. Apps

There is a healthy balance between using technology and limiting it for learning. But you really can’t afford to do without it. Your children will benefit from some use of apps and other learning games. Here’s a great list of apps to teach drawing. I just try to keep the precedence that technology is a privilege that has to be earned and it helps keep my kids from becoming obsessive.

5. Laughter  

Keeping learning exciting is as easy as a little tickle, tease or taunt. With this little strategy you can motivate your children to learn anything. “I bet you can’t _____!” or “You better not _____!” are  valuable tools for getting kids to practice and try.

6. Free Printables

Need some free or quiet time? Free printables are a life saver! I love these Calendar printables because you don’t just do them and throw them away. They are so cute and your children can help with monthly planning.

What tools do you have up your sleeve? I’d love to hear some thing you use to help teach your children.

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The post 6 Strategies for Teaching Your Children first appeared on True Aim.

I came downstairs to the sound of someone running.  Dumbfounded by the sight, I stood at the bottom of the stair watching for a moment.  My eldest daughter was running back and forth from the living room to our family room, full bore.

After a couple minutes I finally asked her what she was up to.  “I’m practicing so I can be faster than the kids at church.”  she said panting.

“Sweetie, they’re faster than you because they’re older.”  I explained.

“That’s why I have to practice Mom.  I’ll practice everyday and then when I’m 7 (she’s 6), I’ll be faster.”

Although I usually discourage running in the house, it was raining that day.  What kind of Mom would I be if I interrupted such determination?  I couldn’t help but be proud of her confidence.

As a Mom of two girls, I’m always looking for positive ways to build up their self-confidence and character.  In a world where women are constantly pushed to focus on their looks, I want to encourage my daughters to value inner beauty first and appearances loosely.

While building confidence in young girls is easy to do.  The right type of confidence is harder to instill.  It’s an easy thing to tell my daughters they are beautiful, but what they really need to hear and experience is that they have purpose and meaning more valuable than anything in this world.

To do that, we expose them to challenges and new tasks that aren’t easy, letting them struggle and feel accomplishment when they finally finish.  We try to give them real responsibility, and have them work hard for a goal.  We let them dream and help them make those dreams become a reality.  But most importantly, we communicate our love for them no matter the outcome of their efforts.

That’s why I’m so excited to announce that with a shared vision of unleashing confidence through accomplishment, LEGO® Friends has teamed up with Girls on the Run® (GOTR), a physical activity-based positive youth development program to inspire girls everywhere to achieve their limitless potential.

LEGO® is our favorite toy by far.  So when the new LEGO® Friends line came out our girls were ecstatic.  LEGO® Friends blend the iconic LEGO construction experience with stories, settings and themes designed to meet my children’s desire for creativity and a highly-detailed, character-based world.  My daughters definitely relate better to these LEGOS® and so they play with them even more than before.

Since its launch in 2012, LEGO® Friends have dramatically increased the number of girls everywhere building with LEGO bricks and enjoying the benefits of construction play.

That’s important because construction play allows children to be creative in a way that combines logic and reasoning with playfulness and imagination.  This type of play helps them grasp the importance of persistence as they develop a sense of pride for their completed model or their own creation.

But that’s not all my girls learn when they play with their LEGO® Friends sets especially if they collaborate.

Since Audrey is the oldest, when she works on building a set with her little sister Emma, she becomes a leader and director.  If she’s too bossy, Emma won’t want to cooperate.  If she encourages, Emma feels good about herself and Audrey’s position as a leader.  As they work and play together, a special bond forms that is invaluable.

Sharing, taking turns, and complementing each other are things my daughters learn when they play with LEGOS®.  Sure, they could play other things and learn the same thing, but LEGO® enhances their spatial visualization skills all at the same time.  And nothing is quite like building your own little world.

My daughters seem to carry a lot of their day-to-day routines into their play.  This is awesome to see as a parent because I know the healthy habits I’m working to instill are actually getting through!

As they built their new LEGO® Friends set, I asked them if they could own and run their own business what would it be?  Audrey wanted to own a dress shop and Emma thought a candy store would be sweet.  Both of those choices fit them perfectly and I can’t wait to encourage them to go after it!

I love inquiring about all their creations and watching them unravel a story with their LEGO® figures.  There is something so satisfying about getting to know the imagination of your child.

It’s like getting to glimpse into their soul.

What do your children like to build with their LEGOS®?  Do you have any tips on building confidence in children?  I’d love to hear about it!

Thanks for reading!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post Building Confidence in Girls Through Play #LEGOFriendsCGC first appeared on True Aim.